Miami-Dade’s Supervisor of Elections Alina Garcia speaks to reporters after Vote-by-Mail Ballots were loaded onto a USPS truck at the Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Office in Doral, Florida on Thursday, March 19, 2026. The mail ballots will be delivered to voters by mail for the upcoming April 21st City of Coral Gables elections.
PHOTO BY AL DIAZ
adiaz@miamiherald.com
Garcia must recuse herself
I have been involved in political campaigns my entire adult life; rarely did I not espouse my political views. In 2023, when I began my run for Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections, I knew I was embarking on an endeavor that would essentially eliminate my ability to publicly say anything about a candidate or issue, should I be elected.
During the 2024 election, I kept my comments about other candidates to a bare minimum. I even approached Republican election attorneys to explicitly tell them they would have an open door to my office. This was not the case with my opponent, who actively campaigned for other Republican candidates and was even caught on video chanting “socialista” at the Democratic U.S. senate nominee.
I was not surprised — rather, I was beyond appalled — when Alina Garcia, Miami-Dade County supervisor of elections, recently came out in favor of a state constitutional amendment now before the voters. In my years as an election attorney with a statewide practice, I never witnessed any of the 66 other elected Florida supervisors of elections violate such an important public trust.
By publicly favoring any measure on the ballot, Garcia broke with ethical norms established by others in her position. Her callous response to this adds insult to injury and places in serious doubt her ability to be an impartial arbiter of how votes are counted.
The responsible way to correct her apparent ethical lapse is to immediately recuse herself from the county’s Canvassing Board, but she has refused. The Board is a three-person panel with complete discretion to decide which vote-by-mail ballots are accepted or rejected and whether to certify election results or not.
Excepting Garcia, Florida’s election supervisors have refrained from opining on candidates or issues on the ballot. She has gravely failed this impartiality test. She should immediately reconsider her duties on the Canvassing Board and apologize to voters for her lapse in judgment.
Juan-Carlos Planas,
Miami
‘Vice’ signalling?
All large cities in all nations, from America to Zambia, have problems with crime, car theft, drugs, robbery and more. But only in America will Miami, aided and abetted by Miami-Dade County, announce to the world that it is proud to glorify its criminal side.
Shame on whoever decided to allow a huge banner proclaiming “Welcome to Vice City” to be raised.
Is this how we Miamians want to be known to the world? Is tarnishing our name worth 30 pieces of silver?
Ashby Cathey,
Miami
Fix FIU Law’s ‘error’
We have practiced law in Miami for 51 and 49 years, respectively. One of us spent a few early years working on legal matters for Florida International University. That was when it had only a couple of buildings, few trees, could not accept freshmen or sophomores and did not even think about graduate programs.
We have taken pride in the success of FIU’s law school during the past 23 years. Its bar passage rate is consistently first or second in Florida and several of its programs, including Litigation Skills, are outstanding. We have mentored, supported and hired FIU Law students. One of us has guest-taught.
Dean Anthony Page was doing a very good job before he was removed, but we recognize it was FIU President Jeanette Nuñez’s decision to make. We took comfort that professor Michelle Mason was appointed interim dean and that a distinguished search committee was selected.
We know the search committee had recommended three finalists to Nuñez. We were surprised when none were chosen and the committee was disbanded. We were absolutely dismayed by the selection of Daniel Epstein as interim dean.
A federal judge has disciplined Epstein. He is barred for a year from appearing in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, where many FIU students and graduates work. Epstein’s legal credentials are thin; his academic credentials even thinner. Regardless of his politics, the law school can do better. Much, much better.
We’re sure Nuñez loves FIU and is capable of great leadership. One of the hallmarks of leadership is recognizing a mistake and moving quickly to correct it. We hope that happens here.
John W. Kozyak,
Harley S. Tropin,
Kozyak, Tropin & Throckmorton,
Coral Gables
Rubio defines ideal
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Oct. 7 speech in the shadow of the Parthenon marked the return of the statesman/philosopher. Rarely have I heard so erudite an explanation and defense of our Judeo-Christian civilization, coupled with a detailed plan for its future revitalization and defense.
Rubio’s call to action should give us confidence to face our future, politics aside; and to his stint as leader of our once again free world.
Jeffrey Pattinson,
Miami
Jolly is mistaken
The race for Florida governor, between Democrat David Jolly and Republican Byron Donalds, is very tight. Jolly, however, has refused to debate Donalds, claiming the rules were unfair.
Yet, CBS4 News reporter Jim Defede has offered to be the moderator and set fair rules to be negotiated by both campaigns. Debates are very important for the voters to make an informed decision.
Jolly is making a huge mistake in refusing to debate Donalds; it could cost him the election.
Kenneth Karger,
Kendall
Hispanic resilience
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate culture and tradition. This year, it is also a time to recognize resilience. Across South Florida, Hispanic families are navigating fear brought on by immigration enforcement. Meanwhile, they keep working, raising families and showing up for one another.
That fear reaches survivors of domestic violence. Advocates say immigrant survivors are more afraid to come forward, fearing it could risk their immigration status. The federal government, the largest funder of domestic violence services, has proposed a nearly 30% cut to the Office on Violence Against Women. Furthermore, grants for the Victims of Crime Act have been delayed. Advocates report layoffs and reduced services.
For nearly 30 years, MUJER, Inc. has offered free, culturally grounded services to survivors in South Miami-Dade. On Sept, 25, more than 100 people gathered at our Colors of Courage fiesta with mariachi, a Monigotes performance and Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. Celebrating our heritage was not a distraction from this moment. It was a response to it.
Honoring Hispanic resilience means making sure every survivor knows help is here and stays funded. Learn more at mujerfla.org.
Alexandra Urdaneta,
Homestead
Why endorse Jolly?
One does not have to be a rocket scientist to understand that voters expect a dialogue between candidates to see what they intend to do when elected governor and how this will affect the citizens of Florida.
Apparently, Democratic candidate David Jolly has no solutions, ideas, or plans that he feels would be relevant to Florida voters. Perhaps, when toe-to-toe with Republican Byron Donalds, he feels inadequate to match his competitor.
Yet the Miami Herald, oddly, has endorsed Jolly. Something is wrong with this picture.
Lucita L. Moran,
Coral Gables
Surprise gift
The Trump Administration just sent $90 to my wife and me, to help us with our Medicare premiums. Our Medicare, prescription drug and supplemental health insurance coverage costs more than $12,000 per year, so it wasn’t a big help.
Many senior citizens also received these $90 stipends.
Trump is trying to “buy” votes in the upcoming midterm elections. I urge my fellow seniors to donate the $90 to their favorite Democratic candidate, Act Blue or the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Thank you, Mr. Trump!
Peter M. Brooke,
Doral