General Election - November 4, 2008

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Pedro Garcia

Gwen Margolis

The Dade County Farm Bureau has worked with legislators and regulatory agencies to accomplish the following:

• Passage of the Agricultural Lands & Practices Act in 2003 prevents counties from duplicating state, federal or water management district regulations, best management practices or interim measures.

• Passage of the Greenbelt Renewal in 2003 reinstated the automatic renewal for farmers and ranchers who are granted an agricultural classification by the property appraiser. In addition, those who failed to return their greenbelt card will not lose their agricultural classification.

• Passage of the Alfredo Bahena Act in 2004 protects Florida’s farm workers and provides penalties for labor contractors who violate the law.

• Recognition by Congress of the importance of flood protection in Miami-Dade County, resulting in no federal condemnation of farmland and the mandate that necessary flood controls must be in place before the Modified Waters Delivery project can begin.

• Worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Florida Water Management District and Miami-Dade County to ensure better flood protection in south Miami-Dade.

• Worked with Miami-Dade County to create an office of flood protection within the Department of Environmental Resource Management.

• Worked with Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess to include an agricultural liaison position in the 2005 budget.