The2011 North Miami mayoral election took place on May 10, 2011. Incumbent MayorAndre Pierre, who was first elected in 2009, ran for re-election to a second term. He was challenged by attorney Carol Keys and former City Councilman Jacques Despinosse.
Pierre, whose profile was raised after the2010 Haiti earthquake as he emerged as an advocate forHaitian Americans,[1] faced controversy over city spending and corruption allegations. During the campaign, Richard Brutus, Pierre's nephew and campaign manager, was arrested by theFlorida Department of Law Enforcement for accepting $7,500 in bribes as part of an investigation that also involved fictitious contributions to Pierre's campaign.[2] Despinosse and Keys attacked Pierre for driving a $100,000Porsche Panamera,[3] which he had received as a gift but not included in financial disclosures.[4]
Despite the controversies, Pierre won re-election, narrowly avoiding a runoff election. He received 51.7 percent of the vote to Keys's 43.7 percent and Despinosse's 4.7 percent.
