Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez Recalled in a Landslide

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez was ousted from office Tuesday night by voters angry over county spending, tax increases and a controversial stadium deal.

The recall election, engineered by South Florida auto magnate Norman Braman, attracted a relatively heavy turnout. With more than half the votes tallied, 88 percent were against Alvarez, making it mathematically impossible for him to win.

Early votes also were running heavily against County Commissioner Natacha Seijas, who was also up for recall.

Alvarez's defeat was widely predicted by opinion polls. Voters complained about the mayor using tax funds to build a multimillion-dollar stadium for the Marlins baseball team while raising property taxes and giving hefty pay raises to close aides.

The County Commission now must appoint an interim mayor or schedule a special election to fill out Alvarez's remaining term, which expires next year.

Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina, County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez and ex-rapper Luther Campbell are among the bigger-name contenders who have expressed interest in replacing Alvarez.

Gimenez called the recall "the result of inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars and an increase in property taxes at a time when Miami-Dade residents are least able to afford it.

My support of this recall election was the result of the blatant abuse of power in utilizing county employees and resources to fight the recall," Gimenez said.?