Nov 11, 2008 7:17 pm US/Eastern
N. Miami Mayor In Foreclosure, May Lose Home
Kevin Burns Says He Owes $279 Thousand
NORTH MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns and his partner face the threat of foreclosure on their house.
CBS
It's a knock at the door that no American family wants to hear, not even the Mayor of North Miami.
Mayor Kevin Burns is pushing Miami Dade courts to create a mortgage foreclosure diversion program to help those on the verge of losing their homes. Burns now counts himself as one of those who needs the help.
"It's nothing I'm proud about; the facts are what they are," said Burns.
Burns says he owes more than $279 thousand on the three-bedroom home he shares with his partner, a stay-at-home-dad to their 7-year-old daughter. The mayor says if they can't come up with the money, the home will go up for public sale in January.
"Just because you're an elected official, it doesn't make you're immune," said Burns.
Last week Burns sponsored a city council resolution asking the courts for the diversion program for people in the early stages of foreclosure. There are nearly one thousand homes in foreclosure in North Miami.
CBS4 news partners the
Miami Herald report that Burns gave up his real estate business to focus on his mayoral duties. The position with the city pays $48 thousand a year and Burns said he's already gone through his savings to survive to this point.
The lack of income from his old job contributed to the money mess.
He is now taking his personal story and using it, hopefully, to help other families keep their homes.
"We can bail out Wall Street," said Burns. "Now lets see if we can help people stay in their homes."
(© MMIX CBS Television Stations. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this report)
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