Jamaicans win, lose in Miramar elections
JAMAICAN educator and radio personality Winston Barnes was re-elected for a fifth term as one of four Miramar city commissioners on Tuesday. However, his fellow Jamaican, Leo Gillings failed in his bid to win a seat on the commission.
Barnes is an adjunct professor at Florida Memorial University in Miami. He also holds a Master of Science degree from Florida University and a Bachelor’s degree from The New York Institute of Technology. He polled 4,674 votes to defeat James Hepburn 1,196, and Dalton Benheur who received 932 votes.
Efforts to contact both Barnes and Gillings for comment on the outcome of the election were unsuccessful.
Gillings, who placed a distant third in his seat four-contest was only able to muster 793 votes behind Darline Riggs, 2,435 votes; and the eventual winner Alexandra Davis, who polled 3,129.
Voters also returned Mayor Wayne Messam for another four-year term.
Both Davis and Messam have deep connections to Jamaica.
