MIAMI — Miami’s upcoming run-off election for Commissioner District 3 comes with a twist.
On Nov. 4, Miami voters set new lifetime term limits for elected officials through a ballot referendum.
It banned those who have served two four-year terms as either mayor or commissioner from holding office again.
The Nov. 4 election also resulted in the Dec. 9 runoff ballot between Frank Carollo, a former two-term Miami commissioner for the city’s District 3, and Ronaldo Escalona.
Carollo, Joe Carollo’s younger brother, won 37.7% of the total votes on Nov. 4, and Escalona, a real estate broker and restaurant manager, won 17.3%. They are both Republicans.
The conflict ended up in court. Carollo’s attorney claimed that to take him off the Dec. 9 ballot would be unconstitutional. Miami-Dade County Circuit Court Judge Peter R. Lopez ruled on Nov. 12 that Carollo was to stay on the ballot.
“We want to win,” Escalona said. “We want to win with votes. What’s going to happen in the future? I can’t tell you.”
Escalona said Miami voters sent a message with lifetime term limits.
“They want to see new faces. They want to see new ideas,” Escalona said. “They want to see a new name.”
Carollo declined to comment at the advice of his attorneys. Early voting starts on Dec. 5.
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