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Articles by Topic
Candidates Forums
Candidates Forum
Thursday, October 8, 2009 - 7:00 p.m.
Miami Science Museum
Brickell Homeowners Association's 18th Candidates Forum is scheduled for Thursday, October 8, 2009, 7:00 p.m. at the Miami Science Museum. The Forum provides an opportunity for candidates in key local races to present their platforms, while giving residents a chance to ask questions about matters of particular concern in their neighborhoods. All residents are urged to attend.
Along with BHA, Miami Roads Neighborhood Civic Association, Brickell Area Association and South Miami Avenue Homeowners Association are hosting the forum. Gustavo Godoy will serve as the evening's moderator.
Of particular interest is the City of Miami Mayor's race between Commissioners Joe Sanchez and Tomas Regalado who are running for the post soon to be vacated by term-limited Mayor Manny Diaz. Commissioner candidates from Districts 3 and 4, which represent our neighboring association's geographic areas, will also be part of the Forum. This race will be decided in the election on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, with a run-off, if needed November 17.
"With the mayor's seat open and three of the five commission seats up for grabs, the City of Miami's elected leadership will be significantly changed after November," BHA President Tory Jacobs said. "The Candidates Forum provides a good opportunity for residents to share their issues with candidates and get to know them a bit."
The Museum is located at 3280 S. Miami Avenue, across from Vizcaya. There will be refreshments, and ample free parking.
Meet the Candidates for Miami Mayoral, Commission Seats
We are providing neighbors a brief introduction to the candidates here for key City races: City of Miami Mayor and neighboring Districts 3 and 4 Commission seats. Commissioner Sanchez and Commissioner Regalado are each leaving their commission posts and running for mayor. BHA's representative, District 2 Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, is not up for reelection this November, however, it is important to know the other candidates for the commission who might represent our City in the future. Our neighboring districts share many of BHA's goals and values for safety and quality of life, and it does take three of the five commission votes to pass measures, we are reminded.
We asked each of the candidates to give us a brief sketch of their political and work background, education, where they've lived and their family life. We also asked each if they had a message or plan for Brickell as an elected official.
The deadline to qualify as a candidate was September 19, resulting in two candidates for mayor, seven for the District 3 seat and four for the District 4 seat.
Mayor, City of Miami
Tomas Regalado
Background: Tomas Regalado, 62, has been a commissioner for more than a decade, first elected in 1996 at a time when there were no districts. He later was re-elected to represent District 4 in 1999, 2003 and 2007. A journalist, he was the youngest to anchor the news on Hispanic station Univision - Channel 23 at age 22. He also is a journalist for Radio and TV Marti, and was a columnist for El Nuevo Herald for five years.
Education: He attended the University of Miami's Kubik Center where he attended journalism classes and acquired a certificate of journalism.
Born and raised: Born in Cuba, he came to the United States during the Pedro Pan mission in the l960s and lived in the City of Miami, attending LaSalle High School and Lindsey Hopkins Vocational. He lives in the Shenandoah area.
Family: He was married for 38 years to his wife Raquel who passed away last February. He has three children: his youngest Jose lives with him; Raquel a patent attorney who also lives in Shenandoah; and Tommy, a reporter on TV Marti who lives on Brickell Key. He has three grandchildren.
Message for BHA: "Because Brickell is a signature place showcased around the world, I would strive to focus on safety and showing that Brickell is safe. Although there are many people that work there 9-5, there is also life after the workday, with restaurants and nightlife. So, people need to know that you can live, buy, eat and work in the Brickell area, with no fear of any problem, that it is clean, nice and safe and that it's fun to visit the area."
Background: Joe Sanchez, 44, served in the United States Army for six years, and then was a Florida Highway Patrol trooper for 11 years. Commissioner for a decade, he has chaired the commission for three years during his tenure. He was also chairman of Bayfront Park, and cites achievements including working with the Downtown Development Authority to bring in a new Executive Director as well as getting representation for Brickell in the DDA, and also reforming the Community Redevelopment Agency.
Education: Graduated from Miami-Dade College and Miami Senior High School.
Born and raised: City of Miami
Family: Married for 18 years to Betty Sanchez with four children: Lucas, 15; Elisa, 13; Vinny, 7; and Isabella Nicole, 7 months.
