Running in the Village Council race, and the ‘great chase’

Even though we’re still working through the heat of summer, it seems that November is just around the corner. It’s a year for elections, large and small, and Palmetto Bay is no exception.

Village Clerk Meighan Alexander tells us that the qualifying for Palmetto Bay candidates who are running in the November election concluded on Friday, August 17th, at noon. The slate is officially set, and the qualified candidates are as follows:

Running for the seat of Vice Mayor are the incumbent, Brian W. Pariser, and challengers Karyn Cunningham and John Edward DuBois.

Running for Council Member – Seat 2 are the incumbent, Howard J. Tendrich, and challengers Jim Araiza and Tim Schaffer.

And on that subject, candidate John Edward DuBois found to his surprise that the race for public office can get pretty heated and take some surprising turns. As you may have seen in Raquel Garcia’s story posted on Community Newspapers online Palmetto Bay edition, on Wednesday, August 15, Dubois observed a bronze GMC Silverado pick-up truck in the area of SW 168 St and Old Cutler Road, and the woman driving it, “an older lady with a dark blue baseball cap,” was removing Dubois’ campaign signs there, from a nearby shopping center and trying to take one from the Farm Stores across the street.

He blocked her from stealing that one with his own truck, and when she saw who he was she sped away. Determined to catch her, Dubois chased her “through Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, South Miami, Coconut Grove, onto I-95, the 836 extension, and into North Miami” before he was finally able to corner her, take photos of her, her truck (which had a bunch of stolen campaign signs in the back) and her license plate before she took off again. He recognized her, knew who she was, and remembered her attending a “Coffee with John” campaign event a few months back, seemingly with a negative agenda.

Dubois hasn’t decided whether to press charges yet, but he did file a police report and provide them with the photos and other data. We’ll see how that plays out, and when we get a public copy of the police report, we’ll have more info for our readers. Stealing campaign signs has happened before in the Village, and we think it’s a shame that some people think these juvenile attempts at cheating are the best way to achieve an election victory for their favorite candidate. And speaking of the police, on a much more pleasant note, former Village Policing Unit Commander Michael Mouring, Palmetto Bay’s first “police chief,” was spotted on August 23rd enjoying lunch at the Red Robin Gourmet Burger restaurant in the Falls Shopping Center, across the highway from Palmetto Bay. And if you haven’t tried Red Robin yet, you really should. They have a lot more than just burgers, and the service and food are great.

Tennis anyone? If you’re 6 to 17 years old you can take part in the village’s free tennis “Play Day” on September 7th at Coral Reef Park, 7895 S.W. 152 Street, from 4 to 6:30 p.m., and get a head start on the fall season. USPTA-PTR professional Lee Pettis and Kara Borromeo are running it. “Enjoy an early evening of low pressure competitive and interactive games on the court. Make friends and play by organized skill level, rotating in short continuous matches.” For more information or to register, contact the Coral Reef Tennis Center at 305-253-8655 or 305-259-1234, or send an email to fcarmona@palmettobayfl.gov

Thought for the Day:

Education is a better safeguard

of liberty than a standing army.

— Edward Everett

Gary Alan Ruse contributed to this column.

Got any tips? Contact me at 305-669- 7355, ext. 249, or send emails to Michael@communitynewspapers.com


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1 COMMENT

  1. We will get your pretty little campaign signs that you dare litter our city with. Ah ha ha ha ha. And your little dog Toto too!

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