South Florida auto dealer Norm Braman is ready for his latest battle against elected officials, announcing Monday he intends to finance a recall of Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez.
Upset over the passing of the county's budget last week, which will see property taxes raised as much as 14 percent in some cases while employees receive pay raises, Braman announced it's time to get Alvarez out.
"Today we will commence a petition drive aimed at recalling and removing from office Mayor Carlos Alvarez, so that the citizens of this community finally may have their voices heard," Braman said.
Last Thursday, on a 8-to-5 vote, the county commissioners passed the $7.3 billion budget, which includes increases in salaries for county employees worth a total of $132 million, but also will include service cutbacks throughout the county.
"Citizens are suffering, property values are crumbling, foreclosures are rampant and unemployment has reached almost 13%, and in the midst of this suffering is a $132 million increase in salaries," Braman said.
Braman had vowed to launch a recall for any commissioners who voted for the property tax increase, but for now will only be setting his sights on Alvarez.
Alvarez has called a news conference for Monday afternoon.
The costs for a county-wide recall will be between $.5 and $5 million, according to the county elections department. If the mayor is recalled, the office is immediately vacated and there'll either be a special election or an appointment to replace him. Alvarez's term ends in 2012.
The billionaire Braman is no stranger to fights with politicians.
Braman killed a 1982 Miami City sales tax proposal that would have renovated the Orange Bowl for the Miami Dolphins. And he was all over a 1999 one-cent sales tax that would have improved mass transportation. Yet he lost out when he battled, in court, the Florida Marlin's public/private financial scheme to build a ballpark in Miami's Little Havana.
Braman said all the years spent fighting are worth it in the long run.
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"These are quality of life issues, they're important to me," said Braman. "I've never forgotten who I am or where I've come from. This is important for me, this is my legacy."
