Thanks, but no thanks.
That’s what a smart Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Jean Monestime 
told a group of Democrats at a fundraiser Thursday night after weeks of pressure to have him run for the mayoral seat against incumbent Mayor Carlos Gimenez.
He told them he was “greatly honored” by the consideration and blah blah blah, but that he felt he could better serve his constituents by focusing on being the chairman for the next year rather than a drag down campaign.
“While I am humbled by the suggestion that I personally enter the campaign for Mayor, I believe much more can be accomplished in the year ahead by expanding my campaign for greater prosperity as the Chairman of Miami‐Dade County,” Monestime said in his remarks.
He used the opportunity to announce some of the initiatives he plans on pursuing in the next year, which include additional day care subsidies and a program to facilitate banking for people who use check-cashing services that are high cost, and an exploration of a reduced transit fare for people who are far below the poverty line.
All things that would likely not be pursued by anybody
else, by the way.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Allison Tant had earlier said that Monestime was not going to run for mayor, but this is the first time that the chairman — who has remained silent and missing on the issue — has talked about the encouragement publicly.
Maybe he also realized he would have to resign to eventually lose to either Gimenez or Miami-Dade School Board Member Raquel Regalado, the only challenger announced so far. Both are Republicans and the Democrats really, really wanted a blue candidate to help ignite energy for Hillary Clinton‘s presidential bid, since she is just not moving voter as much as Barack Obama did.
Here are his full remarks, provided by his office:
In recent weeks, I have been engaged in a very compelling discussion about the leadership of Miami‐Dade County. As a District Commissioner representing the urban core of our region, I fully recognize the importance of getting our priorities in order as a county. We desperately need to reduce the income inequality gap — by expanding the ranks of the middle‐class.
My campaign to increase our prosperity remains central to the agenda I set as Chairman of the Miami‐Dade County Commission. In the past year, we have created a new Homeownership Program, providing low interest second mortgages to residents interested in owning a home – to escape the ever‐increasing rents in our metropolitan area; implemented a Resident’s First hiring policy for major County capital works projects; “banned the box” on county job applications pertaining to criminal history; introduced civil citations, in lieu of criminal charges for minor offenses; and, provided an “on‐line” process for employers to order transit passes on‐line for their employees. Increasing employment opportunities, and reducing the costs of housing and transportation, is the core mission of the Chairman’s Council for Prosperity Initiatives.
In the year ahead, we will be improving the healthcare options for workers providing services that are covered by the Living Wage Ordinance. I am also exploring a ‘reduced transit fare’ for workers below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Getting to and from work should not cost a worker more than their hourly wage. A pilot program for additional day care subsidies is also under review. And, next month, we will be launching “Bank‐On Miami” – an initiative to assist working people in Miami‐Dade to gain access to traditional banking services; avoiding the excessive fees charged by check‐cashing services and pay‐day loan operators.
The goal of my prosperity agenda is to improve the quality of life for our residents. But, unfortunately, in our urban setting, we must first secure ‘life itself’ for our youth. Reducing the gun violence has to be our number one priority for 2016. This is a pressing issue that demands immediate attention. All of these issues have been on my mind in recent weeks.
I must say, though, I have been greatly honored recently by the encouragement I have received to take my prosperity agenda to the next highest office in Miami‐Dade County. While I am humbled by the suggestion that I personally enter the campaign for Mayor, I believe much more can be accomplished in the year ahead by expanding my campaign for greater prosperity as the Chairman of Miami‐Dade County.
To expand my prosperity campaign, I plan on reaching out to elected leaders, to board members and executives of civic groups, to business leaders, to our community based organizations, to community activists, and to all interested citizens willing to work to improve the quality of life for our residents. If necessary, I will establish a fund to promote further outreach into the community in support of various initiatives. The momentum for progressive policies has begun, and now is the time to focus our energy on thoughtful legislation and a county budget that truly reflects the priorities of our community.
It is my hope that a united Board of County Commissioners, focused on setting the priorities for our community, and not divided by a high‐stakes political battle, will be able to make real progress on improving public safety, transportation, housing and employment opportunities for our residents.
In this New Year, it is my prayer that all citizens seeking a better life are blessed with good health and greater prosperity. I thank my constituents for the privilege of serving as their Commissioner, and my Commission Colleagues for the honor of serving as their Chairman. May God Bless Miami‐Dade County!
Gimenez — and Regalado, for that matter — can’t breathe easy just yet. State Dems still have time to try to convince someone else to run in the mayoral race. The qualification deadline is in June.
Jean Monestime stays put, tells Dems: ‘no mayoral run’ added by Ladra on
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