NORTH MIAMI (Le Floridien) – Philippe Bien-Aimé is North Miami’s next mayor. Bien-Aimé tallied 3,165 votes (51.92%) of the total 6,096 votes cast in the mayoral race, compared with the other contenders, Mac-Kinley Lauriston, Hector Medina, and Danielle CJ. Beauvais, each won (respectively) 1,754 votes (28.77%), 874 votes (14.34%), and 303 votes (4.97%).
As North Miami’s most recent election (2017), this year’s turnout was once again disappointing. Numbers from the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections Office show that only 6,191 (19%) out of 32,426 registered voters in North Miami went to the polls.
Bien-Aimé was first elected as Councilman of District 3 in 2013. He was reelected for a second term in 2017. The former Vice Mayor resigned from his post earlier this year to run for Mayor.
“I am your mayor,” Bien-Aimé said Tuesday night in his celebratory speech at Cafe Creme located in the heart of North Miami’s downtown. “I do understand the people who did not vote for me. I want to thank those who did vote for me, and you won’t be disappointed.”
“The residents of North Miami have spoken. They want to move forward. That’s why they put their trust in me,” added Bien-Aimé, reminding the festive crowd that he has been in public service for six years.’
Incumbents Scott Galvin and Alix Desulmé managed to retain their respective Council seats by winning with large margins. Galvin, 50, has been the representative of District 1 on the Council ever since winning election in 2003. Galvin was challenged by one opponent, a young Haitian-American: Vanessa Pierre. The educated and qualified candidate upstart pulled out of her original bid for City Clerk, but could not topple the veteran Councilman. Galvin won 924 votes (65.91%) to beat Pierre’s 478 votes (34.09%) to earn his fifth consecutive term.
“I’m thankful the voters gave me a chance to serve,” Galvin said. “I think affordable housing is the first issue we need to address as a community. We can’t wait for the state to come up with a solution.”
Desulmé knocked out two opponents to win a second term as the Representative of District 4. He collected 1,410 votes (65.25%) out of the total 2,161 votes cast. His challengers Nacivre ‘Charlie’ Charles gained 431 votes (19.94%), and Claude Rivette earned 320 votes (14.81%).
Desulme, 41, who has lived in North Miami for over a quarter of century, was first elected to serve on the dais as City Clerk in 1999. He was elected as a Councilmember in 2015. He is now heading to his second and last term. Since the election in 2013, Council representatives can only serve a maximum of two consecutive four-year terms.
The race for the District 3 seat ended in a runoff with former City Clerk Michael Etienne and Mary Estimé-Irvin, the top 2 among a total of four candidates, gaining the majority of votes. Etienne garnered 556 (36.5 percent) while Estimé-Irvin earned 464 (30.4 percent). The runoff election is scheduled for June 4.
Seen as a rising star in North Miami political circles, attorney Vanessa Joseph won her first election for City Clerk Tuesday night, earning 4,045 votes (67.15). She easily defeated her two opponents, Jessica Wolland (1,286 votes (21.35%)) and Elizabeth Jeanty (693 votes (11.50%)).
The 31-year old newly-elected City Clerk is the candidate who collected the most votes. With a total of 4,045 (a larger number than even Bien-Aimé’s 3,165 votes). Based on this great performance, some observers believe she could have won the mayoral seat if she had run for that position instead. Ms. Joseph said she plans to add additional services to the office and increase the office’s presence at community forums.
“I feel great the North Miami community entrusted me to lead the City Clerk’s office,” Ms. Joseph proudly said at her watch party at Pinecrest Bakery, located on Biscayne Boulevard. “I feel excited about the opportunity and can’t wait to get started on the work bridging the gap between the elected government and the residents of North Miami.”
The City Clerk serves as the custodian of the City seal, record and provides certification of all ordinances/resolutions, city contracts and agreements, bid proposals and other miscellaneous documents and is responsible for updating the City Code of Ordinances.
The position also manages the publication of advertisements in accordance with legal requirements including public notices, City Commission agendas, and bid advertisements.
To those who won the honor of serving North Miami, congratulations. Elections are not easy, and the decisions made on each Election Day have lasting repercussions that can and often do affect a town, city, state, or nation for years.
What may be lost in the victory celebrations is that few eligible voters in North Miami bothered to the time to perform their own civic duty. It may be incumbent upon citizens to vote, but it is also the responsibility of our elected leaders to encourage more participation among their residents to ensure each voice is hear, each resident truly believes their vote matters, and help to build a stronger future … together.
DF/LE FLORIDIEN