Latest news with #Wysong
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Miami doubles down on proposal to delay election, teeing up battle with the state
Miami officials are moving forward with a controversial proposal that would push the November election back to 2026 and give the city's current elected officials an extra year in office, defying a written opinion from the Florida attorney general and a public rebuke from Gov. Ron DeSantis, both of whom say the change requires voter approval. Miami City Attorney George Wysong authored an opinion Thursday stating that the City Commission has the authority to move the election, rather than the change going to voters in a ballot referendum. Wysong's opinion landed the day after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued an opinion stating that such a change must be approved through a ballot referendum. City Commissioner Miguel Angel Gabela had quietly asked the state to weigh in with a legal opinion. Wysong's opinion positions the city for a potential battle with the state, as the governor has also taken interest in the matter. In a Thursday social media post, DeSantis concurred with Uthmeier, saying 'city of Miami politicians do not have the authority to cancel this year's elections and extend their terms in office without voter approval.' READ MORE: Miami mayor is lobbying behind the scenes for proposal to skip November election Wysong issued his opinion in response to a request from City Commissioner Damian Pardo, who is sponsoring legislation that would delay the upcoming November election. Pardo is seeking to move the city to even-year elections where voter turnout is higher. Aligning with the state and national election cycle can also save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars in election costs. The City Commission is slated to take its first of two votes on Pardo's proposal on Tuesday. While Uthmeier's opinion threatened to thwart Pardo's effort, Wysong's response could provide the city commissioners enough reassurance to push forward anyway. Wysong cited three Florida statutes that he argues give the city the green light. One of those statutes states that the governing body of a city can 'by ordinance, change the dates for qualifying and for the election of members of the governing body of the municipality and provide for the orderly transition of office resulting from such date changes.' Changes to the city charter require voter approval, and the provision stating that Miami elections take place in odd years is enshrined in the city charter. But in his opinion, Wysong cited a Florida statute that says, regardless of the provisions in a municipal charter, the governing body of a city can 'move the date of any municipal election to a date concurrent with any statewide or countywide election' by ordinance. 'Even if the City Charter conflicts with the statutes, the statutes control,' Wysong wrote. Uthmeier, on the other hand, pointed to the Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter, arguing that 'the electorate of the City of Miami, by way of the County's provisions in the County Charter, has a direct role in amending its charter' and that 'ignoring this procedure would render meaningless' certain provisions in the Florida Constitution. 'The charter specifies that the electors of municipalities must decide directly, by way of referenda, whether to amend their charter,' Uthmeier said. He added that 'a decision in which the municipality's governing body alone purports to amend unilaterally the municipality's charter simply contradicts the county's charter.' 'The fact that the result of the charter amendment might achieve a specific objective stated in a general law is of no consequence,' Uthmeier said. Pardo needs support from at least two of his colleagues on the five-member City Commission to move the proposal forward. Commissioners Joe Carollo and Gabela have stated they are opposed to the proposal and will be voting no. That leaves Commissioners Christine King and Ralph Rosado — who was elected in a special election last week — as Pardo's potential allies. King declined to share her thoughts about moving the election before Tuesday's commission meeting. Pardo has also gotten assistance from Mayor Francis Suarez, who has been lobbying behind the scenes to whip up commission support for Pardo's proposal. If the change passes, Suarez — who is term-limited as mayor — would get a ninth consecutive year as mayor and a 17th consecutive year in City Hall. Suarez was previously a city commissioner from 2009 to 2017. Carollo, who is also reaching the end of his term limits, would get a ninth consecutive year as the District 3 commissioner. The other four elected officials — Pardo, Gabela, King and Rosado — would get an extra year in office as well. That means Tuesday's meeting puts Rosado in a position to vote to give himself an extra year in office at his first City Commission meeting. Rosado has previously said he's in favor of moving to even-year elections, but he has not committed publicly to voting for or against Pardo's proposal. While the attorney general's opinion gave him some pause, Rosado told the Miami Herald that 'I trust our city attorney and the way he's guiding us.' 'George [Wysong] is adamant that the commission does, in fact, have the right to vote on this on Tuesday,' Rosado said. Asked if he thinks it would disenfranchise voters to extend or shorten city commissioners' terms without voter input, Rosado said, 'I'm gonna have to think about that.' The newly minted District 4 commissioner noted that many people have been reaching out to him about the proposal. 'Folks feel strongly one way or the other,' Rosado said. 'I don't think there's a solution that is somehow perfect, that makes everybody happy.'
