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Tuesday, November 10, 2015

It's on; it's off; it's on; it's off . . .

The talk on everyone’s minds is the District 2 Commission election. On Saturday night, during Gallery Walk Night, that was what everyone greeted me with, “What do you think of this election? What’s going to happen?” By Monday it was still the talk of the day. It's the Ken and Teresa show.

The City Attorney has ruled that the runoff election must be held on November 17. No one knows why but it’s on. Teresa Sarnoff conceded the election to Ken Russell, but her flyers are still coming in the mail, but that could be due to the delay of bulk mail if they were mailed out before her concession.

Ken Russell is asking everyone to vote for him on November 17 to avoid any conflicts that may be caused of Teresa gets most of the votes. What happens then?

What happens if someone jumps off a building or gets hit by a train? Is the election still on? Makes no sense at all.


People have been removed from office by executive order; remember Johnny Winton? Why can’t a winner be declared the same way.

Very strange. And a total waste of taxpayer money to hold the election.

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17 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nobel vs Self-serving
At first it appears to be a most noble gesture for Teresa to graciously bow out of the run-off election and indicate she wishes to save the taxpayers the $150K needless expense. Too bad that she did not determine earlier that it was most unwise for her to be in the campaign from the start. She knew she was unqualified and that her husband was trying to subvert the Term Limit Rule. She knew that her heart was not in this campaign. She knew that moneys where flowing her way just because developers and attoenys wanted to stay in favor with her commissioner husband and where betting on her continued support. Needless to say, it was most self-serving of her to run for office in the first place. It was a betrayal of her husband for his attempt to keep District 2 in the Sarnoff family. She withdrew because she and her husband saw the writing on the wall. They were hoping to concede and save face from the embarrassing and humiliating trouncing they were sure to receive. If she had remained in the run-off Russell would have easily won by over 51% - 60%. But now that she has withdrawn Russell will easily win by even great numbers and indicate that he has a mandate that is undeserving. The Sarnoff’s and Nelson’s are in for a rude awakening when their phones are no longer filled with messages and invitations. The real shame is that the one noble and selfless candidate that did not have the support of the developers, will not be in the run-off. What a loss to our community!

November 10, 2015 10:32 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So obvious with Teresa's concession Sarnoff was counting on a couple of his last cards.

November 10, 2015 10:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...


Why can you early vote on Miami Beach but not District 2 Miami ?

November 10, 2015 11:18 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's clear that the many people including team Russell have no idea why government works the way it does or you wouldn't be calling for an early end of the run-off. But thanks to all of you including the Miami Herald, this has become the biggest civics lesson for Miamians in 15 years.

First, a run-off is important because it is based on a majority rule principle inherent in a democracy.

Second, this process must be fair and equitable which is codified in law which the principle inherent in our republican form of government.

Lastly, for anon@11:18, the city clerk decides whether there will be any early voting. The city clerk, Todd Hannon runs this election as part of his constitutional duties codified in our city's founding charter.

Regardless of how much you believe our public officials violate the law and decency you won't do any better or even recognize wrongdoing if you don't know what good government looks like.

That Guy 2.0

November 10, 2015 11:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think that Al Crespo over the years has more than adequately detailed our City Attorney's ineptitude. Of course she would find that an election must take place if Mr. Sarnoff so desires.

I truly fear that the Nov. 17 turnout will be low. Should the lovely Teresa win (my guess is that her voters will show)on Tuesday. If she happens to win, she will declare it the will of the people that she serve. If she loses she can say, I thought I made clear that I was out.

Remember she has not formally withdrawn. She is, after all doing us a great public failure of sparing us another Grace Solores law suit.

I'm still concerned.

November 10, 2015 12:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The runoff election is on and I will show up to vote for Ken just to make sure.

November 10, 2015 2:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Coral Gables determines their elections by whoever wins the most votes. Not by 51% and no need for a run-off. Needless to say, they are fiscally conservative and refuse to spend money on a run-off election. Whoever receives the most votes wins, even if only by one.

November 10, 2015 2:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

And yet, precisely because of that former Gables politician Slesnick's wife was elected. It makes it to dislodge establishment figures.

November 10, 2015 2:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you can bear to read through the City Attorney's opinion, cutting through the surplusage, you will see that the answer Is quite simple and intuitively sensible, given our system of government: there is a valid election when one candidate gets more than 50% of the votes. Full stop. So if you want Ken Russell to win, as I do, you should cast a vote for him.

November 10, 2015 4:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Math is math.
Majority did rule.
Only in Miami.

November 10, 2015 5:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

We voted 57% to legalize weed and it was not passed because a minimum of 60% was required, so......

November 10, 2015 5:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The only one who can remove a freely elected City commissioner is the governor and does anyone really think that Rick Scott, who Marc Sarnoff endorsed and raised funds for, is going to remove Teresa Sarnoff if she's named the winner of the Nov. 17 election?

November 10, 2015 6:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ken Russell: Divine Secrets of the Yo-Yo Brotherhood
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jj-colagrande/ken-russell-divine-secret_b_8512908.html

November 10, 2015 8:58 PM  
Blogger Seth Sklarey said...

Still the best analysis of why runoffs are necessary is V.O. Key's book Southern Politics.
By having a runoff vote in Florida we were rewarded with Leroy Collins, Bob Graham and Lawton Chiles.
Once it was abolished we wound up with a string of bad governors ending with Rick Scott.

November 11, 2015 5:15 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Disgusting. Politics. The usual suspects. What else can be said?

November 11, 2015 11:03 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Seth,

Can you promise that it will end with Rick Scott? That would be awesome.

To dream...

That Guy 2.0 isn't bad, but he's no OG That Guy.

November 11, 2015 11:07 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree with Seth and OG.

Why is Russell spending money now? Regarding his people? I don't see mailers...

E'fant terrible? New guy, same as the last guy. Hope I'm wrong but this is Miami.

That Guy 2.0

November 11, 2015 12:01 PM  

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