North Miami is still considering changing its local election date. Residents are concerned
The North Miami city council discussed changing its May 2023 municipal elections to November 2024 to align with national elections, but ultimately decided to delay their vote on the matter.
The change would mean that two council members would spend an additional 18 months in office.
Friday evening’s vote to table the legislation to Monday passed 4-1, with District 4 Councilman and Vice Mayor Alix Delsume being the lone no-vote. Desulme wanted to hold the vote at the council’s Dec. 13 meeting. There will be a special council meeting on Monday.
Moving the elections to a national election cycle would save the city money and likely increase voter turnout. It would also mean that Delsume and District 1 Councilman Scott Galvin would have their terms extended by 18 months.
Several North Miami residents expressed concerns at the meeting, including William Welsh.
“By extending the duration of a councilperson for 18 months, that is almost half of their term. This is thwarting the voters’ rights to choose,” he said.
“I understand why they would want to put this into the November election, but the way their doing it, if it’s not illegal it certainly seems...it’s just not right,” resident Debra Davies told the Herald after the meeting.
Davies suggested that the council instead hold the May 2023 vote — with the understanding that those who ran were only in office for a limited time — and then hold elections in November 2024.
Davies said despite the public’s pleas, she thinks the legislation will still pass.
District 3 Councilwoman Mary Estime-Irvin was the lone vote against the measure when it was initially discussed during a Nov. 7 special council meeting.
“My disagreement is in the way that it is done,” she clarified during Friday’s meeting when the measure was discussed. Estime-Irvin suggested meeting residents in the middle by suggesting elections be held in August 2024, when there is a primary election.
The city is expected to hold a special election in January to replace Mayor Philippe Bien-Aime, who resigned when he decided to run for Miami-Dade County Commissioner Seat 2. Bien-Aime lost that race to Marleine Bastien.
This story was originally published November 19, 2022 at 9:38 AM.
