By Jimmie Davis, Jr.
This isn’t the congested 826 or the 836, neither is it the Turnpike or Interstate 95 – this is the very overcrowded expressway where candidates are competing to become the next United States Representative for District 24 and Washington D.C. is the destination.
To help residents of the new gerrymandered district become more informed of the individuals that’s running for office the Miami Herald along with NBC6, MIA Media Group, and WLRN hosted a debate at the Little Haiti Cultural Center on Wednesday night.
The event titled “The Road to Congress: The Battle for Florida’s 24th District” was moderated by NBC6 Anchor Jawan Strader and Miami Herald Editorial Opinion Editor Amy Driscoll.
., started off by differentiating himself from the opponents by describing how his passion for the community has produced results.
“I have helped kids in the blighted neighborhood and made them successful by sending them to Ivy League schools,” said Davis. “I have a proven track record for success.”
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Oliver Gilbert laid it on pretty thick by acknowledging his accomplishments as the former mayor of Miami Gardens. “No one else has turned around a city like I did,” said Gilbert. “I took a flea market and turned it into robust shopping areas.”
Florida State Senator Shevrin Jones has served in the capital of Florida and wants to serve in the nation’s capital as well with his previous legislative endeavors. “I have filed over 40 bills that’s now the law of the land that 24 million people follow.” said Jones. “I have worked in the house and in the senate.”
During any type of competition especially in the political arena what’s needed to secure that victory is having a competitive edge and that’s what Kendrick Meek Jr. will bring to Washington D.C.
“I worked at the Office of Management and Budget in the Executive Office of the President during the Biden-Harris Administration and the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, said Meek. “I have over 25 members of congress supporting my campaign. I know whose door to knock on to get resources for this district.”
Additionally, Meek has a wealth of lived experience from his grandmother the late Congresswoman Carrie Meek and his father Congressman Kendrick Meek who both shared a common cause of helping expand access to housing, education, and economic opportunity.
Under the current administration immigrants have come under attack and all of the candidates agreed that there needs to be reform.
Former Miami-Dade commissioner Jean Monestime is an immigrant from Haiti who came to America at the age of 17 and worked odd jobs to finance his college career.
“I cut grass, washed dishes and drove taxi cabs,” said Monestime. “As an immigrant I understand what families are going through. Immigrants need to be put on a fast track to become citizens.”
As an attorney here in South Florida Roderick Darrell Vereen has been representing the people of this district for 36 years and believes that District 24 needs to invest in the digital infrastructure and apply for federal grants to fund these programs.
“I have an innovative mind,” said Vereen. “This district needs an innovative thinker.”
TE Mayonna Brown is a real estate developer, small businesswoman, and homeschooling mom that’s a pro-MAGA conservative who’s a candidate running for District 24.
“The Democratic Party still has us in chains and dependent on the government,” said Brown. “You cannot keep on voting the same way and expect different results.”
Strader and Driscoll asked the candidates questions ranging from the economy, to unemployment but nothing about crime, poverty or the drug infestation that’s so very prevalent in District 24.
Dr. Rudolph Moise is a highly prominent family medicine physician, healthcare executive, and entrepreneur based in North Miami that wants to become the Congressman for District 24.
He’s also an immigrant from Haiti and a retired Colonel that served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve that understands the need of eradicating illicit drug usage in society.
“There’s a need for drug addiction facilities,” said Moise. “We need to open up centers for drug treatment.”
Gilbert and Jones have indicated their distaste over the treatment of immigrants at Alligator Alcatraz but according to the Miami Herald both Gilbert and Jones Political Action Committee (PAC) received financial contributions from CDR a Miami-based emergency management company that helped operate Alligator Alcatraz.
Meek doesn’t appreciate Super PAC’s and the groups that are spending millions on this election because they control the purse strings. If Jones or Gilbert wins this election he’s convinced that the narrative of the future of District 24 will be greatly influenced by PAC funds.
“Our district needs an elected official who’s not beholden to corporate interest,” said Meek. “We won’t let anyone buy our vote, and if they are going to be hypocritical about it, I’ll call them out each and every time.”
