Carlos’s Opinion / February 7th

Greetings Readers! Before I start with my comments in this edition, I would like to congratulate the team of professionals of Doral News: journalists, collaborators, columnists, the ladies in the Production Department, the Marketing Department and advertising investment advisers, press photographers, institutional relations and the management. On Saturday, January 28^th, this newspaper was awarded the Miami Life Award, on its sixth annual event, as Best Newspaper of the year 2011.

To all those people who voted for Doral News through the Miami Life Award webpage, I would like to express my sincere thanks on behalf of all our staff for your preference for this newspaper. This award makes us feel even more committed to the community to always maintain our seriousness and editorial excellence. Journalists Carlos Guillen and Maria Carolina Gonzalez received the award on behalf of Doral News. Once again, congratulations to all.

The election ballot to vote on January 31st was like a pun, I would say like a tongue twister. The question to amend the Constitutional Charter of the County was so confusing that many people with whom I talked had to do a Brainstorm to be able to understand the question. I even approached two congressmen looking for a clarification in comprehensible terms about “to increase from 60 to 120 days the time allowed to circulate initiatory petitions…”??? Beware; this question was not clear either in Spanish or English. I think that those who develop these questions should be more concise and accurate, as with the question about amending the Constitutional Charter to increase the salaries of Commissioners -do you want to increase their salaries or not? That’s it. As simple as that.

By the way, about the salary issue, people understood the question clearly, zero increase for Commissioners. Apparently they were not earning $6,000 annually, not at all; therefore, people voted NO for an increase to $92,097.00. The truth of the matter is that people are very upset with this issue and expressed their feelings through the votes.

“…….After much consideration and consulting with my wife and family I have come to the decision that I will not be running for the County Mayor’s position this year. After more than ten years of public service and with a growing family, the time has come to make sure that I can spend quality time with my children and wife. Although my campaign for County Mayor has come to an end, my campaign to reform County government will continue both through the remainder of my term as Mayor of Doral and as a private citizen subsequent to the end of my term as Mayor of Doral this November. In addition, I will work to make sure that Doral continues to be the most transparent local government in our state and will be working this final year to preserve and solidify all of the gains that have made us one of the great cities in the United States despite being such a young municipality. I will continue to work to protect the legacy of character, integrity, decency and good public policy which we have established and which we should seek from all of our future elected officials in Doral.” This is part of the statement that Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez sent last week when he decided not to run for the County’s Major. It was a smart decision; the political and personal ups and downs that Bermudez has had to face, should not affect his family. My opinion is that, over the past 8 years, JC has had a good performance together with all his staff. No one can deny this. Although “some” could think that I am a “shoe shiner” for what I just said, I do not care. That is what I think, and to Caesar what is Caesar’s.

A phrase from the book of Miguel Cervantes, Don Quixote de la Mancha, is very fashionable these days in our city, at least that is what we have heard in the streets of this “city of bright and dull stars” as Kathy Tahan would say: let the dogs bark, Sancho. It’s a sign that we are on track…” A word to the wise is enough.

On February 12, Venezuelans are committed to vote in the primary elections to elect, God willing, the next President of the Republic of Venezuela. Never before in our country’s republican history has this happened. This is the time, my dear readers, to demonstrate solidarity with our Motherland that is going through very difficult times. Doralians already know the location of the Mega Center here at Doral where we have to vote next Sunday, February 12. This is our duty to our Motherland. THERE IS NO OCTOBER 7^TH WITHOUT FEBRUARY 12^TH. That is also my opinion.

Carlos Herradez

carlos@doralnewsonline.com