Natacha Seijas Files Lawsuit to Block Recall Election

Commissioner Natacha Seijas

​Natacha Seijas, perhaps Miami-Dade's most infamous and reviled sitting commissioner, has filed a lawsuit in a desperate attempt to try and derail her recall election. Attorneys for Seijas claim they are challenging flaws in the signed petition sent to the Clerk of Courts, but Seijas is also likely trying to do anything to delay the recall election long enough so as not to appear on the same recall ballot as County Mayor Carlos Alvarez.

When billionaire Norman Braman first hinted at the idea of funding recall efforts after Alvarez and the commission voted to hike property taxes, he toyed with the idea of targeting commissioners as well. Braman ultimately only targeted Alvarez (the date for his recall election should be soon), but political group Miami Voice took up the call to urge a recall of commissioners. Seijas was their only success.

Under law, four percent of the registered voters in a Miami-Dade elected official's constituency must sign a petition to trigger a recall election. The petitions to recall Seijas were sent to Clerk of Courts Harvey Ruvin just before the Holidays, and Seijas is claiming there's no way he could have certified all of the signatures in such a short time during the Holiday season. She has hired attorneys specializing in fighting recall elections to represent her in the legal battle.

Seijas is also thought to be trying desperately to have her recall election, if one should be set, and that of Alvarez's set on separate dates. The high profile recall of Alvarez would likely drive many change-minded, angry voters to the polls, hurting Seijas' chances to survive the recall.

Seijas had already survived one recall attempt back in 2006.

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