Oct 28, 2009 6:53 pm US/Eastern
New Faces Entering Race For Miami Commission Seats
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Incumbent Michelle Spence-Jones is facing competition for her commission seat.
CITY OF MIAMI
There will be at least two new faces on the Miami City Commission after voters finish going to the polls November 3rd, pending possible runoffs. The incumbents in Districts 3 and 4 are running for mayor. Meanwhile, the only incumbent up for re-election, Michelle Spence Jones in District 5, hopes to stave off challengers.
CBS4's Michael Williams moderated a forum Wednesday sponsored by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Many of the candidates paid a visit. Read more about candidates in our
special section.Spence Jones defended her work in District 5, which includes Overtown and parts of Liberty City. She told said, "Over 1600 housing units have been built in this district (during my tenure). Hundreds of mom and pop businesses have been supported."
One District 5 opponent, David Chiverton, said he's not satisfied progress in some of Miami's poorest neighborhoods has moved fast enough. He told the chamber gathering, "There is the housing crisis and crime remains the number one issue (if we are) to invite new development."
Jeff Torain also has eyes on that District 5 seat. He doesn't have the Spence Jones' campaign war chest, but does have Miami Herald and Miami Times endorsements.
Torain said, "We are going to create zones where we will receive tourism dollars and bring new business to the community."
Meanwhile, all the hopefuls acknowledge Miami must tackle a deepening budget crisis.
District 3 commission candidate Antonio "Mico" Colmenares said to the audience, "We don't have a budget problem. We have a mismanagement of people's dollars."
Furthermore, all the candidates acknowledge that exploding pension costs for police, fire and other unions are at the core of the city's crisis. District 3 candidate Maria "Beba' Sardina Mann said, "The nearest (thing to) tackle is our budget and pensions and we will review contracts starting next year."
Clearly the boom times of a few years ago, reflected in gleaming downtown high-rises, have given way to the realities of a foreclosure crisis as bad as any in the country. That means a new focus on belt tightening built around basic services.
Denis Rod is a candidate for the District 4 Miami commission seat. He said, "The economy. I'd like to be instrumental in fixing the economy in Miami."
That will be a tall order no matter how many new faces wind up at Miami City Hall.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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