The New Year began with lots of changes in North Miami City government. During the North Miami City Council meeting on January 10, 2023, the Mayor and City Council enjoyed the presentation of ten candidates for the vacated city council position left open by Alix Desulme after he was appointed last December as Mayor, following a recent failed attempt by disgraced former mayor Phillippe Bien-Aime to retain his position after losing the run-off election against Marleine Bastien to become Miami-Dade County District 2 commissioner.
Each of the ten applicants had the opportunity to provide a short introduction. They had to show their motivation behind their interest in becoming the new councilperson for District 4. Frantz Charles, a Haitian-born math teacher of 14 years at Miami Central Senior High School and a member of the city’s Citizens Investigative Board, received the most votes to fulfill the vacant position.
“One thing I will tell you,” Charles said before the council cast its vote in his favor, “service is a calling, and I am here to serve. I have the passion, I have the will and the integrity to work with you.”
Several interested residents took the stage during the public comment period to express their individual endorsements for the vacant seat. At this point, the newly-appointed councilman was not clearly those residents’ first choice. While members of the audience didn’t really discuss the qualifications of the math teacher for the position, some of them said they believed that the three members (Desulme, Estimé-Irvin, Galvin) who voted in his favor had already made up their mind, and it was just a show. District 2 Councilwoman Kassandra Timothe was the lone vote against Charles’ appointment.
At the December 13th meeting, by a unanimous vote of his colleagues on the North Miami City Council, then Vice Mayor Alix Desulme was appointed the new Mayor and Councilwoman Mary Estimé-Irvin was appointed Vice Mayor. During that special meeting, the council also made a strange move to postpone the next elections for 18 months, to Nov. 5, 2024.
The explanation behind the long delay of these elections previously scheduled for May of this year is cost savings and increasing voter participation by tying it to a general election. Accordingly to the 2022 Florida Statutes (Conduct of municipal elections), in its section 100.3605, it is read: “the governing body of a municipality may, by ordinance, change the dates for qualifying and for the election of members of the governing body of the municipality and provide for the orderly transition of office resulting from such date changes.” This one-time extension of future Council-member terms accommodates the adjustment from odd to even-numbered years.
Again, District 2 Councilwoman Kasandra Timothe did not push for the 18 months extension. The winners in this bizarre (but legal) move are District 1 Scott Galvin (who would reach term limit this May, 2023), former District 4 Alix Desulme (who would also reach term limit this May, 2023), and newly appointed Vice Mayor Mary Estimé-Irvin (who is now due for re-election in November 2026). Councilwoman Kasandra Timothe also came out a winner. Elected for the first time in June 2021, she will also be up for reelection in November 2026.
This puts appointed Mayor Desulme at a considerable advantage to run for the mayoral seat in November 2024 as an incumbent.
The Induction Ceremony at NMSH
In the evening of Tuesday, January 17, 2023, the Official Oath of Office Ceremony went off for newly elected city officials. Shelby Rushin – Hot 105 Radio Personality – emceed the event held at North Miami Senior High School Auditorium.
Jean A. Souffrant, Development and Operations Director Pierre Toussaint Leadership and Learning Center, was called to lead the Pledge of Allegiance just after the presentation of colors by the North Miami Police Department honor guard. He was followed by Ms. Rochelle Lightfoot who sang the American national anthem, “Star Spangled Banner” and Farah Juste, aka ‘La Reine Soleil,’ who sang the Haitian national anthem, “La Dessalinienne.”
Reverend Richard P. Dunn II (Faith Community Baptist Church), Reverend Father Reginald Jean-Marie (Notre-Dame d’Haiti Catholic Church), and the leader of North Miami Police Chaplains, Pastor William Vasquez (Iglesias Fundamento de Dios), all lead the invocation of the night, respectively in English, Creole and Spanish, since North Miami is a city with residents from diverse backgrounds.
The female MC acknowledged the presence of visiting elected officials and dignitaries in attendance. Among them were Miami Gardens Commissioner Linda Julien, and newly elected Haitian-American North Lauderdale Mayor Samson Borgelin, the first in Broward County. She also acknowledged Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse from Brooklyn (New York), and Councilmember Christine Ellis from Chadler (Arizona).
The Honorable Frederica S. Wilson (24th Congressional District of Florida), the Honorable Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall (Miami-Dade County School Board, District 2), the Honorable Judge Lody Jean (Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court), joined City staff, former elected officials, and the Mayor and members of the City Council for the official swearing-in ceremony.
