When Sally Philips returned to New York after a holiday in Miami, the images of green and blinding sunshine remained long enough to motivate her and partner Buzz Williams to make South Miami their new home as of 1998. Philips put her PhD in Clinical Psychology to use working for the University of Miami’s Employee Assistance Program and retired in 2008. Now she is running for South Miami Commissioner seat group 3.

“We moved a lot as a kid and in my job I always had to maintain a professional distance and did not make a lot of friends. This is the longest I have ever lived in one place and I’ve found here the kind of people I can really care about. I can go across the street and feed the neighbor’s dog or cat. There is so much community involvement here, it’s impressive,” said Philips.

Commissioner Walter Harris apparently introduced Philips to community life when he recruited her as a volunteer for the 2008 city wide “Eat In.” “He pulled me in to help with the garage sale at the community center and people brought stuff in and I set up the whole bay.” From there Philips went on to sit on the Planning and Zoning Board and also work with the Budget and Finance Committee.

Philips believes her years working with employees to assist them with personal and professional issues would serve her well as a commissioner. She was also a welfare case worker in the early 1970’s, has worked as a Red Cross volunteer and served as President of her Co-Op Board in New York. Philips believes this background would be useful as well.

“I keep getting told I’m smart. I am an executor. I don’t have the bright ideas but I can take others’ ideas and see how to put them in place. I admire those involved in politics who got elected, their knowledge of the town, and how to keep it running economically. The current administration has been working hard to clean up the mess that was left for them.”

On the foremost pressing city issues Philips supports the Murray Pool project, calling it a “done deal.” “From what I have seen and read about the contract it looks good. The Murray Pool will be a finished deal by the time the new commission comes in. I believe it is not a campaign issue because it’s a done deal.”

Regarding annexation of new areas to the city, Philips suggests the issue should be carefully approached and studied to determine costs and support. “I don’t see anybody knocking on the door to be annexed. I don’t know if people want to be here.”

The Madison Square project should be staggered in height according to Philips although she would not specify how high. “I don’t want it to be sticking up like a monster but it needs to go up gradually and the maximum height would depend on the design.” Philips also believes a good affordable grocery store should become available.

Philips wants a great deal of evaluation and research done in the parks and recreation department. “I am unhappy that they lost a grant to help the kids because the report was not turned in in a timely manner. South Miami should also not be subsidizing the use of our fields for non-residents. We should look for ways to use the land better like renting it out to be more competitive with our neighbors.”

Although Philips believes the community is very involved and active in general, when the anemic voter turn-out history was mentioned she did acknowledge the low numbers of participation. “You hear about the apathy of voters and yet there are people in South Miami running for office who have not voted in the past couple of years…600 or 700 voters in an election is a small fraction of the vote.”

Philips said she is not a politician and has no interest in moving up the ladder. “South Miami is complicated enough. I believe my presence is non-hostile and non-confrontational. The commission meetings can be very ugly. I have asked myself ‘do I really want to do this?’ We need to work toward more decorum and lowering the hostility that exists to keep the peace or at least have people talk to each other in a respectful way.”

To find out more about Sally Philips visit sallyinsouthmiami.com, call 305-608-2973 or email sallyforsomiami@gmail.com.

A one paragraph summary in the last issue of South Miami News’ editor opinion column on comments made by Chair of Parks and Recreation Richard Ward during public remarks at the January 3 city commission meeting about a Mayor Philip Stoddard “Meet and Greet” campaign event flyer has become central to the “whole election” according to an extremely agitated Stoddard upon his departure from an interview recently with Community Newspapers (CN). The copy in question read: Election Violations Already?

At the last city commission meeting Parks and Recreation Board Chair Richard Ward went after Mayor Philip Stoddard for approving a re-election campaign event flyer sponsored by area Democratic party groups. “Not since 1962 has anyone brought partisan politics into local elections,” said Ward. “If the Democrats or Republicans want to endorse somebody we cannot stop them. What you did that was wrong was the ad was paid for and approved by your campaign. You have violated the election laws in Miami-Dade County that are supposed to be non-partisan elections. You should not have put out this flyer as a fundraiser for your campaign, asking people to attend. If you had not put it that way I would have not nailed your hide to the wall. You should be more consistent and follow the election laws while your buddy on the bike hands out flyers.”

Stoddard did not respond to Ward’s comments. Florida Statute Chapter 2011- 40 on page 77 reads: “A candidate for nonpartisan office is prohibited from campaigning based on party affiliation.” Stoddard conceded to an interview with CN after initially declining the opportunity because of executive editor Michael Miller’s op-ed style according to Stoddard.

Mayor of Pinecrest Cindy Lerner appeared. before the commission at the last regular meeting to defend the questionable disclaimer at the end of the flyer. The flyer in its entirety reads:

Event Notice….In Support of Mayor Stoddard’s Re-Election (Election Day- Feb 14, 2012). The Host Committee: Miami-Dade Democratic Executive Committee, Democrats of South Dade Club, Ron Brown Democratic Caucus of South Dade, Coral Gables Area Democratic Club, Democracy for America * Miami-Dade Cordially invite you to a “Meet and Greet” with Mayor Philip Stoddard of South Miami Thursday January 12, 2012 5:30pm to 7:30pm @ Marhaba’s Restaurant 5701 Sunset Drive South Miami Mediterranean appetizers-Cash Bar Political advertisement paid for and approved by Philip Stoddard Campaign At the end of the emailed version of the flyer the Democrats of South Dade Club email address and web page links were listed along with forwarding and unsubscribing options.

