NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – North Miami Beach voters will elect a mayor after a chaotic few years for city government. The incumbent was elected in a special election after the former mayor was arrested, and his challenger is a commissioner who boycotted several meetings.
While North Miami Beach voters have had their fill of city drama and division, Commissioner Michael Joseph is challenging the incumbent, Mayor Evan Piper, who is running for re-election. They both promise to look forward, be transparent, and be impartial.
Piper won the special election after then-Mayor Anthony DiFillipo was accused of voting where he did not live. Joseph had been one of DiFillipo’s most vocal opponents and even skipped meetings during questions about his residency.
“At the end of the day, people want to have safe cities ... places where they can hang out, be with their families have safe streets, city services that are easily accessible,” said Joseph, an attorney.
Piper is a former commissioner, and a veteran on the planning board.
“Improving our city services, improving our economic situation, improving our development, we want to have good responsible development,” Piper said.
Joseph has been a commissioner for six years.
“I passed six budgets, we were able to increase reserves to almost $30 million in reserves and it continues to grow,” Joseph said. “We were able to hold raising taxes this year.”
This election marks a potential new beginning for the 100-year-old city, roiled by identity politics, and past corruption.
“Not everyone is someone who could pull everyone together, and that is something I have successfully done,” Piper said.
North Miami Beach’s next mayor is one vote along with six commissioners. Three of them are up for election. Voters will decide whether and how much to change.