Want To Be An Aventura City Commissioner? The City of Aventura will Conduct its General Election

Candidates must qualify to run during the period August 12-16, 2024 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., by providing the applicable items to the City Clerk as outlined on the election page on the City’s website: https://www.cityofaventura.com/162/Municipal-Election-Candidate-Information

Persons interested in running must reside in the areas in Aventura specified for each seat at the time of qualifying, at the time of election and must continue to reside in such residential area during the term of office. Candidates must also be electors of the City who have resided continuously in the City for at least one year preceding the date of filing to qualify.

The following City Commission seats will be open for re-election November 5, 2024:

Seat 1: Candidates must reside north of the Lehman Causeway.
Currently held by Commissioner Dr. Linda Marks

Seat 3: Candidates must reside south of the Lehman Causeway.
Currently held by Commissioner Billy Joel

Seat 5: Candidates may run at large with no regard to Residential Area.
Currently held by Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland

Become a Candidate
To become a candidate for the November 5, 2024 election, the following documents must be filed with the Aventura City Clerk PRIOR to opening a campaign account, receiving contributions, or making any expenditures:

1. DS-DE 9 ( https://files.floridados.gov/media/707494/dsde09-can-app-cam-treas-jan-2024.pdf ) Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository for Candidates - must be filed prior to opening the campaign account and prior to accepting contributions or making expenditures on the person’s behalf. A candidate may be his or her own campaign treasurer or deputy treasurer.

The campaign depository must be a bank, savings and loan association or credit union authorized to do business in the State of Florida. The account may be entitled “(Name of Candidate) Campaign Account.” This account must be separate from any personal or business accounts. All monetary contributions received must be deposited in the campaign account within five business days of receipt. Only the campaign treasurer or the deputy campaign treasurer may sign campaign expenditure checks.

2. DS-DE 84 ( https://files.floridados.gov/media/693280/dsde84.pdf ) Statement of Candidate - must be filed within 10 days of filing of DS-DE 9. This form states that the candidate has been provided access to read and understand the requirements of Chapter 106, F.S.

3. Access to the candidate and campaign treasurer handbook and the election laws of the state of Florida (PDF) document.

Kindly schedule an appointment with the City Clerk by email: ehorvath@cityofaventura.com or calling: 305-466-8901. After filing the appropriate paperwork with the City Clerk, candidates may then open a campaign account and begin to accept contributions and make expenditures.

Qualify to Be Placed on the Ballot
Candidates must qualify to run during the period August 12-16, 2024 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. by providing the applicable items to the City Clerk. Please keep in mind that all candidates will be filing their paperwork during this time. As such, please schedule an appointment with the City Clerk by calling: (305) 466-8901 or email them to ensure that your paperwork can be received and reviewed for completeness, in time for qualifying.

Please be advised that if you intend to seek election to City Commission office, please be sure to provide the City Clerk with the necessary completed qualifying papers and fees in a sufficient period of time before the 4:30 pm expiration of the qualifying period on: Friday, August 16, 2024, so that your qualifying papers may be timely filed with the City Clerk prior to the end of the qualifying period.

For additional information and applicable documents please visit the election candidate page online at: https://www.cityofaventura.com/162/Municipal-Election-Candidate-Information or contact the Office of the City Clerk at: (305) 466-8901.