VotersOpinion Recommends (Okay, stop laughing now)

Miami-Dade County Commission District 2I’m going to do two things I’ve never done before:

1.  Write a blog about a Miami-Dade County Commission race; and

2.  Take a Miami Herald recommendation mostly seriously.

Since the race for Commission District 2 affects most of North Miami and a portion of North Miami Beach, I figured now is as good a time as any for me to put my two cents in.

The Miami Herald recommended Jean Monestime “based on the incumbent’s good record” over former Commissioner Dorrin Rolle, who lost his seat to Monestime in 2010.  Rolle obviously misses the job because he’s trying to take his seat back from Commissioner Monestime in the Primary Election on Tuesday, August 26, 2014.  (Click here: Official Sample Ballot.)

Even if Mr. Monestime’s list of accomplishments (such as the Herald’s reminder that he won “backing to set aside $126 million to extend sewer pipes into underserved business areas like those in his district”) weren’t enough to give him your vote, Mr. Rolle’s ethically challenged history as an elected official should make this a no-brainer decision.  Rolle has a long list of strikes against him that overshadows anything he might have achieved in the sixteen years he sat on the dais.

After being unseated by Monestime in 2010, the Biscayne Times’ Mark Sell scathingly point out that “[e]thical violations and investigations dogged Rolle throughout his tenure, while much of his District 2 remained mired in poverty and blight. He was criticized for making nearly $200,000 a year as head of the James E. Scott Community Association (JESCA) as it spiraled into insolvency. Driving a $125,000 Mercedes through his poverty-stricken district likely did not help.”

Ya think?

It also didn’t help that during the runoff in the 2010 race, Rolle chose the wrong forum in which to play the Race Card against his opponent.  As reported by the Miami New Times on October 27, 2010, at an NAACP Political Forum at a Liberty City Church, Monestime accused Rolle of “trying to divide African-Americans in Liberty City from Haitian-Americans in North Miami.”  Considering that about half of the black voters in District 2 are Haitian-Americans, and considering that Haitians are more likely to get out the vote than probably any other demographic in this district, accusing his Haitian opponent of being a “transplant” and ignoring the “inner city” was not exactly the smartest thing for Rolle to say.

Then again, in addition to suffering from Foot-In-Mouth Disease, Dorrin Rolle was dealing with plenty of other problems at the time.  Eye On Miami blog covered the 2010 election extensively, and heavily criticized Rolle for everything from his outrageous campaign expenditures, his cozy relationship with lobbyist donors, more race card antics by his supporters, and having a long list of donors that the Eye accused of “giving to the ethically challenged.”  That last list included Biscayne Landing’s Michael Swerdlow (’nuff said) and Homestead developer Wayne Rosen, who is also known to be connected with ethically challenged politicians.

When Rolle filed to challenge Monestime again in this year’s election, Eye On Miami simply posted, “Dorrin Rolle??? Really??? I couldn’t make this stuff up. I thought we saw the last of him.  Barf Meter alert.”

In April of this year, Political Cortadito gave Commissioner Monestime a shout out for his amazing fundraising capabilities, which is usually a litmus test of how much support a candidate has among his constituents.  Monestime raised $77,000.00 in March, compared to Rolle, who “raised $250.00” during that same time period.  If that doesn’t send a message to Dorrin Rolle to give it up, I don’t know what will.

I do not live in District 2, so I can’t cast a vote in this race.  But, if I could, there’s no question that I’d vote for Monestime.

If you want to consider an endorsement by a blogger, who also heartily endorses Publix apple fritters and pretty much anything made by Victoria’s Secret, I guess it’s official then.

Jean Monestime gets Stephanie Kienzle’s Endorsement!

I’m sure he’s thrilled beyond words.

Even if absolutely none of the things I’ve mentioned above impress you enough to re-elect Jean Monestime, I’m not above resorting to playing the Girl Card.

Which one of these two men would you rather look at during a Commission meeting?

Rolle-MonestimeYeah, I thought so!

VOTE FOR THE HOTTIE!

Just saying.

Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”

 

 

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10 thoughts on “VotersOpinion Recommends (Okay, stop laughing now)

  1. I guess I have become very cynical but can’t help wonder when we will hear about Jean Monestime’s getting cozy with lobbyists and driving a fancy car. I hope he proves me wrong and is truly ethical but I’m not holding my breath because it’s just a matter of time.

  2. All I know is anyone in District 8 please get out the vote for Daniella Levine Cava – and call people you know who live there. The commission affect us ALL regardless of where we live.

    She is, by far, a person of such honesty, integrity, ETHICS, and a model civil servant. Politics is lucky to have here (but then again she is a civil servant more than a politician.) She is a highly intelligent, good caring person. (Who with her background and education could be making lots more money doing other things, instead has been helping citizens, children, etc)

    There’s a reason she has every endorsement, every Union, and Miami Herald for what’s that’s worth too.

    And every commissioner counts for the future of all of us – does not matter what district they are from… so if you know anyone down south, this election is very important. Thanks for listening – no I am not related, but I know integrity and goodness when I see it. Something rare in South Florida we should all get behind!

    1. It’s not photoshopped. I believe it’s a formal portrait, possibly his campaign photo. I got it from his Facebook page. It might have been airbrushed, but it’s definitely not photoshopped.

      1. Airbrushed with Photoshop (or GIMP or whatever), so photoshopped.

        Of course, it would not cross my mind to imply that YOU photoshopped the thing. In fact, I googled the image before posting my comment.

        Anyways, formal portrait, campaign photo, or facebook pic, the airbrushing job is too evident. That’s amateur work, whoever did it.

        1. Ooooh, okay. I thought you were saying that I photoshopped his pic. I was surprised because I don’t even have that program and I wouldn’t even know how to use it. Someone obviously touched it up, though.

  3. Hi Stephanie,
    In case you have not noticed, the effort to recall our most corrupt mayor in Miami Dade County, King Carlos Gimenez is well underway. As we speak, community philanthropists, government employees and citizens of all walks of life are fighting to remove a mayor who ignores public safety and has permitted a cast of undesirable lobbyists and consultants to take over county government. Something not less akin than a new day Tammany Hall. Below listed is the Facebook page for this effort. Please help us bring some sanity back to county government.

    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Recall-Mayor-Carlos-Gimenez/754793034583024

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