In landslide victories, Mayor Matti Bower and Commissioner Jerry Libbin both won their re-election campaigns on Nov. 3. File photos by Richard M. Brooks

Two Down, Two to Go
Miami Beach Voters Will Go (Back) to the Polls

By Lee Molloy

On Nov. 3 Miami Beach residents had the opportunity to cast their ballot on four referendum questions, three commission seats and one wielder of the Mayoral gavel. But, in a dismally low turnout, fewer than 20 percent of registered voters bothered to show up at the polls.

However, those who exercised their rights at the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens had a good chance at being schmoozed by one of several candidates doing some eleventh hour campaigning.

Mayor Bower and her opponent Laura Levey greeted potential voters, as did Group 3 candidates Michael Gongora and Alex Fernandez — both of whom were poised to swoop in on unsuspecting voters the second they hit the parking lot.

Group 2 hopeful Maria Mayer was also out dodging the mosquitoes that plagued those standing outside, while Commissioner Jonah Wolfson donned a campaign T-shirt and stumped for Jorge Exposito in his bid for the Group 2 seat.

As multiple campaign workers held aloft picket signs emblazoned with their candidates name, or handed out flyers and literature listing a multitude of qualifications and contrasting ideas, they could all agree on at least one thing — it was crazy hot out there.

The Mayoral Race and Group 1

As expected, there was no major surprise in the Mayoral race.

The ever-popular Bower took just under 77 percent of the vote. Again a media favorite for his pre-election antics, perennial candidate Raphael Herman picked up 6.5 percent. Political newcomer Laura Levey managed to convince almost 17 percent of the electorate that a change was needed.

“I’m proud of my grass roots campaign,” Levey told The Lead, adding that she would not give up on her mission to make Miami Beach a better place to live, and would continue to put pressure on City Hall to deal with the financial crisis.

In Group 1, Commissioner Jerry Libbin won re-election with more than 83 percent of the vote in his race against Oddy Segui — easily the biggest landslide victory of the night.

Libbin celebrated in true South Beach style on the rooftop terrace of the recently re-modeled Clevelander Hotel on Ocean Drive. With the champagne flowing freely and a live band name-checking Libbin every few minutes, revelers enjoyed the incredible vista of the city and ocean at night.

As the ladies danced, Commissioner Victor Diaz, Libbin’s campaign manager Keith Donner and a few other political types geeked out over a laptop computer, analyzing the results as the precincts came in.

Libbin obviously didn’t have anything to worry about, so he gave a concise speech thanking his supporters, including Commissioners Diaz and Weithorn and, of course, gave special props to his wife and family.

“It’s your party,” Libbin told the crowd. “Enjoy!”

Group 3

The penthouse suite of the Shore Club was the spectacular setting of Michael Gongora’s party, attended by a dazzling array of union representatives as well as several recognizable political types, including former Group 2 candidate Roger Abramson.

Introduced in a Clintonesque homage as “the comeback kid,” Gongora stepped up to the microphone at roughly 10 p.m.

“We’re going to be victorious,” he confidently told his supporters. “The other two [candidates] are fighting over who’s in second place.”

The battle between Gongora and Fernandez was arguably the hardest fought of the campaign so far, with thousands of dollars spent by both sides on adversarial advertising. Meanwhile, activist Gabrielle Redfern was able to stay above the fray and, even though she had a lot less money to spend than Fernandez, she managed to squeeze past him into the runoff with Gongora on Nov. 17 by a mere 21 votes.

“This really drives the message home that every vote counts,” Fernandez told The Lead. “Every single vote counts.”

If disappointed, Fernandez isn’t showing it.

“I feel great,” he said, adding that he will now be “supporting Michael Gongora — he’s going to be a great commissioner.”

Redfern, on the other hand, is preparing for a fight.

“I’m going to focus on the ethical differences between myself and my opponent,” she said. “I think my opponent is ethically challenged.”

Redern points to campaign material sent out by Gongora’s campaign to back up her claim. “He sent out a flyer that talked about me and totally distorted my education, my experience, my involvement in the community and my vision,” she said.

Gongora categorizes his campaign quite differently.

“I’m going to continue on my positive campaign based upon my education, my qualifications and my experience,” Gongora told The Lead.

Group 2

At 8oz Burger Bar on Alton Road, the scene of Board of Adjustment member Sherry Roberts’ post election party was relaxed even though the outlook didn’t look good. Supporters, which included fellow board member David Lancz, along with local community activists Frank Del Vecchio and David Nemitz, enjoyed sampling the burgers as the early poll results came in. By 9 p.m. it was clear Roberts’ optimism had worn thin.

“It’s not over yet, but it looks like its over,” Roberts told her friends, adding that “the best part of this campaign is all of you.”

Roberts ran the outsider campaign in Group 2, and it had become clear early on it would be an uphill battle. Both her opponents were endorsed by sitting commissioners: Jonah Wolfson supports Jorge Exposito and Ed Tobin supports Maria Mayer. Furthermore, Roberts found she was embattled not only by the other candidates, but also by residents of her own building in the form of The Decoplage Owners for Change, an organization that objects to her actions as president of their condo board.

In the end it was all too much, and Roberts won 24 percent of the vote. The remainder of the city now seems split down the middle, heralding a tight race: Mayer and Exposito made it to the runoff with roughly 38 percent each.

Exposito has since received the endorsement of Mayor Bower, although Roberts refuses to endorse his candidacy. In an open letter to the remaining candidates, Roberts chastises Exposito for not repudiating an attack ad against Mayer that appeared to have originated from Roberts, and also expresses disappointment in Mayer’s use of third party attack ads.

In the letter Roberts suggests that voters may want to judge candidates on “how they conduct themselves in the negative campaign environment to which we are now subjected,” she writes.

On Nov. 17 Miami Beach voters will go to the polls to decide the two remaining seats on the Miami Beach Commission.

“I told Sherry there’s only one thing worse than losing an election,” Del Vecchio said. “Winning an election.”

Comments@theleadmiamibeach.com