Miami Commission Keeping it Special
The special election for District 1 and District 5 will be Jan. 12
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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 4: A woman leaves a voting booth on Election Day November 4, 2003 in New York City. Voters in New York City answered five ballot questions to amend the city charter and the state constitution, including whether to institute nonpartisan elections. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Corruption allegations have cost Miami taxpayers again.
The City Commission announced Wednesday that they will have a special election to fill the seat left by Angel Gonzalez, who resigned after he pleaded guilty to improperly using his position.
The city is spending $200,000 in taxpayer dollars to hold the election, which is no small change for a city that struggled to balance this year's budget and is laying off employees.
The city has already announced the special election would be needed to fill the seat of ex-District 5 Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones, who was suspended by Gov. Charlie Crist after being arrested on corruption charges. Spence-Jones has already said she plans on running despite her legal problems.
The election is Jan. 12.
"The truth of the matter is, this is a democracy,'' Commissioner Frank Carollo said. "We should let the people decide.''
New Mayor Tomas Regalado and his commission could have saved the taxpayers a few dollars by appointing a Gonzalez successor.
Newly-elected Commissioner Francis Suarez was sworn in Wednesday, just in time to give the commission enough votes to appoint someone, but they still opted for the special route.
Posted Wednesday, Nov 25, 2009 - 4:22 PM EST
