MIRAMAR — Elections were held last Tuesday, March 12, in several Broward County municipalities, including Miramar where there is a vital Haitian community.
This is the first election in the county under the supervision of Peter Antonacci who was appointed by then Governor Rick Scott, who suspended former Elections Supervisor Brenda Snipes last year.
While there is a total of 1,197,514 active voters in Broward County as of February 2019, reports from local television stations showed that voter turnout was light and the day went smoothly.
The City of Miramar has a total of 83,452 active voters, but only 6,775 voters (about 8 percent) came out to choose a mayor among incumbent Wayne Messam and his only opponent, Haitian-American candidate Josue Larose. City Commission Seat 4-Incumbent Darline Bernot Riggs -who made political history in 2015 by becoming the first Haitian-American elected in Miramar and also in Broward County- was opposed by a total of four candidates. Three of Riggs’ challengers were first-time office seekers with no political experience, but Alexandra Davis -who occupied that seat before- is someone who already has a decade of political experience.
Born in England and raised in Jamaica, Davis has served on the commission and as vice mayor from 2010 to 2014. She left her seat on the Miramar Commission to unsuccessful run for Broward County Commission in 2014 then returned in 2015 to unsuccessful run against Messam in City of Miramar’s mayoral race.
With no real surprise Tuesday night, incumbent Mayor Wayne Messam easily defeated his opponent Josue Larose by a large margin. Messan won 5,738 votes (85%) against Larose’s 943 votes (14%). Incumbent Darline Bernot Riggs lost her seat to former Vice-Mayor Alexandra Davis in the 5 candidates race. Davis finished first with a total of 3,129 votes (46%), Riggs came in second with 2,435 votes (35%), followed by Leo Gilling (793 votes, 11%), Barbara Ingram (330 votes, 4%), and Dennis Hinds (88 votes, 1%).
Riggs’ loss is a major political blow for Miramar’s Haitian Community that has lost its only representative on the city’s 5-member commission. Many factors seem to have played against the re-election of the Haitian-American one-term Commissioner. Among them, a ‘negative’ campaign launched by ‘Citizens for Responsive Government in Florida’, which endorsed Alexandra Davis by attacking Darline Riggs’ track record as Commissioner.
Second, 1199 SEIU Florida, a powerful Labor Union which has its main office in Miramar, also launched a ‘GOTV Action Day’ (Get Out The Vote) where volunteers made many calls to ask Miramians to vote for their sponsored candidates, incumbent Mayor Wayne Messam and former Commissioner-Candidate Alexandra Davis.
Darline Riggs was financially disadvantaged as she was low on cash. As an incumbent, the Haitian-American candidate had only raised $39,450 (including $8,000 she loaned herself), compared to heavyweight opponent Davis who collected $96,709.72.
Asked why she was so low on cash as an incumbent, the now-former Commissioner explained that she was not ready to compromise her integrity by making ‘deals’ with big corporates in exchange for financial support to help her get re-elected.
Riggs’ loss may have also something to do with the absence of political mastermind Mc-Kinley Lauriston, who was the architect of her historical win four years ago. Lauriston, who is now running for Mayor of North Miami appears to have too busy with his own race to assist Riggs.
Tuesday night after the results came out, the atmosphere was quiet and subdued at Riggs’ headquarters. As supporters were reflecting on the long journey, the now-former Commissioner showed resilience.
“It is what it is. Everything happens for a reason,” she said. “I called Davis and congratulated her on her win. I hope she will do good for the city.”
The City of Miramar had an estimated population of 140,328. It is important to note that among the 83,452 registered active voters, 35,481 (42 %) are Black. With 15% Jamaicans and 6% Haitians of the black population, It is clear that it was never easy for Mrs. Riggs to win that race against Alexandra Davis with only the Haitian-American voters support.
D. Ferdinand/Le Floridien