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Miami doubles down on proposal to delay election, teeing up battle with the state
Miami officials are moving forward with a controversial proposal that would push the November election back to 2026 and give the city's current elected officials an extra year in office, defying a written opinion from the Florida attorney general and a public rebuke from Gov. Ron DeSantis, both of whom say the change requires voter approval. Miami City Attorney George Wysong authored an opinion Thursday stating that the City Commission has the authority to move the election, rather than the change going to voters in a ballot referendum. Wysong's opinion landed the day after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued an opinion stating that such a change must be approved through a ballot referendum. City Commissioner Miguel Angel Gabela had quietly asked the state to weigh in with a legal opinion. Wysong's opinion positions the city for a potential battle with the state, as the governor has also taken interest in the matter. In a Thursday social media post, DeSantis concurred with Uthmeier, saying 'city of Miami politicians do not have the authority to cancel this year's elections and extend their terms in office without voter approval.' READ MORE: Miami mayor is lobbying behind the scenes for proposal to skip November election Wysong issued his opinion in response to a request from City Commissioner Damian Pardo, who is sponsoring legislation that would delay the upcoming November election. Pardo is seeking to move the city to even-year elections where voter turnout is higher. Aligning with the state and national election cycle can also save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars in election costs. The City Commission is slated to take its first of two votes on Pardo's proposal on Tuesday. While Uthmeier's opinion threatened to thwart Pardo's effort, Wysong's response could provide the city commissioners enough reassurance to push forward anyway. Wysong cited three Florida statutes that he argues give the city the green light. One of those statutes states that the governing body of a city can 'by ordinance, change the dates for qualifying and for the election of members of the governing body of the municipality and provide for the orderly transition of office resulting from such date changes.' Changes to the city charter require voter approval, and the provision stating that Miami elections take place in odd years is enshrined in the city charter. But in his opinion, Wysong cited a Florida statute that says, regardless of the provisions in a municipal charter, the governing body of a city can 'move the date of any municipal election to a date concurrent with any statewide or countywide election' by ordinance. 'Even if the City Charter conflicts with the statutes, the statutes control,' Wysong wrote. Uthmeier, on the other hand, pointed to the Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter, arguing that 'the electorate of the City of Miami, by way of the County's provisions in the County Charter, has a direct role in amending its charter' and that 'ignoring this procedure would render meaningless' certain provisions in the Florida Constitution. 'The charter specifies that the electors of municipalities must decide directly, by way of referenda, whether to amend their charter,' Uthmeier said. He added that 'a decision in which the municipality's governing body alone purports to amend unilaterally the municipality's charter simply contradicts the county's charter.' 'The fact that the result of the charter amendment might achieve a specific objective stated in a general law is of no consequence,' Uthmeier said. Three votes needed Pardo needs support from at least two of his colleagues on the five-member City Commission to move the proposal forward. Commissioners Joe Carollo and Gabela have stated they are opposed to the proposal and will be voting no. That leaves Commissioners Christine King and Ralph Rosado — who was elected in a special election last week — as Pardo's potential allies. King declined to share her thoughts about moving the election before Tuesday's commission meeting. Pardo has also gotten assistance from Mayor Francis Suarez, who has been lobbying behind the scenes to whip up commission support for Pardo's proposal. If the change passes, Suarez — who is term-limited as mayor — would get a ninth consecutive year as mayor and a 17th consecutive year in City Hall. Suarez was previously a city commissioner from 2009 to 2017. Carollo, who is also reaching the end of his term limits, would get a ninth consecutive year as the District 3 commissioner. The other four elected officials — Pardo, Gabela, King and Rosado — would get an extra year in office as well. That means Tuesday's meeting puts Rosado in a position to vote to give himself an extra year in office at his first City Commission meeting. Rosado has previously said he's in favor of moving to even-year elections, but he has not committed publicly to voting for or against Pardo's proposal. While the attorney general's opinion gave him some pause, Rosado told the Miami Herald that 'I trust our city attorney and the way he's guiding us.' 