The Caribbean American Politically Active Citizens (CAPAC) group in South Florida has provided a voters’ guide designed to help Caribbean-Americans in the region choose candidates who may promote their interests. The group also provides guidance on constitutional ballot amendments. The group says that it has watched news programs, read local and national newspapers, and attended town hall meetings, as well as met with non-partisan advocacy organizations and local community leaders, in order to make its determinations. Candidates are assessed according to their positions on the issues, including education, the economy, civil rights, the US justice system, health care, social services, affirmative action, and economic opportunity, among others. None of the recommendations contained in the Voters’ Guide are meant as substitutes for the personal evaluations and research of individual voters that reflect their own values and interests. For additional information, please contact Dr. Marcia Magnus, Caribbean American Politically Active Citizens, Founding President 954 454 7473.
2016 MIAMI GENERAL ELECTIONS BALLOT
PRESIDENT AND VP: DEM: Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine
US SENATOR (6 YEARS): DEM: Patrick Murphy
US CONGRESS (D 23): DEM: Debbie 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: Ivette 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
NON-PARTISAN OFFICES
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
Circuit Judge – 11th Judicial Circuit (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
2016 Florida Constitutional Ballot Amendments
Four state Constitution amendment initiatives are on the November 8 ballot:
- Solar power
- Medical marijuana
- Homestead exemption CS/HJR 1009 for first responders who were disabled in the line of duty
- Homestead exemption CS/HJR 275 that would lock in place the value of a home belonging to a senior citizen who is eligible for a property tax break.
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
OTHER CITIES IN MIAMI DADE MAY ALSO HAVE SPECIFIC OR REGULAR ELECTIONS NOT ON THE GENERAL BALLOT – Go here: http://www.miamidade.gov/elections/sample-ballots.asp
- Aventura General and Special
- Bal Harbour Regular
- Biscayne Park General
- Coral Gables Special Elections
- Cutler Bay General Election
- Doral General Election
- El Portal General Election
- Homestead Special Election
- Key Biscayne Municipal Election
- Medley General Election
- Miami Beach Special Elections
- Miami Gardens Run-Off Election
- Miami Lakes General Election
- Miami Special Elections
- North Bay Village General and Special Elections
- North Miami Beach Special Election
- Opa-locka General Election
- Palmetto Bay General and Special Elections
- Pinecrest General Election
- South Miami Special Elections
- Sunny Isles Beach General Election
