North Miami Beach candidates talk public safety, garbage collection ahead of election

North Miami Beach voters will decide on three races for at-large commissioners who will represent a city that’s seen infighting among the city commission in the past year.

Those elected will join a commission that is often split on ethical and financial issues, including allocating commissioners increased compensation. Within 10 minutes of their Sept. 21 commission meeting, an uproar erupted over whether to discuss an agenda item regarding a $1.67 million purchase of a building located at 1911 NE 172nd Avenue.

Voters will decide among eight candidates for the Group two, four and six races, including two incumbents, two former commissioners and a few political newcomers. Election night wins could make it a completely Haitian American governing body — four of the commissioners are Haitian American — for a city of more than 42,500 residents.

The Group two race could become contentious as incumbent Paule Villard, 62, again faces real estate broker and former longtime councilman Jay Chernoff. In 2018, Villard defeated Chernoff, 64, with 63.1% of the vote.

Villard has been criticized for using the city’s Publix gift card giveaway to campaign. She did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the Herald.

Chernoff, 64, a longtime Realtor, criticized the excessive spending of the current commission and took a jab at the gift card giveaway. “She was an unknown. And now we know what she is. And all she’s doing is spending our money, everybody in North Miami Beach’s money, and trying to buy their vote,” he told the Herald.

In 2018, Villard was a retired police sergeant with the Miami Police Department before dipping her toe in the commissioner’s race. Chernoff served as a North Miami Beach commissioner from 1989 to 2007, when he lost his reelection bid.

He emphasized his focus on fiscal responsibility and transparency. “They’re excessively spending money on ridiculous things, like trips and stuff that is not needed. And they’re using COVID money that should be earmarked for the residents for gift cards and other things to give away for campaigning,” Chernoff said.

He and Villard also face another challenger: small business owner Hubert Dube, 63, who raised similar concerns about the gift card giveaway before saying his focus is on improving the quality of life for residents.

A newcomer to politics, Dube was also critical of city commission spending and the gift card giveaway while noting the city’s economic needs should be addressed by encouraging more businesses.

Group Four Race

Vying for the Group four seat are incumbent Fortuna Smukler, 59, and Realtor and radio personality Hans Mardy.

Smukler said she was focused on cutting back on events hosted by the city to reduce spending, increasing pay for public safety employees and addressing residents’ concerns about garbage collection. Smukler did not specify which events she would urge the city to reduce.

Mardy, 57, has never held public office. Smukler’s grassroots efforts began when she was a community activist and sat on city committees, including the civil service board.

In May 2018, Smukler was appointed to the commission after Marlen Martell vacated the Group four seat to become North Bay Village city manager. Smukler was elected to the position later that year, beating out former Miami-Dade fire commissioner Dianne Raulson with 54.1% of the vote.

Smukler said she is focused on increasing police officers while curtailing unnecessary spending. “I do believe in hiring more code officers. I do believe in doing less events [so] as to not overburden our employees with so much work. And I believe in getting along with everyone.”

Mardy, who positioned himself as an activist, has run previous unsuccessful campaigns in North Miami and North Miami Beach. Mardy said there was a “disrespectful war” between the Haitian American and non-Haitian commission members, but is hoping if elected he can help the commission refocus on priorities.

Group Six Race

Initially a crowded race, Group six has three candidates vying to fill the seat left vacant by Barbara Kramer, whose term ends this year. She has publicly endorsed Chernoff and former North Miami Beach city Commissioner Phyllis Smith in the seat 6 race.

Smith, 76, served as commissioner from 2007 to 2020, and says she wants to make the city’s water public again after a previous commission voted to privatize it, increase public safety in schools and lower taxes. Smith told the Herald she had no intention of running again, but the divisions on the commission and what she described as a lack of decorum convinced her.

“You can agree to disagree, but you represent the public. You are an official,” she said. “You cannot spend 40 minutes up there screaming at each other, turning off the mics, walking away — what is going on? Because besides the issue, the reputation is going down the tubes.”

Smith faces competition in marketing consultant Wrendly Mesidor, 30, and criminal defense attorney Mark St. Vil, 33.

The first-time candidates are both hoping to bring youth-centered programming to the city. “I feel like the youth doesn’t really get most of the attention that they need,” Mesidor said, before mentioning the North Miami Beach Sundevils Cheerleading recreational program. “They don’t get the sponsorship that they need. So we need to have sponsors for the youth programs, because that’s how you will be able to develop the future of North Miami Beach.”

Like Smith, St. Vil also wants to deprivatize the city’s water and hopes to create more affordable housing for residents. Since 2019, St. Vil has worked on the North Miami Beach Planning and Zoning Board, serving as vice-chair. That same year, he began a nonprofit, People About Change, Inc., which provides food and other services in South Florida and community-based events for students in North Miami Beach.

St. Vil wants to bring back the city’s waste management system, which was privatized in a 6-1 vote in 2015. St. Vil’s opponent, Smith, was on the commission at that time and was the sole opposing vote. “It’s not as simple as just getting the contract back,” St. Vil said. “It’s also making sure that we had the infrastructure to be able to do the job the way the residents remembered it being done before the commission at that time chose to outsource it.”

St. Vil and Mesidor attributed the rift between commissioners to conflicting personalities with both saying they would strive for a commission that can agree to work together to get things done for residents.

Early voting begins Oct. 24, and Election Day is Nov. 8.

This story was originally published October 21, 2022 at 10:36 AM.