“[W]here there is no law, there is no liberty; and nothing deserves the name of law but that which is certain and universal in its operation upon all the members of the community.” –Benjamin Rush, Letter to David Ramsay, 1788

Just in time for the June 4th North Miami runoff election, Lucie “Coco Douce” presented her list of endorsers.  Some of them are members of the North Miami Circle of Corruption, some are recent inductees, while the rest are possibly contenders by virtue of the company they are obviously keeping.

At the top of the list is none other than the current mayor of North Miami, Andre Pierre, whose list of questionable and unethical dealings are too numerous to mention in one column.  I started writing about his antics back in November of 2011 in The City of North Miami: Corruption “R” Us, and over a year ago, I published Andre Pierre’s Corruption Body Count, which listed only nine of his then “infractions.”  Since that time, he’s racked up a whole bunch more, including but not limited to Porsche-Gate, Camera-Gate, Soccer-Gate, Sidewalk-Gate and Tag-Gate.  Then there was his campaign manager/nephew’s arrest for “unlawful compensation,” jamming privatization down the taxpayers’ throats, firing good people and hiring cronies.

And yet, Andre Pierre not only got re-elected, but he won an award for his ability to keep out of jail.  Okay, the award was actually from Island TV, which named Pierre “Person of the Year”.

Lifetime Member of the North Miami Circle of Corruption/councilwoman, Marie Steril, also endorsed La Coco Douce.  She is famous for such dubious achievements as rigging bids, accepting campaign donations from a company which later received the lucrative sanitation contract, abstaining and then voting on the Biscayne Landing contract (Ethics Commission be damned!), allegedly violating Sunshine Laws, and getting “free” housing for friends and family.  Courtesy of North Miami taxpayers, of course.  Then again, what’s a measly $154,000.00 plus in fines when you’re the Queen of North Miami?

Yet another Lucie Douce Endorsement came from none other than State Rep Daphne “I Don’t Have No Tax Liens” Campbell, who not only received an “F” from the Foundation for Florida’s Future, but has been investigated for Medicaid AND tax fraud and asked to step down by the Democrat party, earning her the title of Worst Democrat in the Florida State Legislature by Eye on Miami.  Of course, she got re-elected anyway.

Speaking of Eye on Miami, yet another endorsement came from Homestead mayor Steven C. Bateman, who is pictured smiling and standing next to our favorite State Attorney, Katherine Fernandez Rundle in the Eye’s latest column, Me and Some Other Bloggers Have Little Hope for Miami Dade County.  As Geniusofdespair pointed out, even when good candidates run against corrupt incumbents, “Homestead candidates are denied access to the gated communities so they can’t go door to door. That is the only way to win against massive funds.”  I’m guessing that mayor Bateman is a good candidate for Circle of Corruption membership.  (For all the dirt in that city, check out the Homestead Is Home blog.)

Lucie is also loved by Phillip J. Brutus, the law partner of North Miami city clerk The Hon. Michael A. Etienne, Esquire, adding yet another NON-RESIDENT of a city to his list of endorsements.  You may remember that he and his buddies in the Circle of Corruption endorsed the LOSER FROM MIRAMAR, Yvenoline “Yve” Dargenson in the heated North Miami Beach city council election earlier this month.  Yeah, his endorsement was the charm, eh?

Also endorsing the Douce is Audrey Edmonson, who was also featured by Eye on Miami in 2008 in Who is worse: Miami Dade County Commissioner Audrey Edmonson or Opponent Val Screen?  The title of the column says it all.  (Note:  The Eye’s column is from 2007 and Geniusofdespair wanted me to let you know that “She has since had an awakening.”)

Former State Rep, former Miami mayor and Senate also-ran, Maurice Ferré, had a pretty spotless record until he endorsed Rick Scott to “spite the Democrats”, according to the Miami New Times.  He follows that faux pas by endorsing Lucie.  When the mighty fall, they hit rock bottom.

For some mysterious reason, the mayor of the “Borough of South Toms River” (in freaking New Jersey!), Joseph Makhandal Champagne Jr., stepped out of his comfort zone from the armpit of America to endorse La Lucie.  Perhaps rumors of Lucie’s Coco Douce roused his, um, curiosity.  Hmmm.  Then again, mayor Champagne is famous for being the “first elected Haitian-American Mayor in New Jersey’s History.”  Having just come back from a trip to the Hell Hole Known As Newark, the state of New Jersey needs as many “honors” as it can get its hands on.  Two words: Chris Christie.  ‘Nuff said.

Florida City mayor Otis Wallace, who was investigated by the FBI and the Miami-Dade Public Corruptions Unit, also endorsed Lucie.  ‘Nuff said about that, too.

Rounding out the Douce Endorsements are two individuals who surprised the heck out of me.  County Commissioner Jean Monestime and former North Miami Police Chief Gwen Boyd, both of whom I happen to have a lot of respect for, decided to toss their names into the list of Coco Supporters.  Never in a million years would I have thought to nominate either Monestime or Boyd for membership in the North Miami Circle of Corruption, yet they endorsed a candidate with questionable residency and qualifications.  Not to mention absolutely zero class.  Hot mic, anyone?

To make matters even worse, Lucie also works for the infamous Michael Swerdlow, of the ever evolving Biscayne Landing fiasco that would take years to unravel.  Geniusofdespair wouldn’t “want a Mayor linked to him AT ALL,” and neither should the voters of North Miami.

As the Genius so sadly pointed out, bloggers have lost hope because you voters do not get out and elect quality candidates.  “Over and over you put the worst possible candidates in office.”  NO KIDDING!  When people like Andre Pierre, Marie Steril and Daphne Campbell keep getting re-elected, one can’t help but wonder if voters have lost their minds.

Seriously…WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?

If the voters of North Miami don’t get out and vote next Tuesday and choose quality over corruption, you’ll get exactly what you deserve.

You have the power to break the cycle, and circle, of corruption by your vote.  Every single one of them counts!

ON JUNE 4, 2013 PLEASE VOTE RESPONSIBLY!

Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”