The initiative would prevent anyone chosen twice as mayor or commissioner who can run again for that position in the future. In addition, it would apply retroactively, affecting those who have already occupied those positions twice, regardless of whether their terms were consecutive or alternate.
“The objective of the resolution is to create a more open, more diverse government, with a greater variety of ideas, similar to the communities that it represents,” Pardo explained daily Las Américas.
Necessary change for Miami policy
On the city of Miami there is a shadow of scandals and cases of conflicts of interests that have resulted in investigations, judicial demands and commissioner dismissals. The proposal is born in a context in which many residents express their discontent with the prolonged permanence and recycling of certain politicians in power.
“In campaign, the first thing that all residents told me was: we want to change, this has to stop. We are tired of the same people with the same problems. Miami does not deserve this,” said the commissioner.
One of the central points of the Pardo Commissioner’s argument is the need for the city to reflect its diversity and the freshness of youth in political leadership. “In the Miami commission there is no one chosen with less than 60 years. The new generations are not represented. Today, there is another way of thinking, with technology, with innovation, and new ideas, which are not present in the legislative body of the city,” he explained.
Immediate impact on local policy
If the measure is approved by voters in 2025, its application would be immediate and would affect the political configuration of the city. Among the officials who would be impacted are the Miami-Dade Keon Hardemon commissioner, the former Miami Ken Russell and Frank Carollo, who could only aspire to the mayor’s office.
For his part, Commissioner Carollo and Mayor Francis Suárez, who have served at least 16 years in the municipal government, could not aspire more to occupy a position in the city.
“The most important thing about this resolution is that the future of the city changes. Other people will come, new voices, with different ways of thinking, and that is what we need,” said Pardo.
The proposal also responds to the suspicion of residents about the use of political power by some public servants over the years, without a temporary limit. Although Pardo did not directly accuse any corruption official, he said that there is a strong influence of financial interests in the city’s decisions.
“For me, corruption is when interests with money influence and have some impact on city policies and practices. For others, it may not be, but I see it that way,” he said.
Worse for lobbyists and lobists
One of Pardo’s arguments in favor of reform is the need to reduce the influence of lobbyists on Miami policy. The lobbyists, also known as lobists, are people or groups that try to influence the decisions of public officials in favor of private, corporate interests or certain economic sectors. In many cases, lobbyists have close relationships with long -experience politicians, which allows them to exercise significant control over the formulation of their policies.
According to Pardo, the prolonged permanence of certain officials in the government allows lobbyists to confidence in power.
“The lobbyists have relationships with people who remain in power over the years. They know them, they know what their preferences are, and how to handle them. They are empowered,” he explained.
The limitation of mandates, argued Pardo, would force the lobbyists to start over every time there is a leadership change, reducing their capacity for influence.
“By changing elected officials, lobbyists have to adapt to new dynamics and negotiate with new leaders, which generates uncertainty and decreases their power over the city’s decisions,” he said.
For the commissioner, this measure would help stop the consolidation of private interests in municipal policy and give greater weight to the needs of citizens in decision making.
“It is the opposite of what some say. This change does not strengthen the lobbyists, but also weakens them by interrupting the influence relationships they have built over time,” he insisted.
Other initiatives
The proposal of mandate limits is not the only structural change The new elected officers have promoted since they arrived in the commission a year ago. Among other initiatives, the creation of the Independent Auditor, whose function is to combat corruption and modification of the city’s districts, stands out. They are also promoting a proposal to improve transparency in government legal expenses.
One of the most discussed changes in the commission at the last meeting was precisely the accountability on the external lawyers hired to represent elected officials in cases of conflict of interest. This measure, promoted by Commissioner Miguel Ángel Gabela, establishes that the city lawyer must inform when the fees exceed $ 500,000 in any “new case”. It was precisely the expression “new case” used in the writing of the initiative that made Gabela postpone the discussion for another meeting since his idea is that all open legal cases, “new or old”, have to account.
“The Commissioner Gabela and I are trying to improve transparency and accountability,” said Pardo who also expressed interest in matching the municipal elections with the generals, with the aim of increasing citizen participation. “A city plague is the low participation of voters in municipal elections, as well as 12%, while a much greater participation is observed in the general elections,” he explained.
Another aspect in which the Pardo Commissioner is working is the implementation of a code of behavior for elected officials.
“Currently, there is no regulation that establishes how officials should behave. If an elected officer is giving false information or creating false attacks, that should be regulated,” he emphasized.
New political panorama for the city
Pardo’s proposal represents one of the most significant reforms for Miami policy in recent years. If you receive green light in the commission and voters approve it in November, the city could experience a radical change in the political landscape, promoting renewal and limiting the permanence of officials in power.
“This measure changes the city in terms of the future. Because it brings diversity, variety and new ideas to the table. And that is what we really need,” said Pardo.
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