'George [Wysong] is adamant that the commission does, in fact, have the right to vote on this on Tuesday,' Rosado said. Asked if he thinks it would disenfranchise voters to extend or shorten city commissioners' terms without voter input, Rosado said, 'I'm gonna have to think about that.' The newly minted District 4 commissioner noted that many people have been reaching out to him about the proposal. 'Folks feel strongly one way or the other,' Rosado said. 'I don't think there's a solution that is somehow perfect, that makes everybody happy.'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Manatee School Board meeting to focus on superintendent's resignation or termination, board member says
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — The Manatee County School Board has called a special meeting for Tuesday. The focus will be on the superintendent's contract. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now School board members selected Dr. Jason Wysong May of 2023. He had previously been a Deputy Superintendent with Seminole County Public Schools since 2021. A source within the district said the special meeting will either be about the resignation or termination of the superintendent. He did not go into further details. 'When public education is done really well, it's an economic driver, and it's a civic driver for community success,' said Wysong in July 2023, when he was sworn in as superintendent. Hernando High teacher charged with giving student Kratom Less than two years later, the school board called a special meeting. It was posted on the calendar on Friday, May 16. The agenda shows the 'Purpose: conduct business relating to educational issues.' It was initiated by School Board Chair Chad 8 On Your Side spoke with Choate, he wrote, 'It is a discussion on his contract. Where that goes will depend on the board discussion.'Vice Chair Cindy Spray told me she had no comment. She suggested for those curious to attend the meeting or watch it via Zoom on Tuesday at 9 a.m.'Which is not much notice and a difficult time for parents and the community who work most people to attend,' said Robin Taub Williams, president of Democratic Public Education Caucus of said concerned parents alerted her of the special meeting over the weekend.'There's a lack of transparency and a lack of time, and from what I've heard from good sources that the intention is to terminate the superintendent, that's not explicitly stated on the agenda item,' she Manatee County School District told 8 On Your Side anything before the meeting would be deemed as speculation and would not comment further. 8 On Your Side questioned School Board Member Heather Felton about the special meeting. She cited Sunshine Laws preventing her from going into detail outside of school board chambers.'In terms of academic metrics, things have been improving under [Wysong's] leadership,' said from the Florida Department of Education shows the Manatee District Graduation Rate in 2023 was 82.3% and the following year that rate rose to 85.7%. In response to the FDOE school grades released Superintendent Wysong released this statement on July 25, 2024: I am pleased with the academic progress made by Manatee County students and schools during the 2023-24 school year, as measured by results from the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) progress monitoring system initiated by the state in 2022. With support and inspiration from talented teachers, staff, and administrators, students across the district demonstrated significant growth in reading and mathematics. This year, 20 SDMC schools earned an A grade. Additionally, fifteen schools earned a higher grade in 2024 than either 2022 or 2023. We are especially proud to celebrate Abel Elementary (improved to A; first A since 2011), Ballard Elementary (improved from D to B; first B since 2011), Tillman Elementary (first A grade in school history), and Parrish Community High School (first A grade in school history). Manatee earned a district grade of B, finishing just two percentage points away from an A. We look forward to building on this momentum as we enter the 2024-25 school year! Williams questioned if the special meeting boils down to budget, but no matter what unfolds she wants transparency for parents and the community. 'I just think the public needs to have time to find out what the facts are here, and there shouldn't be this rush,' Williams said. The district source said a compensation package will need to be decided following the outcome of Tuesday's meeting. Once that's finalized, he said the school board will either choose an interim superintendent or appoint one. Wysong replaced former Superintendent Cynthia Saunders, who retired in June 2023 after 34 years in public education in Florida. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
