If you’re running for office in North Miami Beach, one of the things on your must-do list is to attend the candidate forums hosted by the various associations in our city.  If you’re serious about winning, you had better come prepared.

The Eastern Shores Property Owners Association (ESPOA) held the first of these forums last night at the Eden Isles Condominium Community Room.  In the past several election cycles the ESPOA forum and the forum hosted by the North Miami Beach Civic Association (NMBCA) were the two events that gave the candidates a run for their money so to speak.  In 2011, for example, EX-mayor Myron Rosner was grilled to the point of such despair at the ESPOA forum that he was a no show at the NMBCA one several days later, both of which humiliatingly cost him the election.  It was a beautiful thing.

The fact that NON-ENTITY Jean D. Berrouet and NON-RESIDENT Yvenoline “Yve” Dargenson didn’t bother attending the forum last night should be a clue that neither of them have any interest in getting your vote.  From what I can tell, they seem to believe that running for office in North Miami Beach is all about Facebook advertising and buying air time on Haitian radio.  If you’re not an avid Facebooker or you don’t speak Creole, you don’t count!

Of course, my “girlfriend” L’il Evil Yve also didn’t show for other reasons, which I will cover in my next blog.  Let’s just say that she’s awfully brave behind a microphone, but face to face not so much.  Round One goes to Gadfly.  Let’s see if she finds enough cojones to show up at Washington Park later this week.

Last night’s forum was pretty much a snoozefest, as there was no Myron to slay with sharp questions and then laugh out of the room.  With the exception of two candidates, most of the contenders are well known in the community.  About fifteen or so questions were anonymously written on index cards and given to Fortuna Bichachi Smukler to be asked by ESPOA President Chuck Asarnow to either specific candidates or the slate as a whole.  There were no surprise questions and even fewer surprising answers.  By the time Chuck got to the ninth or tenth question, we pretty much knew how the rest of the questions would be answered.  Thankfully, Chuck put us out of our misery and called it a wrap.

The first question out of the box was, “What would you like to accomplish for the city?”  This one was specifically addressed to candidates with whom the residents are mostly unfamiliar.  This question was not asked of Councilwoman Beth Spiegel for obvious reasons, Margie Love and Muriel Kemp because they both have run before and are well known by all, or Tony DeFillipo, who has served and is currently serving on about ten or twenty city and community boards and committees and is hard to miss.  All four of these candidates have made their presence known in North Miami Beach and we are very familiar with their accomplishments and goals for the city.

Not so much the remaining three, Jaime Miller, Hillel Hellinger or Rene Alfonso. Here is a synopsis of their answers:

Jaime: I would increase police presence, code enforcement and employee morale.  I worked with Lawton Chiles.

Hillel: Police should not take their cars home. Cameras should be placed throughout the city, and they should be paid for by the Police Department’s Law Enforcement Trust Fund.

Rene: I have lived here for two years. We need better police and sanitation, but we need to lower taxes.

The next question was for Muriel, who claims that animals were being slaughtered at the old TECO sight: “How do you know animals were slaughtered?”  Her neighbors told her so.

The next question, which was asked of all the candidates, was a real head scratcher: “How would you expand the high tech educational opportunities for North Miami Beach Children?”

I immediately thought, “Uh oh, here comes that whole village thing designed to exempt parents from being responsible for their own spawn and laying it on city officials who have absolutely no power over the county run public education system.”  Of course, none of the candidates picked up on the ridiculousness of the question itself and attempted to answer.

Beth, of course, shone here since she was already instrumental in keeping the library open extended hours and weekends so that computers would be available to kids who didn’t have access to them at home.

Muriel said that she would strengthen schools because every child needs a good education.

Tony echoed Beth’s response by stating he would also keep the library open and hopefully get more computers. 

Margie would keep the YES center open longer for after school care and instruction.

Jaime said that the city needs to invest in children.  But throwing money at it doesn’t solve the problem.

Hillel said that all ten of his children go to private schools and has no clue what’s going on in the public school system.

Rene said “Huh?”

The rest of the questions included:

“Where do you stand on lifetime medical for council?”  The answer from the panel was pretty much unanimously “no,” except for Rene who answered, “It would be nice to have.”

“What would you do to solve the speeding and drug problems in Highland Village?”  Answers ranged from adding more police presence, forming citizen crime watch groups, and Hillel’s favorite thing – speed bumps.

