Josaphat Celestin
Encyclopedia
Josaphat J. Celestin, also known as Joe Celestin, is a Haitian-American politician who served as the mayor
of North Miami, Florida
from 2001 to 2005. A Republican, he was elected the first Haitian-American mayor of a sizeable city in the United States.
Celestin was born in Port-au-Prince
, Haiti
to a physician and emigrated to the United States
in 1979.
, but did not succeed. In 1997, he formed the Haitian-American Political Action Committee (HAPAC). 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.
Prior to his 2001 election as mayor, Celestin had also run for mayor in 1999.
In 2001, Celestin was elected as Mayor of North Miami, becoming the first Haitian-American of a sizeable US city. He was re-elected in 2003 when the deadline for opponents passed with no challengers. He left office in 2005 at the end of his second term of office as mayor - which is the term limit.
In 2009, Celestin had considered running for mayor again, but pulled out so as not to be 'divisive'.
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
.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of North Miami, Florida
North Miami, Florida
North Miami is a suburban city located in northeast Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, about north of Miami. The city lies on Biscayne Bay and hosts the Biscayne Bay Campus of Florida International University, and the North Miami campus of Johnson & Wales University...
from 2001 to 2005. A Republican, he was elected the first Haitian-American mayor of a sizeable city in the United States.
Celestin was born in Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
, Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
to a physician and emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1979.
Political career
In 1996, Celestin ran for the Florida LegislatureFlorida Legislature
The Florida State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Florida Constitution states that "The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida," composed of a Senate...
, but did not succeed. In 1997, he formed the Haitian-American Political Action Committee (HAPAC). In 1998, he ran for the Florida Senate
Florida Senate
The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....
, but was not successful. He sued to overturn the election, claiming that the results were tainted by illegally registered voters.
Prior to his 2001 election as mayor, Celestin had also run for mayor in 1999.
In 2001, Celestin was elected as Mayor of North Miami, becoming the first Haitian-American of a sizeable US city. He was re-elected in 2003 when the deadline for opponents passed with no challengers. He left office in 2005 at the end of his second term of office as mayor - which is the term limit.
In 2009, Celestin had considered running for mayor again, but pulled out so as not to be 'divisive'.
In 2011 he ran for the State Senate for the position vacated by Frederica Wilson
Frederica Wilson
Frederica Wilson is the U.S. Representative for Florida's 17th congressional district. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The seat was left open as the incumbent Kendrick Meek ran for a seat in the Senate....
, who replaced Kendrick Meek
Kendrick Meek
Kendrick Brett Meek is an American politician who was the U.S. Representative for from 2003 to 2011. He was the Democratic nominee in the 2010 Senate election for the seat of Mel Martinez, but he lost in a three way race to Republican Marco Rubio along with Independent Charlie Crist.-Early life,...
in the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. On March 1, 2011 he was defeated by Democrat Oscar Braynon
Oscar Braynon
Oscar Braynon II is a Democratic member of the Florida Senate, representing the 33rd District since 2011.Braynon was a Representative in the House of Representatives of the U.S. state of Florida. He received his Bachelors degree in Political Science from Florida State University...
.