Community Newspapers SERVING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY SINCE 1958
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NOVEMBER 29, 2010
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ISSUE KEMAL GEKIC PIANO FOUR SEASONS CULTURAL SERIES
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VOL. 28, NO. 49
Fresh starts and fond farewells BY BARI AUERBACH ollowing the Nov. 2 general election, Mayor Norman S. Edelcup was sworn in at the Nov. 18 City Commission meeting to serve another term along with new Commissioner (Seat 2) Jeanette Gatto, beginning her term as of Dec. 2. But as the community applauded Edelcup’s re-election and welcomed Gatto, fond farewells were bid to Commissioners Roslyn Brezin and Gerry Goodman, departing due to term limits, as well as retiring former Police Chief Fred Maas. The candidate filling Brezin’s Commission Seat 4 will either be Isaac Aelion or Jeniffer Viscarra, depending on the results of a run-off election scheduled for Dec. 7. Captain Dwight Snyder is serving as interim Police Chief until the selection process for a new Police Chief is completed.
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GET TO KNOW MAYOR NORMAN EDELCUP Recently re-elected, Sunny Isles Beach Mayor Norman Edelcup has served on the City Commission since 2001; been a resident of the city since 1969; and has earned a stellar reputation in the community for being an involved citizen, successful businessman and generous philanthropist. Following the death of the city’s first Mayor, David Samson, Edelcup, who was serving as Vice Mayor at the time, was appointed interim Mayor in 2003. Subsequently, he declared his intent to run for the mayoral seat in a special election - but since the qualifying deadline passed with no candidates opposing Edelcup, he was declared the new Mayor of Sunny Isles Beach.
‘EXPERIENCE IN LEADERSHIP’ When Edelcup was first elected to the City Commission seat in 2001 after defeating incumbent [the late] Connie Morrow, he noted, “I think the vote shows the people of Sunny Isles Beach really have confidence in my ability to represent them. I’ve been attending City Commission meetings and serving on the Citizens’ Planning Advisory Committee for some time so I feel ready to ‘jump right in.’” Impressive credentials highlighting Edelcup’s resume also explain why he was able to make a smooth transition into public service. While campaigning, he made the following presentation at a candidates’ forum: “I’ve been a resident of Atlantic Isle in Sunny Isles Beach for over 40 years,” Edelcup said. “I’m originally from Chicago, where I completed my education at Northwestern University and became a CPA. “I’ve served as a senior executive in many large public companies and started my own check processing company working with about 25 South Florida banks. I sold that business and [became] involved with the startup of a bank. My career has been very strong in business and I think that’s an important aspect of what we need here on the Commission...I will be able to interface with the city staff, financial planners and other divisions to develop new programs. “I’ve also been involved with the city from the very beginning. Back in 1996, [the late] Mayor David Samson asked me to work with the group that helped incorporate the city. I’ve served on the Citizens’ Planning Advisory Committee and contributed to creating the Comprehensive Plan and zoning codes we all live under...My vision
MAYOR NORMAN S. EDELCUP
Page 23 COMMISSIONER JEANETTE GATTO
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