A.G. Gancarski
Voters in Miami-Dade County may vote for a sheriff soon, if a joint resolution filed in the House by Jason Fischer and the Senate by Frank Artiles becomes law.
HJR 721/SJR 134 would make the Sheriff of Miami-Dade a Constitutional officer.
Currently, the position is appointed by the executive branch, foreclosing the voters’ right to decide their chief law enforcement officer.
The joint resolution proposes an amendment to Section 1 of Article VIII and the creation of a new section in Article XII of the State Constitution to remove authority for a county charter to appoint sheriffs and other such officials.
Artiles described this effort as being a long time coming.
“Having a locally elected sheriff incentivizes transparency and accountability. When it comes to public safety, every citizen should have a seat at the table,” Artiles said.
“Miami-Dade County has not had a Sheriff in over 50 years, what it boils down to is giving power back to the people. Direct representation through the county officers was originally written in the 1885 Florida Constitution,” Artiles said, adding that “our bill will allow the voters to reinstate that.”
Fischer hails from Jacksonville, where sheriffs are elected — generally in elections that are more expensive and competitive than any other on the ballot.
“Public safety is an issue that every voter should have the opportunity to weigh in on. In Jacksonville, our elected Sheriff Mike Williams has gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep Duval County safe. The people of Florida deserve to have a say at every level of government and this bill will make sure the Sheriff is independent and accountable to the people,” stated Fischer.