Then came the trick question, which was asked of everyone except Beth for obvious reasons.

“What have you done to participate in the city?”  This question was also unnecessary for some of the candidates, who are obviously active participants in our community.

We already know that Margie is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to crime watch and helping kids’ organizations.

Ditto for Tony who has served on the P&Z, Economic and Code Board, among others, and various education committees.  In his “spare” time, he has studied every budget in the last several years.  Sometimes he actually sleeps.

Muriel has also served on several boards, attends council and budget meetings as well as workshops, and was instrumental in keeping the school crossing guards.

Hillel wants speed bumps.

As for the two “unknown” candidates:

Jaime said he’s a voter and that his neighbor, former mayor Jeff Mischon tells him stuff.

Rene has only been here two years and “has the spirit and will learn.”

By now, I started yawning and getting antsy, and when the question “How will you bring in more revenue?” was asked, I was hoping for some real eye opening responses.  This was the question that separated the men from the boys, and of course, the women from the girls.

Beth, along with the council, has been trying to attract new businesses and development, which as everyone knows is the life blood of economic growth.  She would also like to expand the water plant, improve utility billing, obtain grants and start up public/private partnerships to increase revenue.  Tony said he wants to continue along those lines.  Both have a clue.

Jaime wants traffic cameras.  Margie wants a new city manager.  Muriel wants to keep sanitation and go back to twice a month trash pickups, but stop spending so much at the same time.  Hillel will spend wisely and Rene said he doesn’t want big buildings.  I think.

Asked about their “view on commercial growth,” again there were no surprises.

Jaime loves commercial development, as long as it’s “green.”  He loves Naples and wants us to be Naples.  Unfortunately, we are not Naples.

Margie wants responsible planned development that would preserve and protect.  Yes, she’s a tree hugger.  But I love her anyway.

Beth, of course, wants strategic commercial growth, especially along NE 19th Avenue, which I have been screaming for years is the street that needs fixing.

Tony claimed that our city was built on business and yet we are now surrounded by cities who get it.  We have been left behind.  DUH!

Muriel wants the council to listen to the residents before building anything.

Rene is all for commercial development.  YAY!

Hillel didn’t understand the question.

Asked whether or not they would have fought for the return of the Eastern Shores rescue station, the candidates were all for it.

Except for Rene, who didn’t understand the question.

Rene also didn’t seem to know where Highland Village was when asked, but he claims he “knows government.”  YAY!

Even though there are potential savings, no one, except for Rene, who didn’t understand the question, wants outsourcing.  In my humble opinion, the only one up there who understands the concept of responsible privatization is Beth; however, only after extensive research and cost comparison.  DUH!  Of course, Beth has been asking the city’s management for a route study for about two years now, to no avail.  She obviously cannot vote for something without having all the facts.  Good luck getting that information from management.

Another obvious question was how many council meetings the candidates have attended.  I say “obvious” because Beth sits on the dais (DUH!) and Tony and Muriel are regular attendees.  Margie does go to many meetings but, unless there is a specific reason to speak on a topic, she prefers to watch them from home.  (I don’t blame her because that’s what I do.  That way I can turn down the volume or turn it off altogether when I’m bored.)

If anyone has ever seen Jaime, Hillel or Rene at a council meeting, please let me know so I can mark them “present.”

I know there was a question about holding community events, but by then I lost interest and started schmoozing with people in the back of the room.  From what I did hear, though, Beth, Tony, Muriel and Margie all want community events, such as town halls, because that’s the way residents stay informed.  I didn’t hear Jaime’s answer, Hillel doesn’t think they’re necessary, and Rene said, “Huh?”

The usual and customary wrap up took place so the candidates could tell you why they want your vote, but as far as I’m concerned, the candidates’ responses (and non-responses) to the previous questions spoke volumes.

The biggest NON-RESPONSE, however, were from the NON-ATTENDEES, Jean D. Berrouet and Yvenoline “Yves” Dargenson, who in essence told Eastern Shores, “We don’t need your stinkin’ votes!”

If you attended, you probably already made up your mind.  If didn’t attend, shame on you.  I’m not going to tell you how to vote, but I certainly hope by now you know who the serious contenders are and which ones are just happy to be here.

Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”