The Miami-Dade County Democratic Party demanded that Alina García, the county's election supervisor, step down from the canvassing board ahead of the elections on November 3rd.
CBS News Miami reported that for the Democrats, there is a conflict of interest incompatible with García's duties on the canvassing board, as the Cuban-American publicly supported Amendment 3, a proposal to reduce property taxes that will appear on the same ballot in an election she supervises.
The trigger was a press conference held on September 28 at the Versailles restaurant in Miami, where García appeared alongside three other Cuban-American constitutional officials from the county to express their support for the measure.
"For me, it is an honor and a privilege to be here with all my colleagues supporting Amendment 3. I urge everyone to vote yes on Amendment 3, number 254 on your ballot. If you have your ballot at home, please fill it out and send it," she declared at the event.
The Miami-Dade canvassing board is the body that reviews the validity of contested ballots and certifies the official results of the county elections. It is composed of the supervisor of elections, a county court judge, and the chair of the County Commission.
Brad Bauman, president of the communications committee of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party, explained the argument: “This is the organization in the county that would determine whether a ballot cast by an eligible voter would be accepted or not if there were any questions about the ballot.”
Bauman was more direct in refuting the distinction between public and private opinion that García argued: "If your opinion on a matter is private, you don't hold a press conference and tell everyone what you support. What does that really mean for how they are going to manage our elections?"
García unequivocally rejected the request. "There is absolutely no conflict," he responded when asked if he would step aside. In a subsequent written statement, he reiterated his position: "I am speaking on this matter as a private citizen and resident, as a mother and grandmother. From this perspective, I support the approval of Amendment 3."
García was born in Havana and grew up in Miami. She is the daughter of Cuban parents who fled the regime. She is the first election supervisor elected by popular vote in the history of the county. She took office in January 2025 after winning 56% of the votes.
During the event on September 28, Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz and other county officials participated, all of whom are Cuban-Americans and Republicans who took office in January 2025.
Their alignment with Amendment 3 —driven by Governor Ron DeSantis— pits them against Democratic Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who warned that the measure could cost the county about 390 million dollars in the first year, with potential closures of up to 19 fire stations and 10 of the county's 51 libraries.
Amendment 3 would raise the homestead exemption for property tax from the current $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and to $250,000 in 2028, with an estimated annual savings of around $1,500 for homeowners with homestead in Miami-Dade.
However, the Tax Foundation warns that tenants could pay more if Amendment 3 succeeds, as the rental property tax could increase by about $1,081 annually by 2028, costs that landlords might pass on to their tenants.
The proposal requires 60% of the votes to be incorporated into the Florida Constitution, but a mid-September survey by St. Pete Polls recorded only 44.9% support among likely voters, with nearly 25% undecided.
The deadline to register and be able to vote in the general elections on November 3rd expires this Monday, making the controversy a highly relevant issue for Miami-Dade residents who have not yet registered.
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