North Miami incumbents hold on to city council seats in convincing fashion

Despite a diverse field of new and familiar candidates, all three incumbents in North Miami’s election were able to hold on to their seats by large margins, based on unofficial reports Tuesday night.

Mayor Smith Joseph and council members Carol Keys and Philippe Bien-Aime were all re-elected.

With all 21 precincts reporting, Joseph earned about 60 percent of the vote over Danielle Beauvais, an alternative medicine consultant; Hector Medina, a retired medical administrator; and Tyrone Hill, a middle school teacher. His opponents received about 16, 17 and 9 percent of the vote, respectively, a difference of less than 200 votes.

In District 3, Bien-Aime defeated his opponents Wancito Francius, a security company owner, and former councilman Jean Marcellus.

Bien-Aime earned about 67 percent of the vote while Francius received about 24 percent and Marcellus secured about 9 percent.

And in District 2, Keys was re-elected over research and consulting firm founder Ilyana Albarrán, winning convincingly with 84 percent of the vote to Albarrán’s 16 percent.

The city council will now prepare to tackle projects including the city’s proposed bond issue and resolving resident issues with city services and utility costs.

This story was originally published May 9, 2017 at 9:12 PM with the headline "North Miami incumbents hold on to city council seats in convincing fashion."