Miami Dade Mayoral Election

There will be a runoff 06/28/2011 in Miami-Dade County between the two top vote getters, Julio Robaina (Mayor of Hialeah) and Carlos Gimenez (County Commissioner). Only one charter change question passed: There is a 2 year limit before officials can lobby the County.

The election in district 7 is on hold. A third candidate had tried to register but was told he was too late even though some of his paperwork was submitted on time. A judge is hearing the matter, he will decide if candidates had enough time to register.

County Elections

There will be two run-off elections in November in District 2 and District 8. Commissioner Dorrin Rolle is running against Jean Monestime in District 2 and Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn is running against former Homestead Mayor Lynda Bell in an open seat.

We ask all of our members to vote in these elections if you live in the districts and consider funding the candidate of your choice even if you live out of the district. The County Commission makes important decisions for all of us.

UEL Board Member, Albert Harum-Alvarez is running for office!

We were surprised when we read it in the Miami Herald yesterday:

Now, more fresh faces are starting to pop up. For Sorenson's seat, they include Homestead businesswoman Pam Gray, Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn and software-design consultant Albert Harum-Alvarez.

If you haven't heard of these people, it's not because they've been making themselves scarce. Harum-Alvarez, for example, has been active in a wide range of community issues for more than a decade. Among other things, he helped plan the concept for a downtown Kendall.

A SERIOUS REALITY

``I've been doing community work for free for 15 years,'' he says, ``so a $6,000 [commissioner's] salary would be a raise for me.''

Harum-Alvarez, who has yet to file the paperwork to run for Sorenson's seat, is joking, but he represents a serious reality: talented local leaders -- from municipal mayors to community activists -- rarely have a realistic shot at a county-wide platform.

We wish Albert well and the other candidates in the race.