Miami-Dade County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava is being asked to “immediately” resign her position to avoid a costly special election that would take place after November's presidential general election.
Commissioner Levine Cava submitted her “irrevocable resignation” from the county’s 8th district last month, but it won’t go into effect until November 16th, two weeks after the general election.
“With our county facing many challenges and the office for Miami-Dade County Mayor on the ballot this year, I intend to submit qualifying paperwork for the office during the qualifying period that begins on Tuesday, May 26,” Levine Cava wrote to Miami-Dade Elections Supervisor Christina White.
“This correspondence shall serve as my irrevocable resignation as Miami-Dade Commissioner for District 8 effective November 16, 2020, at 11:59 p.m.
Levine Cava’s decision to continue campaigning for Mayor of Miami-Dade County and simultaneously keep your current post has not gone unnoticed.
The government watchdog group, Keep Government Accountable Coalition, has sent a letter to Levine Cava’s legislative office demanding that she immediately resign her position in order for an election to replace her current position takes place during the August primary election.
“There is absolutely no reason why taxpayers should be forced to pay for a special election to satisfy the needs of someone running for higher office,” said Chairman Frank de Varona. “Daniella Levine Cava should resign immediately so the election takes place in August with the regularly scheduled election.”
The group claims in the letter that Levine Cava’s resignation date will trigger a special election that “could end up costing taxpayers as much as $1 million” and asks her to “treat taxpayers with the respect they deserve by resigning immediately.”
Before she can become the first female Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Levine Cava must first get past her August election against fellow County Commissioner Esteban Bovo and Xavier Suarez and former County Mayor Alex Penelas.
To avoid a run-off election, the winner of the August mayoral election must win 51% of the vote.
Expect a run-off election to take place.
