Dade County: Unbossed,Erratically Led

Abstract

Personal political leadership in Dade County— Miami, Florida—when it does exist, tends to be short-lived and limited in scope—that is, confined to a particular area of the county or to a particular level of government. The elements of the political environment which produce a high degree of political atomization are ever-changing factions in a one-party state, failure of the multitudes of newly arrived residents to identify themselves with the governmental problems of the area, the predominance of suburban attitudes and values to gether with a lack of organization of minority groups whether or not they be disadvantaged, and local governmental forms stressing nonpartisanship and the short ballot. The news papers, which have greater than normal weight owing to the peculiar dependence of the newcomers on the papers, wield substantial influence. No recent newspaper publisher or editor has attempted to develop personal political leadership. A newspaper in alliance with an attractive leader could become a potent political force.