Josaphat Celestin

Josaphat J. Celestin, also known as Joe Celestin, is an American politician who served as the mayor of North Miami, Florida from 2001 to 2005. A Republican, he was elected the first Haitian-American and first Black mayor of a sizable city in the United States.[1]

Josaphat Celestin
Mayor of North Miami, Florida
In office
2001–2005
Preceded byFrank Wolland
Succeeded byKevin Burns
Personal details
Born (1956-08-11) August 11, 1956
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Political partyRepublican

Celestin was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti to a physician and emigrated to the United States in 1979.[1][2]

Political career

In 1996, Celestin ran for the Florida Legislature, but did not succeed.[3] In 1997, he formed the Haitian-American Political Action Committee (HAPAC).[4] In 1998, he ran for the Florida Senate, but was not successful. He sued to overturn the election, claiming that the results were tainted by illegally registered voters.[5]

Prior to his 2001 election as mayor, Celestin had also run for mayor in 1999.[1][6]

In 2001, Celestin was elected as Mayor of North Miami, becoming the first Haitian-American mayor of a sizeable US city.[1] He was re-elected in 2003 when the deadline for opponents passed with no challengers.[7] He left office in 2005 due to term limits.[8]

In 2009, Celestin had considered running for mayor again, but pulled out so as not to be 'divisive'.[9]

In 2011 he ran for the State Senate for the position vacated by Frederica Wilson, who replaced Kendrick Meek in the U.S. House of Representatives. On March 1, 2011 he was defeated by Democrat Oscar Braynon.

References
  1. Canedy, Dana (19 May 2001). "Away From Haiti, Discovering the Politics of the Possible". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  2. "Battle of Senate hopefuls heats up". The Miami Herald. 18 October 1998. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  3. "Voters choose experience, returning incumbents to Legislature". The Miami Herald. 4 September 1996. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  4. "Haitian group seeks to be 'power broker'". The Miami Herald. 10 October 2002. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  5. "Losing candidate sues, says Senate race tainted". The Miami Herald. 14 November 1998. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  6. "Mayor says he won't run again". The Miami Herald. 22 February 2001. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  7. "Mayor Celestin successful despite low expectations". The Miami Times. 22 April 2003. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  8. "Exiting mayor finishes strong". The Miami Herald. 10 May 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  9. "Former North Miami Mayor Joe Celestin bows out of race so as not to be 'divisive'". The Miami Herald. 12 April 2009. Retrieved 24 February 2010.


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