Peter Schorsch
A coalition of Miami-Dade politicians announced a new initiative Tuesday to put tougher enforcement of local campaign finance laws and a lobbyist gift ban on the November ballot.
Heading the group Accountable Miami-Dade is Monica Russo, the president of the SEIU Florida Council, and Bettina Rodriguez Aguilera, the one-time Republican vice-mayor of Doral and former Florida president of the League of United Latin American Citizens.
“There is a national conversation happening right now across states, across party lines, and among people from all walks of life about money’s role in our political system,” said Russo. “With this voter and community-led initiative, Miami-Dade County has an opportunity to be a leader in the fight to reduce the power of big money in politics.”
The group aims to strengthen enforcement of existing campaign finance laws, institute a lobbyist gift ban, limit contributions to mayoral and county commission candidates to $500 per election cycle and update the county’s small-donor system by adding limited public matching funds.
“Big-money interests and lobbyists in Miami-Dade County have a stronger voice in our local government than ordinary people,” Aguilera said. “People are angry as they struggle to get by while wealthy special interests rig the rules in their favor. This is our chance for the people to have their say and fight to rein in the power of big money.”
Russo and Aguilera will serve as co-chairs for the Accountable Miami-Dade PAC, and work alongside an advisory board chaired by Democratic Miami Beach Mayor Phillip Levine and including Florida League of Women Voters Vice President Maribel Balbin, Miami City Commissioner Ken Russell and Democratic Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner, among others.
More information on the initiative and its membership is on their website, AccountableMiamiDade.com.
