(LE FLORIDIEN) — This is a monumental year in Florida elections. A long list of Haitian-American women are running for many different parts of the United States Government, and this is our chance to vote and choose people who have Haitians and Haitian-Americans in their minds and hearts.
The 2020 election is an historic moment for the South Florida Haitian community. For the first time since 1993, when Philippe Derose, the first ever Haitian–American elected into public office in the United States of America in modern times, as a Councilman of the Village of El Portal, in Miami-Dade County, Florida, there are many Haitian-Americans on the ballot.
Since 1993, we have seen so many Haitian candidates run for office, and this year is record-breaking. More Haitian-American women are running in South Florida than ever before, and this is an excellent chance to make our voices heard.
Judge Phoebee Francois, Broward County Court Judge: Judge Francois made history as the first Haitian-born judge in Broward County, where she has been serving since June of 2018. She is at the West Satellite Courthouse covering the civil and criminal division. A former criminal defense attorney, Francois opened her own law firm specializing in immigration and employment law, family litigation, and criminal law. She spends a lot of her free time volunteering in multiple ways with at-risk youth, Broward County School Board, the Make-A-Wish foundation and more.
Narnike “Nikki” Pierre-Grant, Broward County School Board District 9: Narnike has been the PTO/PTSO President, Vice President and Corresponding Secretary for 7 years at the three schools her children attend and is a substitute teacher, so she knows the schools. She believes in advocacy for children and in the “it takes a village” approach to raising children. She wants to put children, teachers and staff first when it comes to decision-making. As per her website, The Broward County School District, “can only be successful with the collaboration of all of the people it serves…it takes a village.”
Ketley Joachim, City of North Miami Commissioner, Group 2: Ketley was born and raised in Cap-Haitien, Haiti and came to the U.S. in 1975, trying to fulfill the American Dream. She has worked in the community and the state, and her involvement “has led to many high profile changes in the city,” according to her website. She has two goals on her platform: to improve the lives of the citizens of North Miami Beach and to listen to their needs. Joachim has worked with abused children, worked closely with the North Miami Beach Police Department, and in 2002 became the vice president of The Haitian-American Parent Association.
Daphne Campbell, State Senate District 35: A former Senator and accomplished entrepreneur, Campbell was born in Haiti and, besides her public service, has been a nurse for over 30 years. Former Senator Campbell has many accomplishments, both for her constituency in both House District 108 and Senate District 38, and during her time was instrumental in the success of several bills. Her website describes her as, “a fierce advocate, wise counselor, committed person with the right habits and discipline, filled with tenacity, and inspiration, while working for the people.” She is running on a platform of youth empowerment, preventing crime, and employability for all.
Nadia Assad, Lauderhill Commission Seat 3: Assad is running on a platform of education, economy and environment. Born in Port au Prince, Haiti, she immigrated to Florida in 1997. She holds degrees in Hospitality, Nursing and Healthcare Administration, and is certified in multiple other areas. She has served the public as Administrative Assistant with the City of Fort Lauderdale Police Department and has thousands of hours of community service.
Sheila Cherfilus McCormick, JD, U.S. Representative District 20: Sheila has spent twenty years building healthcare for Americans and lobbying for positive change in Healthcare Reform. She is the CEO of a company that provides home-based health care and before that was a project manager for New York City Transit Authority. She says, “Our country is in the middle of a pivotal shift in which our commitment to freedom and equality are being tested.”
Stephanie Thomas, City of Miami Commission, District 5: The daughter of Haitian parents who immigrated to the U.S. in the 60s, Thomas has been a public servant for 18 years in the City of North Miami for the Mayor and Council Office, Finance Department and as a Deputy Clerk. She holds master’s degrees in in Public Administration and is running on the platforms of affordable housing, economic development, community safety and climate change. On youth she says, “Our young women and men seek direction through mentoring and internship opportunities to become better leaders, which I encourage wholeheartedly.”
Jessica Laguerre Hylton Candidate for FL House District 117: A community advocate since the age of 14, Laguerre, a former educator, has most recently advocated for a plan to help families in District 117 plan greater achievements for a better tomorrow. She focuses on helping children plan their future, to assist citizens with easier homeownership, and greater community connections. As a business owner and entrepreneur, she also founded a nonprofit “dedicated to youth entrepreneurship and development for young girls of color.”
As you can see, there are many female Haitian-Americans running in the primaries this year. It is an exciting and important election, as always, and Haiti is well-represented in the state of Florida. These women all exhibit some similar characteristics: strength, caring for community, and passion to make positive changes to the world.
We at Le Floridien hope they can all be successful in the primaries next month. The Haitian community of South Florida deserve greater representation in Florida politics, and every one of these candidates have something to offer us. Haitian immigrants make up the second largest group in the population with almost an half-million residents.
So do your research and vote for these women. They will bring great changes to the state of Florida.
Dennis Finocchiaro
