North Miami is set to elect a new mayor in the upcoming November 5th election, a highly anticipated event following a turbulent two years for the city. The period has been marked by an election lawsuit, the firing of the city manager, and a cyber attack involving the current mayor and a controversial nude photo scandal.
For the first time since 2021, residents will have the opportunity to cast their vote for a new leader. The election is headlined by a rematch between current Mayor Alix Desulme and former state Senator Daphne Campbell, who previously went head-to-head in a 2012 state House race, where Campbell emerged victorious.
In addition to Desulme and Campbell, the mayoral race features two more candidates: accountant Naomi Esther Blemur and retired doctor Hector Medina. Each candidate brings their own platform and vision for the future of North Miami, and the stakes are high as voters consider the city’s pressing challenges.
Key Issues Facing North Miami
The candidates have highlighted several critical issues facing North Miami, many of which are focused on the city’s infrastructure and economic challenges. Chief among these is the city’s aging water treatment facility, the Winson Water Plant, which has been in operation since 1962. The plant frequently experiences leaks, affecting water pressure in several areas, according to Mayor Desulme.
In response to the plant’s condition, the city has raised utility rates in recent years to fund a much-needed overhaul of the facility. Just this month, North Miami residents saw another increase in their bills, with the water rate rising by 8.4% and the sewer rate by 8.6%, as reported by the Miami Times. The rising cost of utilities is a significant concern for many voters, alongside the ongoing issues of affordable housing shortages and strained municipal services.
What to Expect
As the election approaches, the citizens of North Miami are left to weigh the experiences and promises of the four candidates, each offering a different approach to the city’s mounting problems. With the added drama of a rematch between Desulme and Campbell, this election promises to be one of the most closely watched political events in the city’s recent history.
As North Miami moves forward, the next mayor will have the responsibility of addressing the city’s infrastructure issues while balancing the needs of its residents in terms of affordable housing and utility costs.
