Needless to say, 2020 has been terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year.
Between the coronavirus pandemic, California wildfires, Puerto Rico earthquakes, and …
Not to mention the 144-day heat wave, Kentucky floods, murder hornets, and …
And we’re not even gonna mention the craziest ever presidential election since 2000.
Speaking of elections, however, things are already starting to look up for 2021 because …
MICHAEL ETIENNE IS RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF NORTH MIAMI!
As we have the Press Release to prove it!
VotersOpinion enthusiastically endorses Michael Etienne for Mayor of North Miami!
Let the games begin!
Stephanie
Is this the same Michael Etienne who purposely delayed a filing of a candidate for City Clerk a few years back so he could run unopposed? Is this the same Michael Etienne who delayed numerous attempts by you to get public records from the City of North Miami when you were doing your due diligence in investigating corruption in the city?
What has changed over the past few years for you to make this endorsement so early?
I believe Michael Etienne’s challenger intended to file a complaint with the Ethics Commission, but she never followed through. Ms. Reed did arrive at the clerk’s office rather late and did not have the required documentation to file. When she stepped out to obtain a copy of her water bill, Michael claimed that she returned after the 12:00 noon deadline. I believe that security videos obtained by public record verified his account. In any event, Ms. Reed is a lovely woman, but she wasn’t fully prepared to file, and then never followed through with her complaint. She also never ran for office again.
As for my public records requests, it was the city manager and certain other employees, especially in the police department, who slow-walked some of my requests. A municipal clerk is not the custodian of records, but merely the conduit. He or she doesn’t have the authority to withhold records.
Since those days, Michael and I have reconnected and have discussed all these issues and others. Some of our disagreements were misunderstandings, and some of them required apologies from both of us. I am a firm believer in giving someone a second chance, unless of course, that person is unrepentant, and especially unethical and/or corrupt. I’m happy to say that Michael Etienne is none of the above.
I am thrilled that Michael has stepped up to challenge Philippe Bien-Aime, who is undeniably unethical and corrupt, fiscally irresponsible, a pathological liar, and most importantly, hardly a gentleman by any stretch of the imagination. As Mayor, Michael Etienne will be a real force for change and progress.