Lerner, who is the Florida State Chapter of Democratic Officials Chair, said to the commission: “we can work with partisan organizations. We are allowed to show party affiliation and can act partisan in policy issues and perspectives…we can freely collaborate with Democratic organizations.” In an interview following her public remarks Attorney Lerner also said that it was she who told Stoddard to put in the disclaimer. “The disclaimer that reads political advertisement paid and approved by Philip Stoddard Campaign must be put in. It would have been more trouble if he had not put it in. He did nothing wrong. I cautioned him to put in the disclaimer.”

Ward was in the audience at the meeting when Lerner spoke and refuted her remarks afterwards by first agreeing with everything she said as a lifelong Democrat himself. Ward then went on to explain that the only part of the flyer that was a campaign violation according to Florida Statute 106.143 (the original quoted statute was actually resolution language prior to becoming a statute) was the disclaimer. Ward also contends that Stoddard violated his Nonpartisan Office Loyalty Oath (Florida Statute 876.05-876.10 of the Florida Statutes).

When asked about the flyer by CN, Stoddard said: “the history is simple. The Democrats created an invitation. Mayor Lerner looked at it and said the disclaimer needs to be there and I said ok let’s do it. She said that under the new law it must be there. When people ask me if I am running as a democrat or republican I say neither.”

Stoddard also said he believed there was no conflict with the loyalty oath and that he serves all of the residents of South Miami. “They are just trying to make an issue of a non-issue. We got an opinion from the Deputy General Counsel for the Florida Department of State who said ‘there were no rules concerning a partisan election.’”

When asked for the name of the general counsel he spoke with Stoddard did not know but referred us to the city clerk. The city clerk did not return calls prior to publication deadline. Stoddard also said he did not know which statute Ward was referring to as he did not know them all by heart.

Southwest High School Government Teacher Gabrielle Edmond believes it is time for him to step forward and utilize his background in politics and the law to make changes at city hall. Edmond is running for Commissioner this February 14 in hopes of receiving enough votes to inherit Commissioner Velma Palmer’s seat.

A six year resident of South Miami, Edmond said he spent his formative years in Miami as well where he went to high school and also received his undergraduate degree from the University of Miami in political science and history. Edmond then went on to obtain a law degree from Howard University in Washington D.C.

From 1996 to 1999 Edmond was Legislative Council to Senator Bob Graham and in that capacity represented the senator on various legislative issues and topics and helped push sponsored legislative initiatives forward.

“I have experience in government as a congressional aid and I understand the process. I teach high school government and history. I am a South Miami activist and citizen and know what is going on. I serve on local boards like the South Miami Alliance for Youth and have experience in management. I am a concerned citizen and can offer a unique skill set with a deep reservoir of knowledge,” said Edmond.

The right combination of knowledge, experience and an effective plan for change is why Edmond believes the time is right for him to step forward and run for office. The three themes of Edmond’s campaign are jobs, progress and tax relief. “I have been following events at the city commission and attending meetings. We need to do better at providing jobs, progress to offer better quality services in the community, and give residents a tax break to ensure that they can keep their homes.”

The impetus for propelling Edmond’s ideas forward appears to be anchored in his goal for South Miami to have a municipal bank. “A South Miami municipal bank would allow us to keep dollars local to develop our economy. It would also provide a whole range of services as well as significant tax relief. Municipal banks were tried in colonial America. Benjamin Franklin used them. The State Bank of North Dakota provided 3 to 400 million dollars to the state in the last ten years. This model has been in place for 80 years and North Dakota has the best economy in the country.”

Edmond sees the bank as a starting point, a formula that would enable dollars to be leveraged for local pending projects such as the Madison Square development. Tax relief and jobs could follow suit according to Edmond once the benefits of a municipal bank concept are understood by residents.

“A project like the Madison Square development is a perfect example of a local initiative that could be promoted through the bank. The bank could be a beginning that would allow us to do other things.” On the Madison Square project overall, Edmond believes it must take shape into a project that is best suited for the community. “Very large buildings are not right for South Miami to maintain our small town feel. We need to look at appropriate development on a case by case basis.”

On annexation Edmond suggests backing up a bit to understand the motivation behind it. “We are ahead of ourselves on annexation. For what reason do we want to expand? Let’s look around the community and find out who is interested in joining. There appears to be a history of not wanting to be a part of the city. Once we gather interest we should have a good reason for doing it.”

Edmond supports the completion of the Murray Pool and green living. “I support a community pool. I am a strong supporter for green initiatives when appropriate and feasible. The bike lane projects for example are good.”

Edmond’s experience as an advisor for the Model United Nations for eleventh and twelfth graders could come in handy at city hall. On the status quo of the commission Edmond said, “We need to work together. If I am elected I want to work with all of the commissioners to move the city forward. You only have control over yourself. By controlling your own conduct we can all work together even if we disagree.”

Gabriel Edmond can be reached at 305- 992-6937 or by email at gedmond2012@gmail.com.