Miami Shores election tensions involve anonymous letter that appeared to be from city
Days before Miami Shores residents will cast their ballots for three new councilmembers, an anonymous letter that appeared to be on city letterhead was mailed to some voters criticizing one of the candidates.
The letter was the latest in a series of personal attacks and threats levied against politicians in an election season already marked by tensions over the comprehensive plan for development in the village.
Last month, Mayor Sandra Harris received an emailed death threat and Councilman Dan Marinberg received emailed homophobic messages. Harris confirmed to the Miami Herald she was sent the threat. Marinberg posted about the messages he received on Facebook. Miami Shores police have since identified a former village resident as a suspect in both emails, WPLG-Local 10 reported.
Early voting begins at 7 a.m. Saturday and Election Day is Tuesday, April 11.
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The anonymous letter targeted George Burch, the husband of outgoing councilwoman Alice Burch. He is among eight candidates vying for one of the three open seats on the council.
Burch said the letter was a way of attacking him for being against the village’s comprehensive plan. “This is basically dirty politics,” he told the Miami Herald. “They don’t want me to be elected. And this is their way of trying to prevent that.” He added while he is a Republican he does not hold the views stated in the letter.
City officials and Miami Shores police did not reply to multiple emails and phone calls from the Herald asking if there would be a formal investigation into the letter. Mayor Harris did not comment on the anonymous letter.
The city, on its Facebook page, denied the anonymous letter came from someone in the administration or was connected to the city.
“Please note, neither this correspondence nor its origination was from village hall and the contents were not crafted by this administration,” Miami Shores Village Manager Esmond K. Scott wrote in a letter to residents. “We have consulted with the village attorney and the police chief.”
The letter also targeted Drew McIntosh, president of Miami Shores United Political Action Committee, who staunchly opposes the village’s comprehensive plan. His attorney Stephen Loffredo said he reported the matter to the Miami-Dade Ethics and Public Trust, but was told that without a known source for the material, not much could be done.
“Without a source, an identifiable source of the communication, there’s nothing they can do,” Loffredo told the Herald. Loffredo said the letter appears to have been sent to residents who were registered Democrats or are not affiliated with a party. He also said he and his client are both Democrats, which goes against the letter’s contention that his client supports former President Donald Trump’s views.
Burch is one of three candidates endorsed by the Miami Shores Political Action Committee, which is comprised of residents opposing the comprehensive plan that would result in diverse housing options in the village among other changes. The PAC raised $26,980 during the election, according to a campaign finance report submitted Friday.
The other six candidates in the election are: Wesley Castellanos, who currently sits on the council; Jerome Charles and Jesse Valinsky, who are also endorsed by Miami Shores United; and Andrew Bellinson, Deepak Ganju and Peter Walsh.
