Miami-Dade Democrats Urge Cuban-American Supervisor Alina García to Withdraw from Election Oversight Role Over Amendment 3 Support

The Democratic Party of Miami-Dade County has called for Alina García, the county's election supervisor, to step down from the canvassing board ahead of the upcoming November 3 elections.

CBS News Miami revealed that Democrats see García's public endorsement of Amendment 3 as a significant conflict of interest. This proposal, which aims to cut property taxes, will be on the same ballot that she is tasked with overseeing.

The controversy sparked when García, alongside three other Cuban-American constitutional officers, showed her support for Amendment 3 during a press conference held on September 28 at Miami's iconic Versailles restaurant.

“I am honored to stand here with my colleagues in support of Amendment 3. I urge everyone to vote 'yes' on Amendment 3, number 254 on your ballot. If you have your ballot at home, please fill it out and send it in,” García proclaimed at the event.

The Miami-Dade canvassing board, which ensures the validity of contested ballots and certifies official election results, includes García, a county court judge, and the County Commission's chairperson.

Brad Bauman, the communications committee chair for Miami-Dade's Democratic Party, explained, “This is the body in the county that would decide if a ballot from an eligible voter should be accepted if there’s any question about the ballot.”

Bauman criticized García for blurring the lines between public and private opinions: “If your opinion is private, you don’t hold a press conference to tell everyone what you support. What does this say about how our elections will be managed?”

García firmly rejected the call to step aside. “There is absolutely no conflict,” she stated when questioned about her role. In a subsequent written statement, she defended her stance: “I am speaking on this issue as a private citizen and resident, as a mother and grandmother. From this viewpoint, I support Amendment 3.”

Born in Havana and raised in Miami, García is the daughter of Cuban parents who fled the regime. She made history as the first election supervisor in the county to be elected by popular vote, assuming office in January 2025 with 56% of the vote.

Also present at the September 28 event were Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz and other county officials, all Cuban-American Republicans who took office in January 2025.

Their backing of Amendment 3, championed by Governor Ron DeSantis, puts them at odds with Democratic Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who warned that the measure might cost the county around $390 million in the first year, potentially leading to the closure of up to 19 fire stations and 10 of the county’s 51 libraries.

Amendment 3 proposes increasing the homestead exemption for property taxes from the current $50,000 to $150,000 by 2027 and to $250,000 by 2028, promising an annual saving of about $1,500 for homestead property owners in Miami-Dade.

However, the Tax Foundation cautions that renters may face increased costs if Amendment 3 passes, as rental property taxes could rise by approximately $1,081 annually by 2028, a burden landlords might pass down to tenants.

For the amendment to become part of Florida's Constitution, it requires 60% voter approval, but a mid-September poll by St. Pete Polls showed just 44.9% support among likely voters, with nearly 25% undecided.

The deadline for voter registration for the November 3 general elections is this Monday, making the controversy a hot topic for Miami-Dade residents who have yet to register.