Meet the candidates for Miami Shores village council. Here’s what they have to say

Miami Shores residents will elect three at-large council members on Tuesday, April 8.

Earlier this month, the race had four candidates, but one of them — Stephanie Roberts Darring — withdrew her candidacy.

Although there are now only three candidates for the three open positions, two of the seats are for four-year terms, while the third seat has just a two-year term. The top two vote-getters in the race will earn four-year terms, and historically have served as mayor and vice mayor. The third-place candidate will take the seat with the two-year term.

We asked the three candidates where they stood on key issues facing the village. Here is how they responded:

Why are you running for office?

Neil Cantor: Did not respond.

Jerome Charles: Did not respond.

Patrick Barry Devaney: I’m running because Miami Shores is my home, and I want to further improve quality of life here. I grew up here and care deeply about preserving our community while preparing for the future. With my background in technology, I see ways to streamline local government, support businesses and address flooding.

What makes you the best candidate for the position you are seeking?

Neil Cantor: Did not respond.

Jerome Charles: Did not respond.

Patrick Barry Devaney: I am the most qualified candidate because of my commitment to social impact, sustainability and innovation. As a Millennium Fellow, I’ve led initiatives for community resilience, and my experience building AI applications allows me to modernize services. I bring energy, vision and a drive to create positive change for Miami Shores.

What is the most pressing issue facing the community you wish to represent?

Neil Cantor: Did not respond.

Jerome Charles: Did not respond.

Patrick Barry Devaney: I am focused on modernizing village services. Empowering our staff with the right tools will streamline regulatory processes for local businesses and cut red tape. This will speed up vital projects like reinforcing the seawall and converting septic systems to sewer pipelines, boosting community resilience.