Rev. Father Reginald Jean-Mary (Notre-Dame Catholic Church) administered the Oath of Office to appointed District 4 Councilman Pierre Frantz Charles. Charles’ Fiancée Raymonde Jouissance held the scriptures he used in the ceremony.
Addressing the hundreds of guests at the school auditorium, the new member of the council acknowledged all the North Miami’s elected officials, naming them one by one, some of his family members, distinguished guests and many dignitaries as well who attended the event.
“The great Muhammad Ali said this,” Charles said, “‘Service to others is a rent you pay for your room on Earth.’ I believe that public service is a responsibility that we share; we need to be willing to contribute our time and best effort towards the wellness of the community to flourish and prosper. Public service is a noble calling of seeing beyond your self-interest for the greater good and the collective welfare of our neighbors in the community we call home.”
“It is in this spirit of service that I take this podium tonight to accept the responsibilities that the Honorable Mayor and Council of the City of North Miami have bestowed upon me to be the Councilman of District 4,” he added.
“As your Councilman, I strongly believe in respecting the history, moral values, and cultural heritage of the City of North Miami. I commit to contributing in tangible ways to bring City Hall closer to our residents. In my tenure, I will act with honesty, accountability, and integrity. Above all, I commit to building consensus and inspire residents to make substantive change in the community. I will listen to the will and interests of our residents and respect the diversity of viewpoints, genders, ethnicities, systems of belief, and ways of being that define this beautiful city. I commit to making District 4 a more prosperous and inclusive place,” Charles concluded.
Bizarrely, former Mayor Philippe Bien-Aimé was then called for special remarks before the projection of a special video presentation dedicated to the life story of the new mayor. The video was narrated by Miami Gardens Councilwoman Linda Julien. For many observers in the audience, presenting Bien-Aimé as ‘outgoing mayor’ in the program was clearly a breach of protocol, since Bien-Aimé did not show up at his last meeting as mayor in November, 2022, and former councilman Desulme was unanimously appointed by his colleagues as Mayor at the December 13th meeting. More interesting, at some point during his speech, Bien-Aimé oddly talked as though he was still part of the North Miami city government.
The next act of the evening ceremony was the Oath of Office to appointed new Mayor Alix Desulme. The former city clerk was inducted into his new position by the honorable Judge Lody Jean (first Haitian-American to be appointed to the Eleventh Circuit Court). The new mayor was surrounded by some family members and mentors, such as Congresswoman Frederica Wilson and Miami-Dade County School board member Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall.
Dr. Desulme is not a stranger to the city. He was first elected to office in 2009 in a citywide election, making history as the first black City Clerk of the City of North Miami. He held the distinction of being the youngest and the first Haitian-American elected City Clerk in the United States.
In 2015, he was elected to the North Miami City Council representing District 4. The following year, he became the youngest Councilman to serve as Vice Mayor for the City of North Miami and won his bid for reelection to the City Council in 2019.
Desulme thanked everyone for the opportunity, especially his colleagues who appointed him. He shared his plan for the city in the spirit of progress and unity for the betterness of all north Miamians. He said he will have an open door policy, and it has to be the case for every department at the city, because elected officials and city employees are working for the residents. The newly appointed mayor said he hoped to be “the kind of Mayor that people know they can approach with suggestions, information, and ideas for change.”
“I cannot stress enough that I am honored to lead such a great and diverse city,” the new mayor said. “Representing many cultures, races, and religious affiliations. It is through the strength of such a diverse constituency, coupled with the support of my colleagues on the dais, that I will implement and build upon a bold and challenging agenda for the future of North Miami and that I will implement within the first 100 days of my administration which starts tonight!”
“My administration will put people first and we will work to implement various initiatives that will make the hopes and dreams of our community come to fruition. Among these initiatives is a focus on Safety and protecting NoMi by reducing the number of crimes citywide and increasing the visibility of police patrol.”
“We will also focus on Economic Stability by continuing to build the city’s reserve and ensuring we maintain a financially stable city. That means diversifying our revenue streams by securing more grants, implementing social and smart development, and working with North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency, the CRA, to bring about more commercial and residential projects that will benefit us all.”
Later that night, a celebration party was thrown at Joe Celestin Center in honor of both new Mayor Desulme and Councilman Charles. Food and drinks were available to the guests. Compas band T-Vice and three solo artists, including female singer Misty Jean performed at the party which ended around 11pm.
With every new cycle of political leaders comes hope and opportunity. In order for these men and women to lead as they promise, it is incumbent upon us, the residents who make up this wonderful South Florida community, to hold them to their promises. Let us see results, for we are all defined by our actions more than our words.
Dessalines Ferdinand, Le Floridien