Mark Samuelian runs for Miami Beach commission,part II

Mark Samuelian runs for Miami Beach commission,part II
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Mark Samuelian, a Miami Beach activist who ran for commission in 2015 and lost by 77 votes, filed Monday to run again, joining the clusterbunch of candidates in the Group 2 open seat. Apparently, nobody wants to run against former Commissioner Michael Góngora in the Group 3 race.

There are four first timers running already in that Group 2 race, for a seat vacated by Commissioner Michael Greico‘s bid for mayor. They are: Zachary Eisner, Robert Lansburgh, Joshua Levy and Rafael Velasquez. Samuelian, who is president of Miami Beach United and quite active on city issues, has more name recognition and, with the first round experience, is arguably the instant front runner, especially if he keeps his preservationists base.

Read related story: Miami Beach’s Mark Samuelian scores key endorsements

“Miami Beach has transformed into a truly world-class city, but we still face important challenges,” Samuelian said in a statement. “I look forward to utilizing my decades of real-world engineering and strategic business experience to help our city tackle major issues, including transportation, flooding and sea level rise, and quality of life for our residents.

In 2015, Samuelian — who also serves on the board of the Belle Isles Residents Association and the Pets Trust Advisory Board — had the Miami Herald endorsement as well as key endorsements from activists like  Frank and Marian DelVecchio and former Miami Beach Commissioner Nancy Liebman when he ran and lost to John Elizabeth Aleman, who was the mayor’s slate mate. In the end, he got 4,999 votes to her 5,076. By a nose. He had 49.62% of the vote. Which certainly would encourage anyone to try again.

Samuelian got onto the ballot in 2015 by collecting a record number of petition signatures and told Ladra that he expect to break that record this year. He and his team will repeat the gassroots walking campaign of two years ago. “We will be listening closely to Miami Beach residents and engaging in serious conversations about our future,” Samuelian said.

But seriously, the future probably holds more candidates for this open seat. Qualifying isn’t until September even. Let’s see how long Samuelian can stay top dog.

 

12 Responses to "Mark Samuelian runs for Miami Beach commission,part II"

  1. Nancy Liebman placed 3rd in a Mayor’s race n has been supporting lousey candidates ever since to get back at the voters who rejected her.

  2. Mark Samuelian won the endorsement of the Miami Herald two years ago. He was very qualified then and he is more qualified now.

  3. Mark lost my vote when he knocked at my door and called me out by name, while I was relaxing on Sunday afternoon, during his “grassroots” campaigning. If I had done the same to him on the “sabbath” he probably would have changed me with a hate crime.

    To me he represents the worst of the new miami beach political scene, which are the anti-development preservationists. a culture of ‘NO’, anti-private property rights, and this angry mob mentality of total war against anyone who stands up to them. The neighborhood groups have become power brokers for these candidates in this symbiotic relationship of quid pro quo, granting them greater influence of development decisions that they are not qualified to make and that at the end of the day hurts the average citizen by making it more expensive to build, and limits the options one can do to develop their private property.

    These groups hate their neighbors, and resent their wealth, and have nothing better to do than to get involved forcibly into other people’s private affairs.

    They really are dangerous people, especially when you consider they are hellbent on using public monies to literally “lift” “historic” structures, and create a welfare system for people who own old houses so that they preserve them.

    Miami Beach has become the new “Moral Gables”.

    I hope he loses, and if he knocks on my door on Sunday I won’t open the door next time.

    • Luis, I will respectfully say that you are wrong on so many counts here, where do I begin?? First, the Sabbath is on Saturday, so I’m confused at your anger about being called on during a Sunday. And would you rather our historic buildings be lost from sea level rise?? I can say from a professional perspective that elevating what is worthy of saving is going to be a real choice we as a City will have to make sooner rather than later!

  4. So rare to find honesty and selflessness​ in politics. Supported him then and support him now. Mark is a man of principles who truly cares for Miami Beach and its residents. He listens and fights for the people. I never miss a local vote and I’m proud to choose Mark to champion our city.

  5. Many of us will support Mark Samuelian, who was, in the opinion of so very many, the better candidate in that previous race. We were the ones who lost out when those 77 absentee ballots suddenly turned up. But that’s Miami Beach elections for you, no? Full of surprises!

  6. Mark Samuelian is the most genuine, hardworking and smartest candidate around. Miami is lucky to have him and everyone should spread the word that Mark will provide uniquely valuable perspective as a trained engineer, issue analyst, facilitator – but he is also the best listener – smarts, heart and guts is what we have in Mark!

  7. All the groups mentioned have small memberships albeit there are few groups left on the Beach. Money is an issue here. Do candidates are actual financial resources for a campaign. A potential battle for a Congressional Seat could factor in here in that a Congressional Candidate off the Beach could form an alliance with this or that Commission candidate in exchange for future support. Remember how Democrat David Dermer defeated Democrat Elaine Bloom with support from REPUBLICANs Jeb Bush George Bush and, yes Republican Nancy Liebman so Dermer could be a Democrat for Bush, Bush, and I gather Trump and a critic of President Obama judging from his campaign manager/brother Ron’s attacks on the Obama Administration.

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