The businessman who led the recall of Miami-Dade's mayor and pushed to reform county government says he will vote against all the charter amendments at the May 24 special election.

Norman Braman told Sunshine State News he cannot support any of the so-called reform measures tweaked, retooled or simply made up by county commissioners.

The South Florida auto magnate said that instead of cleaning up county government, as he initially proposed in a set of "covenants," the charter amendments were "perverted" by commissioners to maintain the status quo -- or worse.

The Braman-led recall campaign succeeded in ousting Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Commissioner Natacha Seijas last month. More than 80 percent of the county's voters threw the pair out of office amid rising public disgust over tax increases and government spending. Braman, former owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, tapped taxpayer angst over the county's multimillion-dollar sweetheart deal for the Marlins' new baseball stadium.

Despite the landslide recall, Braman is skeptical about the momentum for future civic reform in light of the changes the County Commission made to his original proposals.

"Nothing that happens here surprises me anymore," Braman said. "We will campaign against all the amendments."

A rundown on the amendments and how they differ from Braman's original proposals:


COMMISSION EMPLOYMENT: Each county commissioner shall devote full-time service to the office of county commissioner and hold no other employment, no longer receive their current $6,000 annual salary established in 1957 but receive instead the salary provided by state statutory formula, adjusted annually based on the county's population (currently approximately $92,097). and shall serve no more than three consecutive four-year terms in office.

BRAMAN'S PROPOSAL: "Transform the office of county commissioner by imposing a term limit of two four-year terms, barring commissioners from outside employment, barring them from lobbying activities for 10 years after leaving office, in exchange for which they would be paid a reasonable salary."

COMMENTS: In addition to wide public criticism over the huge pay increase (which would put Miami-Dade's commissioners on a proportional par with neighboring Broward County's), Braman says the successive terms of office are too generous, far surpassing limits that apply to state legislators. He would have preferred that any term limits took previous years of service into account. County Commission Chairman Joe Martinez is even calling on voters to reject this measure.


LOBBYING THE COUNTY: Prohibits elected county charter officers from lobbying the county for compensation for a period of two years after leaving office.

BRAMAN'S PROPOSAL: "Avoid conflicts of interests in county lobbying activities by requiring public disclosures related to lobbying activities and prohibiting any person or entity who lobbies on the county's behalf from lobbying county government on behalf of others during such county representation."

COMMENTS: Braman sought a 10-year ban.