Politics

Haitian-American elected Chair of the Board of County Commissioners for Miami-Dade

MIAMI-DADE – Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jean Monestime today (Nov. 24) was unanimously elected by his peers to serve as the first Haitian-American Chairman of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners.  His two-year term as Chair will begin on Jan. 1, 2015.

“I am deeply humbled and honored by the confidence my colleagues have placed in me, and I am very excited and looking forward to continue working with all my fellow Commissioners in a spirit of unity to keep Miami-Dade County moving in a positive direction,” Commissioner Monestime said. “I am also profoundly grateful to this great nation and this wonderful community for giving me the opportunity to serve, and most of all for proving that the American dream is still very much alive for anyone who works hard enough to achieve it.”

Commissioner Monestime bows to acknowledge his colleagues’ applause upon his election as Chairman of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners.  (Photo by Ryan Holloway / Miami-Dade County)
Commissioner Monestime bows to acknowledge his colleagues’ applause upon his election as Chairman of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners.
(Photo by Ryan Holloway / Miami-Dade County)

Chairman-elect Monestime became the first Haitian-American to serve on the Miami-Dade County Commission after being elected to his first term in November 2010. He was reelected on Aug. 26, 2014 and was just sworn in for his second four-year term serving District 2, which includes portions of the City of Miami, North Miami, North Miami Beach, Opa-locka, and the unincorporated areas of Liberty City, Biscayne Gardens and North Central Dade.

A former North Miami Councilman and Vice-Mayor, Commissioner Monestime is President of Jacob Monestime & Associates, LLC, a full-service real estate and insurance company in North Miami. He is also a small business consultant and works part-time as an adjunct professor of management at the University of Phoenix, South Florida campus. He previously served as President and CEO of MJM Capital Realty, Inc. and is also a former Miami-Dade public school teacher.

Mr. Monestime obtained his MBA from the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University and received a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Florida International University.

Commissioner Monestime, his wife Kettia and their two sons, Darnell and Clarence, are long-time residents of District 2.

South Florida Caribbean News

The SFLCN.com Team provides news and information for the Caribbean-American community in South Florida and beyond.

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