Message for BHA: "We need to focus on these corridors which are vital to our city. Brickell is very unique because you have not only the corporate world, with top-notch firms and banks along the Financial District, but the residents, and we have to cater to the Brickell area because of its importance. We need to focus on my campaign slogan, 'Neighborhoods First' infrastructure, streets, sidewalks, traffic circles. I think now, more than ever, we need to focus on getting our economy going and one of the places that provides a lot of employment to our community. We need to make sure to invest in these areas."
Up until recently there was a third contender for the mayor's office, Juan Miguel Alfonso, who filed an oath of withdrawal from the race on September 14, 2009.
District 3, City of Miami Commissioner
Guillermo "Willie" Chacon
Background: Guillermo "Willie" Chacon, 44, is making his first run for office. He operates the South Florida Sports League, a non-profit organization providing sports and enrichment program for youth as well as sports programs for adults.
Education: Attended Miami-Dade College, graduated from Miami Senior High
Born and raised: Born in Miami, grew up in Little Havana.
Family: Married to Annamarie with whom he has three children, all boys, ages 12, 10 and 8. He also has a 20-year old from a previous marriage.
Message for BHA: "I am running because we need to maximize services to the people of the area without raising taxes, and to accomplish this the city's budget needs to be examined closely. Brickell area residents are paying for services they are not receiving, so we need more equality in terms of service. We need to provide maximum service to the residents without raising taxes and that means micro-managing the budget."
Antonio "Mico" Colmenares
Background: A retired colonel in the Marine Corps, Antonio "Mico" Colmenares, 49, became director of the American Red Cross-run BRAIVE Fund, where he covers five Florida counties from Monroe to Martin. The program helps war veterans by providing financial assistance as well as help with any other emergencies they may encounter. He also hosts a show on hurricane preparedness on Miami Latin.
Education: For 30 years he served in the United States Marine Corps. He holds mechanical and electrical engineering degrees.
Born and raised: City of Miami, has lived in District 3 for 46 years.
Family: Nine children and two grandchildren. One of his children is in the Air Force, stationed in North Dakota, another in the Marine Corps and set to deploy to Afghanistan in November.
Message for BHA: "I've always believed in the grassroots approach. I'm going to represent everyone. I'm very accepting of the diversity of our community. Whether you live in Brickell, the Roads or Little Havana, I will look out for the best interests of people. Through my international background, being stationed abroad, I learned about diverse cultures."
Background: The youngest candidate at 22, Pedro R. Diaz started his own printing business after high school after spending time designing and maintaining web pages, designing business cards, flyers, invitations, signage and campaign mailings for a commission hopeful. "Understanding and managing the intricacies of the printing business has been fairly easy and I have never minded the time dedicated in designing something that made a customer happy, it is very satisfying," he said. He is a first-timer to the commission race. "I know that perseverance, dedication and the courage to face any adversity have played an important role in filling within me the driving force and desire to get ahead in life as well as in business."
Education: Attended Columbus High School and is currently attending Miami-Dade College, where he has already received a Certificate of Entrepreneurship.
Born and raised: City of Miami
Family: Single
Message for BHA: "As commissioner I would have an open-door policy following my slogan of 'Your Commissioner Next Door.' I know about the noise pollution issues in the Brickell area, and I would be willing to work with the Miami-Dade County-run airport to alleviate this problem and also to attract people to the Brickell area in the evenings, perhaps after they attend Marlins games."
Maria "Beba" Sardina Mann
Background: Maria "Beba" Sardina Mann, 49, has worked at major law firms in the Miami area for many years holding various administrative positions, but once she decided to run for commissioner she resigned her position and is a full-time candidate. She has been a member of the Silver Bluff Homeowners' Association and Miami Neighborhoods United and has fought against rampant development in Miami's residential neighborhoods. She served as a vice-chairwoman of the city's Planning Advisory Board and was an Urban Environment League board member.
Education: Graduated from Miami-Dade College, Associate's degree
Born and raised: Born in Cuba and came to Miami in 1961 raised in the City of Miami.
Family: Married, mother of two grown children: a 31-year-old son and 21-year-old daughter, two grandchildren.
Message for BHA: "I've lived almost 48 years in the district and the years I didn't, I lived on Brickell. The Brickell area I believe is one of our biggest jewels in the City of Miami because of the work-live kind of environment that people love. I believe there needs to be some connectivity between the residential community and the environment beyond 15th Road into the Financial District. I think Brickell suffers too much traffic congestion so having people walk to their jobs, to the Financial District, would be a great walking experience."
