mcw casino Herald endorsement: Our pick in the Miami-Dade Tax Collector Republican primary | Opinion
In advance of the upcoming primary elections on Aug. 20, 2024, the Editorial Board interviewed and researched candidates to better understand their views on various issues and how their policies will affect their constituents. The goal is to give voters a better idea of who’s the best candidate for each race.
Expand AllUp to now, the job of Miami-Dade tax collector has been administrative within the county government. Peter Cam is the current tax collector but has chosen not to run for the job, which was made an elected position following a 2018 state constitutional amendment.
Two candidates, Bryan Calvo and Dariel Fernandez, are running in the Aug. 20 Republican primary. The winner will face Democrat David Richardson, a former Miami Beach commissioner and state legislator.
Calvo, an attorney, is a Hialeah councilman. At 26, he was the youngest person elected to that post.
Fernandez, 46, runs his own seven-employee software company in Miami-Dade. He has unsuccessfully ran for the Miami-Dade Commission.
The Tax Collector’s Office is the custodian of property taxes, special assessments for all local taxing authorities, local business tax and convention and tourist taxes. Tax collectors issue motor vehicle registrations and renewals and boat, hunting and fishing licenses. After the 2024 elections, the office will also issue Florida driver licenses to residents.
Calvo and Fernandez said their number one goal is to improve customer service. Currently, the tax collector only has one office, in downtown Miami. Both candidates say they will immediately open more satellite offices, especially in underserved neighborhoods. They will also overhaul the services residents can receive online.
The office, with around 200 employees, will have its budget and bank account separate from Miami-Dade starting in January.
“With my experience as a small business owner and software developer, I can bring solutions to the Tax Collector’s Office,” Fernandez told the Herald Editorial Board.
Calvo, who studied economics at Harvard University and then served as a White House intern, earned his law degree from Florida International University. To seek this office, he has resigned, starting in November, from the Hialeah council, where his feud with Mayor Esteban Bovo, a fellow Republican, has made headlines.
On his part, Fernandez says Bovo is a friend and supporter but did not ask him to run against Calvo.
If elected, both Calvo and Fernandez promise to implement technological improvements. The new office is a clean-slate position that can be shaped as the general election winner wishes.
Calvo plans to use the position of tax collector to advocate on issues on behalf of the public.
“I think when the office is independent, it can be used as a bully pulpit,” Calvo told the Herald Editorial Board.
It’s a close call for the Editorial Board. Both men are tech-savvy and will help modernize a tax paying process that often frustrates residents.
Fernandez’s experience in supervising a large state office is limited. Calvo’s mix of legal, policy making and private sector experience, and promised advocacy on behalf of the pubic, makes him better suited to be tax collector.
Also, Calvo’s input in helping run Miami-Dade’s second-largest city gives him an edge over Fernandez, although Calvo’s age is a concern.
Calvo has plenty to learn, but he has the vision and energy to propel the Tax Collector’s Office into the 21st century with streamlined services and innovative solutions.
The Miami Herald Editorial Board endorses BRYAN CALVO in the Miami-Dade Tax Collector Republican primary.
BEHIND OUR REPORTING Who decides the political recommendations?In advance of local and state elections, Miami Herald Editorial Board members interview political candidates, as well as advocates and opponents of ballot measures. The Editorial Board is composed of experienced opinion journalists and is independent of the Herald’s newsroom. Members of the Miami Herald Editorial Board are: Amy Driscoll, editorial page editor; and editorial writers Luisa Yanez and Isadora Rangel. Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
What does the recommendation process look like?The Miami Herald Editorial Board interviews political candidates to better understand their views on public policy and how their policies will affect their constituents. Board members do additional reporting and research to learn as much as possible about the candidates before making a recommendation. The Editorial Board then convenes to discuss the candidates in each race. Board members seek to reach a consensus on the recommendations, but not every decision is unanimous. Candidates who decline to be interviewed will not receive a recommendation.
Is the Editorial Board partisan?No. In making recommendations, members of the Editorial Board consider which candidates are better prepared to represent their constituents — not whether they agree with our editorial stances or belong to a particular political party. We evaluate candidates’ relevant experience, readiness for office, depth of knowledge of key issues and understanding of public policy. We’re seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points.
This story was originally published August 9, 2024, 1:18 PM.
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Copyright Commenting Policy Privacy PolicyCookie Preferences Your Privacy Choices Terms of Service Miami Herald Editorial Board’s 2024 Election EndorsementsIn advance of the upcoming primary elections on Aug. 20mcw casino, 2024, the Editorial Board interviewed and researched candidates to better understand their views on various issues and how their policies will affect their constituents. The goal is to give voters a better idea of who’s the best candidate for each race.
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