Incumbent Miramar City Commissioners returned
By Garth A. Rose
Incumbent City of Miramar commissioners, Winston Barnes, Yvette Colbourne and Max Chambers were all returned to their respective commission seats in municipal elections held in that city on Tuesday, March 14.
In Seat 3, Barnes won 68,7 percent of the votes in defeating his challengers Dalton Bonheur (13.7 percent) and James Hepburn (17.6 percent). In Seat 2, Colbourne received 59.8 percent of the votes over Dr. Venessa Walker with 40 percent, while Max Chambers with 56.7 percent of the votes refuted the challenge of Norman Hemming who received 43.3 percent.
The results of the elections were in keeping with the satisfaction expressed by voters interviewed by National Weekly a week before the elections. Most voters expressed an “if ain’t broke don’t fix it,” and were of the opinion that the incumbent commission including Mayor Wayne Messam and Commissioner Darlene Riggs were doing a “satisfactory” job in developing the city of some 120,000 residents including approximately 40 percent Caribbean Americans.
This vast Caribbean population is reflected in the composition of the commission which continues to be an all Caribbean commission. Two members, Barnes and Chambers, are Jamaican Americans, two, Messam and Colbourne are of Jamaican descent, and another, Riggs, is Haitian-American.
Barnes, whose victory on Tuesday was described by one of his supporters Hispanic-American Alex Rodriquez, as “one hell of a shellacking” was gracious in victory. He said he was humbled to be reelected to the commission to which he was first elected in 2003, and thanked the diverse group of electors who returned him to office. He said “I look forward to working with the mayor and my associate commissioners for the welfare of residents in every area of Miramar.”
Prior to the elections, Mayor Messam expressed support for challengers Norman Hemmings ad Dr. Venessa Walker. In a interview with National Weekly the mayor said although the former commission made great achievements in the City he believed if Hemming and Dr. Walker were elected their presence would make the commission even more effective.
Despite the Mayor’s leanings, both Chambers and Colbourne said they are grateful to be returned to the commission, and plan to work relentlessly and cooperate to continue the positive advancement of the city.
