Herald endorsement: No good choice for voters in Florida House District 110 | Opinion

By the Miami Herald Editorial Board

Updated November 2, 2024 11:41 AM

Incumbent Republican Rep. Tom Fabricio is being challenged by Stanley “J.P.” Jean-Poix in Florida House District 110.

Editorial Board’s General Election Endorsements

In advance of the upcoming general elections on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, the Editorial Board interviewed and researched candidates to better understand their views on various issues and how their policies will affect their constituents. The goal is to give voters a better idea of who’s the best candidate for each race.

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Two-term incumbent state Rep. Tom Fabricio, 47, a lawyer, currently represents Florida House District 110, which includes parts of Miami Lakes, Hialeah and unincorporated Miami-Dade County. In the November election, his challenger is retired Miami police officer Stanley “J.P.” Jean-Poix, 54, who moved with his wife to an apartment in the district this summer to run for this seat.

We are not recommending either candidate in this race, for different reasons.

Fabricio refused to meet with the Herald Editorial Board, which raises questions about his ability to engage with folks who may disagree with him on policy issues. That’s no way to show leadership in a democracy. He told the Miami Laker community newspaper that he has brought more than $60 million in investments to improve the lives of the residents he represents.

For his part, Jean-Poix served as president of the Miami Community Police Benevolent Association representing black officers against discrimination on the force. He has a blemish on his record that’s lamentable, though not insurmountable, in a civil case that was settled out of court by the city of Miami. It involved two brothers who took their children to a Miami Police Athletic League youth football camp and accused Jean-Poix of battery and false imprisonment after he arrested them during a football practice he was coaching in 2014.

In this “they said, he said” case, Jean-Poix maintains he would not have settled the case, because the two men were intoxicated and belligerent to another coach and were setting a bad example for the kids there. He said parents asked him to intercede, and he asked the men to leave the field but they kept up their misbehavior.

Officers on patrol in the area took the two men into custody after Jean-Poix arrested them and returned to coaching. He believes the lawsuit may have been a move by the two men to try to protect themselves from being deported to Central America after their arrest. The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office eventually dropped the charges.

Jean-Poix told the Editorial Board his top three issues are affordable housing, putting a cap on property insurance rates and defending abortion rights. He also is involved in the city of Miami Lakes’ mine blasting committee. Rock mine blasting is an issue that has affected many residents whose home foundations and walls have cracked, they say, from the blasts nearby. Fabricio has filed a bill to address that issue but it died this year.

Beyond the legal case from a decade ago, Jean-Poix seems to have parachuted into Miami Lakes simply because he was asked by Democratic Party officials to switch his campaign from District 107, where he filed to run last year, to District 110 to take on the GOP incumbent.

He needs to spend more time in the area and become more deeply involved in the community and civic organizations before running for local office.

The Miami Herald Editorial Board makes NO ENDORSEMENT in Florida House District 110.

BEHIND THE STORY

Who decides the political endorsements?

In advance of local and state elections, Miami Herald Editorial Board members interview political candidates, as well as advocates and opponents of ballot measures. The Editorial Board is composed of experienced opinion journalists and is independent of the Herald’s newsroom. Members of the Miami Herald Editorial Board are: Amy Driscoll, editorial page editor; and editorial writers Isadora Rangel and Mary Anna Mancuso. Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.

What does the endorsement process look like?

The Miami Herald Editorial Board interviews political candidates to better understand their views on public policy and how their policies will affect their constituents. Board members do additional reporting and research to learn as much as possible about the candidates before making an endorsement. The Editorial Board then convenes to discuss the candidates in each race. Board members seek to reach a consensus on the endorsements, but not every decision is unanimous. Candidates who decline to be interviewed will not receive an endorsement.

Is the Editorial Board partisan?

No. In making endorsements, members of the Editorial Board consider which candidates are better prepared to represent their constituents — not whether they agree with our editorial stances or belong to a particular political party. We evaluate candidates’ relevant experience, readiness for office, depth of knowledge of key issues and understanding of public policy. We’re seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points.

This story was originally published October 22, 2024 at 5:56 PM.