Mayoral candidate Michael Hepburn is quickly suspending his marketing campaign to provoke a recall effort towards Metropolis Commissioner Damian Pardo, accusing him of backing a proposal that might delay metropolis elections with out voter approval.
The measure—sponsored by Pardo—would transfer Miami’s elections to even-numbered years by skipping the November 2025 election and lengthening present officeholders’ phrases by a yr. The plan has drawn criticism from the Florida Legal professional Common’s Workplace and Gov. Ron DeSantis, each of whom say any such change have to be authorized by voters by way of referendum
The proposed measure—anticipated to go earlier than the Miami Metropolis Fee subsequent week—would lengthen the phrases of sitting commissioners by one yr and cancel town’s upcoming election.
Hepburn known as the transfer “unacceptable and undemocratic,” saying it undermines one of the crucial elementary rights in American democracy.
“When there’s a sitting Metropolis of Miami Commissioner who continues to push forth a proposal that may cancel our upcoming election and lengthen the time period of elected officers an extra yr with out having we the individuals vote for or towards this variation — that’s unacceptable and undemocratic,” Hepburn mentioned in a public assertion.
Michael Hepburn, 42, is a lifelong Miamian of Bahamian descent in search of to change into the primary Black mayor within the metropolis’s historical past. Born and raised in Miami, Hepburn’s household has lived within the metropolis since 1896. He’s a proud product of Miami-Dade County Public Faculties and Florida Worldwide College, the place he earned each a bachelor’s and a grasp’s diploma. His marketing campaign has centered on fairness, civic participation, and neighborhood-focused governance.
“Maybe this issues to me greater than most as a result of my ancestors and elders needed to tirelessly battle for, march for, and even die for the correct to vote on this nation,” Hepburn mentioned.
“If Commissioner Pardo doesn’t perceive the significance of giving us the poll, so we will take part in making this choice — then Commissioner Pardo is unfit to serve us.”
Hepburn warned that if the fee passes the proposal, he’ll start working with authorized counsel to file a recall petition for Pardo, who represents District 2. “All I’m asking for is to offer us the poll, so we the individuals can vote for or towards shifting our elections to 2026,” he mentioned.
Commissioner Pardo has not but publicly responded to the recall menace. The Miami Metropolis Fee is predicted to vote on the proposal subsequent week.
