Jamaicans ‘making our mark’ with strong election performance in South Florida

Jamaicans in the South Florida area saw significant success at the end of the recent United States elections, with several securing various positions across several cities, including the first Jamaican to be elected mayor of the city of Lauderhill and as a supreme court judge.

Denise Grant, who was born in Christiana, Manchester, who will become mayor of Lauderhill, joins three other Jamaicans on the city council, making it a Jamaican-dominated body.

She is the second woman to serve as mayor of that city.

Speaking with The Gleaner, Grant said her election was an incredible achievement.

“There is a lot of work to be done, and I look forward to working with my fellow elected officials for the betterment of the city,” she said.

The newly elected mayor, whose term will be for two years as she is finishing the term of the current mayor, said that while she is Jamaican, she will be mayor for all residents and looks forward to serving the entire city.

“We may be small, but we are making our mark,” she said.

Grant will seek re-election to a full four-year term in 2026.

Joining Grant on the Lauderhill city council are John T. Hodson – a first-time candidate – who won as commissioner for seat one; Melissia Dunn, who was re-elected city commissioner; and Richard Campbell, another first-time candidate, who also won as commissioner. Jamaicans will occupy four of the five seats on the city council.

Supreme Court win

Renatha Francis, who is currently a judge on the Florida Supreme Court, won a full six-year term on election night.

Francis was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court by Governor Ron DeSantis. He had previously appointed her, but she had to withdraw as a legal challenge to the appointment was mounted, and the Florida Supreme Court ruled that she had not attained the mandatory number of years for an appointment to the court. DeSantis later reappointed her to the court shortly after she met the mandatory term.

Also elected Tuesday night was Monique Worrell, who was elected state attorney in Orlando.

DeSantis had removed her from her position because of what he termed her reform policies. She won on November 5 with 57 per cent of the vote.

Other Jamaican winners on election night were Elizabeth Burns, who was elected commissioner in the city of Pembroke Pines; Easton Harrison, a 29-year-old first-time candidate who was elected commissioner in the city of Lauderhill Lakes; Karlene Maxwell-Williams, who was re-elected commissioner in Lauderhill Lakes; and Tycie Causwell, who was re-elected commissioner in Lauderhill Lakes.

Over in North Lauderhill, Darrell Lewis-Ricketts was re-elected commissioner and will now serve as vice mayor.

In the city of Sunrise, Latoya Clarke was elected commissioner, but Mark Douglas, who ran for mayor, and Sophia Haynes, who ran for commissioner, lost.

In the city of Tamarac, Krystal Patterson, a first-time candidate, won as commissioner. Marlon Bolton was re-elected city commissioner.

In West Park, Joy B. Smith was re-elected as commissioner.

Oliver Mair, Jamaica’s consul general to Miami, congratulated all the successful Jamaican candidates.

He told The Gleaner that he had personally reached out to each candidate to offer his congratulations and to wish them the best on the journey ahead.

“As Jamaicans, we continue to make our mark wherever we are,” he said.

Dr Allan Cunningham, Jamaican community activist and head of the People’s Choice awards, who was one of the earliest supporters of Denise Grant’s campaign for mayor, extended his congratulations to all winning Jamaican candidates.

“It is a beautiful day when we as Jamaicans can see our own being elected and serving at the highest level. Having access to these elected leaders is a blessing as it gives our voice a stronger and more impactful stance,” he said.

editorial@gleanerjm.com