It was a week marked by the installation or swearings and the choosing of electeds to lead governing bodies.
But it was also a week marked by the first of what is surely to be multiple holiday bribes — you know, the frozen turkeys and bags of accompanying Thanksgiving feast items given away to grateful residents who are also, fingers crossed, absentee ballot voters with long memories.
At the top of the week, the oaths: Commissioners Rebeca Sosa and Sally Heyman, who won without opposition, and Commissioners Jose “Pepe” Diaz and Jean Monestime — later named chairman — both beat paltry challenges. Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava was also ceremoniously installed.
Newly-elected Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava got a standing ovation when she was presented to the dais on Monday.
Shortly after that, Commissioner Jean Monestime — who was re-elected overwhelmingly against former Commissioner Dorrin Rolle — was made chairman of the board of county commissioners.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez passed out turkeys — no, not million-dollar grants for his favorite campaign donors; real turkeys, like for dinner — at a public housing building. But he did it with million-dollar developer The Related Group.
Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, who is wildly rumored to want to run for county mayor (nah) or statewide office (that’s more like it) gave away a bunch of birds Monday.
Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner, center front, said she was grateful to have her whole family with her for Thanksgiving dinner.
There was other stuff going on. Congress members Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Mario Diaz-Balart and the newly-elected Carlos “One Term” Curbelo were on the Rick Sanchez Mira TV studio in Hialeah Gardens Monday to discuss their legislative priorities.
And Senator Anitere Flores (R-Kendall), who was made chair of the Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation Tuesday, cut the ribbon Monday night at the Boys and Girls Club Christmas tree sales drive.
Flores was vote the chair of the delegation and State Rep. Jose Felix Diaz (R-Kendall) was named vice chair. Here they are mugging for Facebook with Reps. Frank Artiles (R-Country Walk) and Manny Diaz Jr. (R-Hialeah Gardens).
And in other non turkey or holiday-related or election-related news, Homestead Councilman Elvis Maldonado posted a picture saying he was proud of his friend, Campbell Drive K-8 Principal Thelma Fornell who was nominated for the principal of the year for the Southern district of Miami Dade County Public Schools.
Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Grieco took his partner, Christine Klingspor, and their son to the Marvel Universe Live show at American Airlines Arena Saturday.