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<br />'ffioaJCr! 0/ Yf/oU41t;y Yf/oJ}bI)MjJtO/n(]/~J___._ <br /> <br />... <br /> <br />April 15, 2008 <br /> <br />...!~:j. <br />.' . _.tI;~' <br />~~. ,; .,. <br />t~~'~I.! ;-;-:.1 <br />V' ---. . ," "\' <br />t:::r~l'" <br /> <br />P/(e6eca cffbja <br />COMMISSIONER <br />DISTRICT 6 <br /> <br />... <br /> <br />C <br />0; <br /> <br />I <br />! <br />1 <br />i <br />-j <br /> <br />Mr. John Szerlag <br />City Manager <br />City of Sunny Isles Beach <br />18070 Collins Avenue <br />Miami, FL 33160 <br /> <br />Dear Mr. Szerlag: <br /> <br />I recently sponsored resolution R-1135-07 requesting that the County Manager evaluate the feasibility <br />and advisability of consolidating municipal elections into one day or in conjunction with countywide <br />elections. As a result, on February 5, 2008, a report was brought before the Miami-Dade Board of County <br />Commissioners that recommended we adopt legislation urging municipal officials to sponsor their own <br />legislation in support of a consolidated elections calendar. This recommendation was approved based on <br />the benefits that will be realized by both the municipalities and its voters. <br /> <br />We would like to begin discussing how a consolidated elections calendar would benefit your city and its <br />voters. The meeting will take place on Monday, May 5. 2008 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Miami- <br />Dade County Elections Department (2700 NW 87 Avenue). Lester Sola, Miami-Dade County Supervisor <br />of Elections, will be in attendance to explain the extensive planning and preparation that is required to <br />hold an election, especially in light of the recent law mandating the use of optical scan technology. <br /> <br />Historically, municipalities holding elections on one day or in conjunction with a countywide election <br />experience higher turnout and reduced election costs. Your municipality could see a significant cost <br />savings from the economies of scale realized through consolidating election-related services such as <br />ballot programming, printing, tabulation, equipment delivery, overtime and seasonal employee costs - all <br />of which are associated with administering separate municipal elections. In addition, your municipality will <br />benefit from an increase in voter participation as municipalities holding elections on one day or in <br />conjunction with a countywide election historically experience higher turnout, due in part to enhanced <br />media exposure. <br /> <br />I hope that you will join me to discuss this topic further with the hopes of making our election process <br />more efficient and keeping government spending low. Please do not hesitate to contact my office at the <br />number below if you have any questions or require additional information. <br /> <br />To confirm your attendance to this event, please R.SVP. with Carolina Lopez, Assistant to the Chief <br />Deputy Supervisor of Elections, at 305-499-8509 or via email at lopezc@miamidade.Qov. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />Rebeca Sosa <br />Miami-Dade County Commissioner <br /> <br />cc: Alina T. Hudak, Assistant County Manager <br />Lester Sola, Supervisor of Elections <br /> <br />1000 S.W. 57TH AVENUE, SUITE 201 . MIAMI, FLORIDA 33144 . (305) 267-6377 . FAX (305) 267-6366 <br />