Background: Luis C. Morse, 69, was Florida State Representative for 14 years during which he ran the Department of Elderly Affairs. He cites an instrumental role in assisting Miami-Dade College president Eduardo Padron to securing funding to build the school's InterAmerican Campus on Southwest 27th Avenue. Currently he does pro bono community work and is on the board of the Penalver Clinic in Little Havana, a public health clinic, for which he raised the funds to open.
Education: University of Florida graduate, industrial engineering
Born and raised: Born in Havana, Cuba, came to Miami originally in 1960, then to New York and then back to Cuba in 1961. He returned to Miami in 1962 after being released from jail during the Bay of Pigs. When he returned from college he spent his time in Little Havana.
Family: Two daughters and two granddaughters
Message for BHA: "For 14 years as a State Representative I was very attuned to the needs of my community. I believe health disparity is an issue and so I am very concerned about the elderly in the community and will continue to advocate for them."
Several unsuccessful attempts were made to reach the other two candidates for the District 3 seat, Frank Carollo and Mavel Lopez, prior to the publishing of this News.
District 4, City of Miami Commissioner
Francis X. Suarez
Background: Francis Suarez, 31, runs Edge Title Company in Coral Gables where he handles legal aspects of corporate and real estate transactions. Prior to Edge, Suarez started Florida Land Group Title, worked at a Miami Downtown law firm and was in-house counsel for Doctor's Management Association. While this is his entry into a political race, he is familiar with the landscape as son of Xavier Suarez, who was the first Cuban-born mayor of the City of Miami in 1985.
Education: Bachelor of Business Administration and Finance from Florida International University, law degree from the University of Florida, graduating from both with honors.
Born and raised: City of Miami
Family: Married to Gloria Fonts Suarez
Message for BHA: "I'm going to bring a new direction to the City of Miami focused on reducing property taxes. For Brickell, this is a huge issue because of the security in the buildings. The City has wasteful spending and excessively high property taxes so the goal is to eliminate and reduce. The taxes prevent young professionals from moving into the City and pushes out elderly people and we have to reverse it. What's going to solve some of the macro problems is to bring in the young people. I'm an ambassador of the city and a small business owner, and I am pro bono counsel for my homeowners association as well as a board member."
Background: Oscar Rodriguez-Fonts, 47, is founding partner of Alvarez Rodriguez-Fonts law firm, has served as City of Miami assistant city attorney and assistant public defender in Miami-Dade. He was a congressional aide for nearly eight years for two United States Congressmen, served on the City of Miami's Code Enforcement Board and chaired the Florida Bar Grievance Committee for three years. He is a member of the Kiwanis of Little Havana and on the board of the non-profit organization Abriendo Puertas (Opening Doors).
Education: Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Florida State University, graduate of the University of Miami Law School.
Born and raised: Born in Miami, raised partially in Hialeah and mostly in the Greater Miami area.
Family: Single
Message for BHA: "I would like to have a study done in Brickell to implement a trolley similar to the one along Ponce de Leon Boulevard in Coral Gables. This would not be a replacement to the current bus system but a supplement. I believe it would ease parking and traffic in the area and also create a connection between Downtown and Little Havana. The dollars are available as part of the People's Transportation Program (PTP) which each municipality receives. As long as the service connects between major routes, the Brickell area would benefit from this service."
Background: Denis Rod, 57, is an executive with the import/export company, China/Latin America Trade Center. He volunteers at the South Florida Workforce. He served four years on the City of Miami Planning Advisory Board as a member and Co-Chairperson. He also served on the City's Code Enforcement Board for four years and describes himself as an advocate for "the underprivileged and the needy."
Education: A graduate of Miami Dade College and the University of Miami, he holds degrees in Education, Clinical Psychology and Cultural Anthropology.
Born and raised: Born in Spain, raised in Miami in the Grove Pointe Isle neighborhood in District 4, a neighborhood he says his grandfather helped create.
Family: Widower
Message for BHA: "We need to inaugurate more fire stations, staff and firefighters for our growing city and the safety of its citizens and I feel the same way for the Police Department and the need to include more Resource Officers working out of our Neighborhood Enhancement Teams (NET) offices. A sharpened budget needs to be put in place, where the resources we have, get put back into our community"
Several unsuccessful attempts were made to reach the fourth candidate for District 4 Commissioner, Manolo Reyes, prior to the publishing of this News.
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