Broadcast by: ABC10 – WPLG Miami
Reported by: Glenna Milberg
Posted: 2/16/09

Spence-Jones, who gave birth to her first child on Jan. 30, did not interrupt her maternity leave to be the swing vote last Friday that would have decided the fate of a new ballpark for the Florida Marlins. The stadium would be paid for by what could eventually amount to more than $1 billion in tourist taxes, Local 10's Glenna Milberg reported.

Milberg’s Musings: The Inside Baseball

MIAMI — The Florida Marlins and their quest for a taxpayer-funded, multimillion-dollar deal for a new ballpark takes a backseat to motherhood, according to Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones, the Miami city commissioner who missed Friday's seven-hour debate on the issue.

“I am home taking care of my baby. There is nothing more important than that right now," Spence-Jones said.

Spence-Jones answered the door at her home Monday morning with her 2-week old son in her arms, aggravated that reporters would interrupt her maternity leave with questions about her absence and her vote.

City Commissioners Joe Sanchez and Angel Gonzalez voted in favor of the deal; Commissioners Marc Sarnoff and Tomas Regalado voted against it. Without the swing vote of Spence-Jones, the plan could not progress.

In a strategic move to spare the stadium deal from certain death, commission Chairman Sanchez rescheduled the vote for March 12.

Spence-Jones has had pivotal votes on controversial issues before. She is under scrutiny for her swing vote in December 2007 on a zoning question that cleared the way for developer The Related Group to build high-rise condominium towers near Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.

The stadium vote takes place with an election looming next November. Spence-Jones is up for re-election, and two other Miami commissioners, Sanchez and Regalado, have filed to run to replace Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, who is under term limits.

Spence-Jones’ constituents in Miami's District 5 seem split on how they want her to vote on the stadium deal. Some express doubts that their neighborhood would benefit from a new ballpark in Little Havana. Others are hopeful stadium construction would present new job opportunities.

The Miami Times newspaper, historically the media voice of Miami’s black community, has not taken a position on the stadium deal, though it has fielded phone calls from the Florida Marlins' public relations representatives trying to get team management an appointment with the publisher, insiders said.

“I haven’t decided how I’m going to vote,” said Spence-Jones, who said she is allowed one month of maternity leave and will be present for the March 12 scheduled vote.



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