Jean Monestime
| Jean Monestime | |
|---|---|
| Chairman of the Miami-Dade County Commission | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2015 |
|
| Preceded by | Rebeca Sosa |
| Miami-Dade County Commissioner from the 2nd District | |
| Assumed office 2010 |
|
| Preceded by | Dorrin Rolle |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Haiti |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Kettia Monestime |
| Children | Darnell Clarence |
| Alma mater | Nova Southeastern University (M.B.A.) Florida Atlantic University |
| Profession | Real estate businessman Politician |
Jean Monestime (born ?) is a Haitian-born American politician, real estate businessman and a member of the Miami-Dade County Commission since 2010. He is the first Haitian American to serve as a Miami-Dade County commissioner, as well as the first to chair the commission.[1][2] Monestime represents District 2 in northeast Miami-Dade County, which incorporates portions of North Miami, North Miami Beach and Biscayne Gardens, as well as the Miami neighborhoods of Little Haiti and Liberty City.[1][2]
In November 24, 2014, Monestime's colleagues on the Miami-Dade County Commission unanimously elected him as the body's chairman for a two year term.[1] Monestime, who began his term as commission chairman on January 1, 2015, became the first Haitian American to chair to the County Commission.[1] He succeeded outgoing Chairwoman Rebeca Sosa, who remained a member of the County Commission.[1] The commissioners are officially nonpartisan, although Monestime is a member of the Democratic Party.[1]
Monestime emigrated from Haiti to the United States by himself when he was just 17-years old.[1][1] He didn't speak English until he arrived in Florida.[2] In 1981, he was hired for his first job washing floors in a doughbut shop for just $3.50 an hour.[2]
Monestime received a bachelor's degree in finance from Florida International University and a Master's of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University.[2] A licensed real estate broker, Monestime owns and operates his own real estate firm, Jemo Enterprises.[2]
In November 2, 2010, Monestime defeated incumbent County Commissioner Dorrin Rolle in an upset in the runoff.[2] Monestime won with 53 percent of the vote, while Rolle placed second with 47 percent.[2] Rolle had faced several ethics investigations at the time.[2] During the 2010 campaign, Monestime accused Rolle of emphasizing divisions and disputes between the African American and Haitian American communities.[2]
Montestime, who campaigned on a promise to revitalize District 2's economy, secured $126 million in county funds to provide new sewage hook-ups throughout Miami-Dade County, including a commercial district near Northwest Seventh Avenue, which had previously utilized septic tanks.[2] The Miami Herald called the funds the "biggest achievement" of Monestime's first term as a commissioner.[2] He won re-election for a second term in 2014 in a rematch with Dorrin Rolle.
In January 2016, Montestime announced that he would not run for Mayor of Miami-Dade County in the forthcoming, county-wide mayoral election.[3]
Jean Monestime is not related to Carmelau Monestime, a pioneer of Haitian radio broadcasting in South Florida.[4]
References
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- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- Date of birth missing (living people)
- Year of birth missing (living people)
- County commissioners in Florida
- American real estate businesspeople
- United States presidential electors, 2012
- Florida Democrats
- Haitian emigrants to the United States
- American people of Haitian descent
- Florida International University alumni
- Nova Southeastern University alumni
- People from Miami, Florida
- Living people
