MIAMI-DADE COUNTY – Since 2000, a group of concerned Caribbean-Americans in South Florida, has developed Voters’ Guides to help you 1) select the better candidates who may promote the interests of Caribbean-American people in South Florida, and 2) provide guidance on constitutional ballot amendments.
We have watched various political news programs, read local and national newspapers, attended town hall meetings, and consulted with non-partisan advocacy organizations and local community leaders.
We have assessed the candidates based on their positions on a variety of issues, including, but not limited to, the economy, education, the American justice system, civil rights, healthcare, social services, affirmative action, economic opportunity among others.
Please note that none of the following recommendations should substitute for your own evaluation and research based on your own personal interests and values.
For more information, call Dr. Marcia Magnus, Caribbean American Politically Active Citizens, Founding President 954 454 7473.
See Also: Broward County Voters’ Guide or Palm Beach County Voters’ Guide
2016 Miami Dade General Elections Ballot
PRESIDENT AND VP DEM: Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine
US SENATOR DEM: Patrick Murphy
US CONGRESS (D 23): DEM: D. Wasserman Schultz
US CONGRESS (D 24): DEM: Frederica Wilson
US CONGRESS (D 25): DEM: Alina Valdes
US CONGRESS (D 26): DEM: Joe Garcia
US CONGRESS (D 27): REP: Ileana Ros Lehtinen
FL State Senator (D36): REP: Rene Garcia
FL State Senator (D37): DEM: Jose Javier Rodriguez
FL State Senator (D 38): DEM: Daphne Campbell
FL State Senator (D 39): REP: Anitere Flores
FL State Senator (D 40): DEM: Dwight Bullard
State Rep (D103): DEM: I. Gonzalez Petkovich
State Rep (D105): REP: Carlos Trujillo
State Rep (D110): REP: Jose Oliva
State Rep (D111): DEM: Sevi Miyar
State Rep (D 112): DEM: Nicholas Duran
State Rep (D 113): DEM: David Richardson
State Rep (D 114): DEM: Daisy Baez
State Rep (D 115): DEM: Jeffery Doc Solomon
State Rep (D116): REP: Jose Felix Diaz
State Rep (D118): DEM: Robert Asencio
State Rep (D119): DEM: Jennifer Pinell
State Rep (D 120): DEM: Dan Horton
CLERK OF THE COURT: Harvey Ruvin
Justice of the Supreme Court:
Retain Justice Charles Canady YES
Retain Justice Jose Labarga YES
Retain Justice Ricky Poston YES
District Court of Appeal:
Retain Judge Edwin Scales YES
Retain Judge Linda Ann Wells YES
Circuit Judge – 11th Judicial Circuit
Group 34 Mark Blumstein
Group 52 Carol “Jodie” Breece
School Board Member (D 1): Steve Gallon III
School Board Member (D 6): Modesto ‘Mo’ Abety
Miami Dade County Mayor: Carlos Gimenez
Amendment 1 – Solar Energy: NO
A NO vote on Amendment 1 would:
• Leave in Florida statutes the right for consumers to own or lease solar-power equipment on their property to generate electricity for their own use.
• Leave open the possibility that homeowners and businesses could buy or lease solar-power equipment.
• Halt a potential constitutional barrier to new laws that would broaden the solar-power market by allowing solar companies to sell electricity directly to consumers.
• Protect existing rules that allow net metering, where utilities credit a retail rate to customers generating excess solar power that is returned to the electric grid.
Amendment 2 – Medical Marijuana: YES
A YES vote on Amendment 2 would:
• Create a constitutional right for people with specific “debilitating” conditions – such as cancer, epilepsy, AIDS, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis – to use marijuana as long as a physician has certified they have one of the specified conditions.
• Require parental consent before a minor could be certified by a physician to receive medical marijuana.
• Permit caregivers to assist patients with marijuana treatments as long as that person possesses a caregiver identification card issued by the states. Caregivers must undergo a background check and are not allowed to use marijuana themselves.
• Require patients and caregivers to get a state-issued ID.
• Retain state and federal prohibitions on recreational marijuana use, as well as prohibitions on operating vehicles and boats while under the influence.
• Create “medical marijuana treatment centers” to cultivate and dispense drugs to certified patients or caregivers.
• Shield physicians from criminal or civil actions for issuing patient certifications.
Amendment 3 – Tax Exemption for Disabled First Responders: YES
Source: The Florida Legislature
A YES vote on Amendment 3 would:
• Authorize the Legislature to grant a property tax exemption on homestead property to first responders who are totally and permanently disabled from injuries sustained in the line of duty.
• Allow the Legislature to decide whether the exemption should provide full or partial relief from property taxes.
• Require a determination that the first responder’s disability was caused by his or her service in the line of duty.
• Have an undetermined impact on local property tax revenues.
Amendment 5 – Homestead exemption for low-income seniors: YES
A YES vote on Amendment 5 would:
• Ensure that low-income seniors who qualify for a city- or county-approved property tax exemption do not lose that exemption if the value of their home exceeds the $250,000 limit.
• Be retroactive to include seniors who received the exemption starting in 2013.
• Cost cities and counties that currently grant the exemption an estimated $2.3 million in fiscal year 2016-17; $500,000 in 2017-18; and eventually $1.2 million in 2020-21.
COUNTY QUESTIONS
Charter Amendment on Creating Special Purpose Districts: NO
Charter Amendment Including Right to Copy Public Records In Citizen Bill of Rights: YES
