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Home Front: Politix
South Florida Smackdown: voters fire Miami mayor in recall election by 9-1 margin
2011-03-16
Voters swept Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez out of office by a stunning margin Tuesday, capping a dramatic collapse for a politician who was given increased authority by voters four years ago to clean up much-maligned county government but was ushered out in the largest recall of a local politician in U.S. history.

The spectacular fall from power comes after two years of missteps, ranging from granting top staffers big pay hikes to construction of a publicly funded stadium for the Florida Marlins to implementation of a property-tax rate increase that outraged an electorate struggling through an ugly recession.
He reacted to the recall in a fashion all too typical for a member of the political class.
Alvarez tried to fend off ouster by twice filing suit to block a recall vote. After the lawsuits went nowhere, he defended his record in speeches, radio and television appearances and paid advertisements, arguing that he made the tough calls to preserve vital services for residents.

But voters responded by handing the mayor a humiliating defeat: Nearly nine of every 10 voted to remove Alvarez from office.
That's not a landslide, that's a horsewhipping--and they didn't even use a horse!
Posted by:Mike

#8  I got to invoke the mythical football bat, you are in the clear. Football team owners are also syphilitic inbred corporate welfare junkies, so you comment certainly applies anyway...
Posted by: M. Murcek   2011-03-16 16:59  

#7  Uh, Marlins are a baseball team,

I'm so embarrassed. Please don't take my man card.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2011-03-16 15:13  

#6  Was he "escorted from the office by security", or are they going to let him destroy the evidence?
Posted by: mojo   2011-03-16 14:01  

#5  Alvarez bought labor support by providing a raise to city workers (most of whom are unionized) in the midst of the recession and while the budget was being hosed by other stuff. Labor Union leadership then went nearly 100% to defeat the recall.

The Unions are big losers in this recall. A lot of their membership (many of whom didn't like the higher property tax bills) defected.
Posted by: Lord Garth   2011-03-16 13:41  

#4  Uh, Marlins are a baseball team, but it seems the mayor's efforts to defend his record were as useful as a football bat...
Posted by: M. Murcek   2011-03-16 13:00  

#3  Had to raise taxes to pay for a new stadium for the Marlins? Maybe that's OK if you're a big time Marlins fan but, otherwise, not too cool. Kinda like corporate welfare. What gives these football owners the idea it's up to the tax payers to pay for their stadiums?
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2011-03-16 12:24  

#2  Unfortunately, Union Prick$ will be attempting to do likewise to WI 'pubs.... Should be interesting to watch....
Posted by: Uncle Phester   2011-03-16 12:09  

#1  He was a RHINO. (Tax and spend Republican). Come 2012 we best see a tsunami house cleaning of these types. 9.0 richter dangit!
Posted by: Ulaique Peacock1087   2011-03-16 11:39  

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