As election season looms nearer, state democrats are urging Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Jean Monestime to run for mayor of the county. As the county’s first every Haitian-American Chairman, Monestime would challenge incumbent Mayor Carlos Gimenez and fellow Republican contender, county school district board member, Raquel Regalado.
A win would make a historic appointment for the Caribbean-American community in South Florida, and would be the lone democrat running in the race. But so far, Monestime has been very discreet about the possibility of his run. State Democratic Party chief, Allison Tate, expressed uncertainty about whether Monestime would take up the campaign, noting that she does “think he has ruled out a run” in an interview with Miami Herald. But one source from his office, however, confirmed that Monestime is still seriously considering a potential mayoral bid, and has not yet decided.
While several South Florida’s Haitian-Americans say they would be “thrilled” if Monestime enters the race, other’s like Miami political consultant Antoine Ducasse says he would rather Monestime give “serious consideration to this bid.” Ducasse says while Monestime is “firmly entrenched in District 2”, where he first won his county commission seat in 2010, rising to become county chairman, “seeking election from the wider, more diverse county voter roll could be a risk to a very promising political career. However, if he’s going to do it, November’s general election is a good time, as he could benefit from Democrats voting for the next US president.”
Miami-Dade County Democratic Party chairman, Florida Senator Dwight Bullard believes Monestime has a great chance of unseating Gimenez.
“The Democratic majority in the county, and their traditional high turnout in general elections, makes a Democratic mayoral candidate very viable,” says Bullard.
Miami-Dade has not had a Democratic mayor since Alex Penelas in 2004. Penelas was succeeded by Mayor Carlos Alvarez, who was recalled by voters in 2011 over a property tax dispute.
“It would be great to have a Haitian-American mayor in Miami-Dade” said Magdeline Preval. “Monestime would be a good mayor. However, the campaign to be elected mayor of Miami-Dade County won’t be the same as it was for those Haitian-Americans who were elected mayor of North Miami.”
Fellow Haitian-American voter Patrina Lovell says while she too is eager to see Monestime run, she “would hate to see him lose. If he does, he will be out of the county commission.” According to Florida law, a candidate in an incumbent elected office must resign that office to campaign for another office. “He should only run if there are strong indications he will win.”
According to Miami-Dade Democratic Party strategist Dennis Morais, Monestime would be able to pull out the black vote across the district. “Blacks are overwhelmingly registered as Democrats in Miami-Dade, and they can be counted on to vote for the Black candidate. Moreover, Monestime has consistently supported anti-poverty policies in the county, and this should also serve him well with thousands of county voters who are struggling financially.”
