Miami-Dade Mayor, Carlos Alvarez, was recalled from his position this week before his second term was up. Eighty eight percent of voters backed the recall making it one of the biggest recalls of an elected official.

Carlos Alvarez, former Miami-Dade Mayor

Alvarez was first elected as mayor in 2004 and was re-elected in 2008 before being ousted. Cal Watchdog reported that problems arose for Alvarez last year when the unemployment rate was at 12 percent and they were facing a huge budget deficit.

In order to offset the deficit and pay for public services such as schools and police, Alvarez proposed a 14 percent property tax increase despite the fact that Miami has been hit hard by the real estate crisis and property values are at an all time low.

The Wall Street Journal reported that most likely a special election will be had to replace Alvarez for the remainder of the term, which ends in November 2012.