The2013 North Miami mayoral election took place on June 4, 2013, following a primary election on May 14, 2013. Incumbent MayorAndre Pierre was term-limited and unable to seek a third term. Seven candidates ran to succeed him, including former MayorKevin Burns, City Councilman Jean Marcellus, former Police Chief Gwendolyn Boyd, physicianSmith Joseph, and businesswomanLucie Tondreau.
Joseph raised received significantly more campaign contributions than anyone else in the field, and loaned himself $105,000 for the campaign,[1] while Burns retained name recognition from his previous tenure as Mayor, and Tondreau was endorsed by Pierre.[2]
In the primary election, Burns placed first, winning 33 percent of the vote, and proceeded to a runoff election with Tondreau, who won 28 percent. Tondreau defeated Burns by a wide margin in the runoff, receiving 56 percent of the vote.
After the election, Burns contested the results, arguing that Tondreau did not meet the city charter's residency requirements.[3] Though Burns's lawsuit was dismissed by the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court,[4] theThird District Court of Appeal reversed the decision, and allowed Burns's post-election challenge to proceed.[5]
However, Tondreau did not end up serving out her full term. In 2014, she was indicted by federal prosecutors for mortgage fraud,[6] and was suspended from office by GovernorRick Scott.[7] Aspecial election was held in 2014 to fill the vacancy caused by Tondreau's suspension,[8] which Joseph ultimately won.
^Burns v. Tondreau, 139 So.3d 481, 488 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2014) (". . . we reverse and remand for Burns to file an amended complaint that challenges only Tondreau's alleged ineligibility for the office of mayor, i.e., whether Tondreau failed to meet the City Charter's requirement that she be 'a continuous resident of the City for one year prior to the time of qualification and thereafter.'").
