…they’re having their biennial election, too. Since I don’t live or vote in North Miami (even though this seems to be only a minor technicality for some voters and even candidates), I’ll try to refrain from endorsing anyone and just report the stories. I expect there will be blood.
Figuratively speaking, of course.
I know very little about most of the candidates, so I simply googled their names and linked a story to each of them. Some are boring, some are entertaining, some are scandalous, and some are just plain funny. As more stories pop up, I’ll fill you in.
- Gwendolyn V. Boyd
- Kevin Burns
- Modira Escarment
- Smith Joseph
- Jean Rodrigue Marcellus
- Michael McDearmaid
- Anna L. Pierre
- Lucie M. Tondreau
The Council Candidates for District 2 are:
The Council Candidates for District 3 are:
- Philippe Bien-Aime
Michael A. Etienne (Esquire, of course)SEE NOTE BELOW.- Hans Mardy
- Jacques Despinosse
- Katiusquie Pierre
- James Herard
What a slate! The more interesting candidates are worth noting right off the bat. Starting with the run to be Top Dawg, most folks know that Kevin Burns was already the mayor once and that Jean Marcellus is a sitting councilman. As for the council races, Michael Blynn is defending his seat against three candidates, and former councilman Jacques Despinosse is vying for a comeback in the seat vacated by Marcellus.
Also clamoring for the mayoral seat are: Gwendolyn V. Boyd, former Chief of Police of the City of North Miami, and Dr. Smith Joseph, recipient of 2008’s I Care Award. Also running are: Modira Escarment, whose non-profit corporation showed a revenue of about $150,000 in 2011 with no accountability that I could find, and whose other non-profit went belly up within a year; Michael McDearmaid, who seems to sit on a ton of committees in the City of North Miami, including its CRA; and former singer/former nurse Anna L. Pierre, who also runs yet another non-profit, about which I could find no information other than that it exists.
Moving right along.
North Miami city clerk Michael A. Etienne, Esquire, is hoping to beat out the competition for Marcellus’ empty chair, in addition to campaigning for and endorsing two candidates running for seats on the North Miami Beach City Council. All while juggling his busy schedule as full time lawyer and part time clerk. He’s a busy man, no?
[NEWS FLASH: One of my more informed readers just called to advise that Michael A. Etienne, Esquire, withdrew from the race “months ago.” The North Miami IT Department has some ‘splainin’ to do. Guess Michael’s plate isn’t that full, after all!]
Former candidates for office are trying again for a chance to serve the public. Carol Keys, who lost her bid against soon to be termed out mayor Andre Pierre, who pulled out all the dirty trick stops to keep his seat on the dais. Don’t count Andre’s shenanigans out in this race, either. Word is that he’s backing the mysterious Lucie Tondreau, whose domicile has been under scrutiny. Rumor has it that she hangs her hat outside the city limits, but that could just be nasty gossip. Hopefully, the truth will be uncovered before the votes are cast.
No race would be complete without the omnipresent Hans Mardy, who conveniently moved to North Miami Beach in 2009 to run for office here, was defeated, and now resides back in North Miami, where he’s going to give it his best shot. Again. Have Election? Will Travel!
New to the political arena are Mary C. Irvin, a/k/a Mary Estime-Irvin, who owns an employment recruitment agency; Joseph Haber, who is probably hoping to follow in the footsteps of his dad, former Miami Beach mayor Leonard Haber; used car dealer Philippe Bien-Aime; and Katiusquie Pierre, whose business is advertised as a “multi-service agency” dedicated to providing “outstanding services for the betterment of our society while enhancing the quality of life for the next generation.”
Alrighty then.
Googling James Herard was a bit more fun because the poor dude has the same name as the infamous Dunkin’ Donuts Robber, who is serving nine life sentences plus 125 years for going on a “human hunting” spree, shooting five and urging “another man to fatally shoot a Broward County man” on that same night.
Everyone settle down. This is NOT the same James Herard who is running in North Miami’s District 3. It’s just an unfortunate coincidence they have the same name. Note to candidate Herard: Get (and use) a middle initial!
There you have it, folks, in a nutshell. Just like North Miami Beach, the North Miami City Council races should provide us with plenty of entertainment. As always, I’ll be calling it as I see it until election day.
Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”
The amazing thing about endorsements that you apparently don’t have to have accomplished anything other than to be the same ethnicity of whoever you are endorsing. Nothing was said by the endorsors about any of the perceived abilities of those they are endorsing. The complete lack of diversity in the endorsors also calls into question why the two candidates have not been able to secure endorsements from any other ethnic groups.
The fact that you are pointing out the obvious simply means that YOU are the racist. But you already knew that, right?
(Yes, Shazam. That was sarcasm.)
Kevin Burns is running for Major and he did a great job when he was last in. On top of which the others are not any good at all. Carol Keyes is the only very honest and good candidate for district 2. Jacques Despinosa was a very good councilman when he was last in office and unlike most of the present ones he was honest. Michael McDermaid has also withdrawn. All of the rest are of no value at all.