Miami-Dade Recall Rolling

Early voting began Monday in the recall election of Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Commissioner Natacha Seijas.

More than 20,000 absentee ballots had been turned in by the beginning of the week.

Alvarez and Seijas mounted separate legal challenges to the petition drives that sought their recall. However, a judge dismissed Alvarez’s complaint on Friday and Seijas withdrew hers.

The last day to vote is March 15.

Alvarez and Seijas were subject to separate recall petitions over public outrage about rising taxes. The petition initiatives were started late last year following Miami Dade’s approval of a 14% property tax increase to support the budget of Florida’s largest county. The budget also included wage hikes for many employees, including top-level managers.

Alvarez’s recall petition was sponsored by billionaire car dealer Norman ­Braman, who is president of a political action committee called People Who Want Honest Government Inc.

Seijas’ recall petition was sponsored by a PAC called Miami Voice, which aims to recall all the commissioners who approved the budget. They obtained the necessary signatures in Seijas’ district first.

There could be more recall elections this year if Miami Voice is successful in its petition drive to recall other commissioners.

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