Election Candidates
Candidate's text submitted by the candidates.
All Village residents are invited to the 2007 Village Council Inauguration on Tuesday Apriil 17, at 7:30 p.m. on the steps of Village Hall. Join the Mayor and Council Members for a reception at the Miami Shores Country Club fmro 8-10 p.m. This event is sponsored by the Mayor's Community Task Force, Professional Course Management, Greater Miami Shores Chamber of Commerce and the Miami Shores Property Owners Association.
Hunt Davis: Occupation: Business Owner; Age: 37; Birthplace: Miami, FL;
Family: Married to Paige. Children: Hunter (4), twins Graham and Blake (1)
Hunt Davis was born in Miami, raised in Miami Shores and has been a resident most of his life. He has fond memories of his childhood in the village, particularly his time spent at Miami Shores Elementary School and St. Rose of Lima. He later attended the Baylor School and finally Vanderbilt University. After receiving his MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management, he returned home to live in Miami Shores and work in his family’s business. He is married to Paige Carlson Davis and has been blessed with three wonderful sons: Hunter, Graham and Blake.
Hunt has always felt a special connection to the village, and was extremely proud to purchase a home and start his family here. He and his family live so close to his childhood home that they often pass by it on their evening walks. He is especially pleased that his children are the fifth generation from his family to live in their current house.
Miami Shores Village is a unique and special place, truly a Village Beautiful. Hunt Davis understands what needs to be done to ensure that it remains so for our generation and for the generations to come.
Jim Halliday: Occupation: Practicing physician, Professor of Anesthesiology at University of Miami; Age: 52; Birthplace, Bangor Island; Family: Married to Dawn; two children: Anna and Andrew
Norman James (Jim) Halliday first came to Miami Shores in 1986. He and his wife grew to love the city with its friendly village atmosphere, beautiful homes, diverse community and sense of security that this community offers. They have two teenage children: a boy and a girl, raised here.
Jim has been a practicing physician at the University of Miami Medical Center since 1985, specializing in anesthesia. His lengthy experience in medicine has given him the capacity to listen to the opinions and attention to the demands of his patients. He knows such empathy for his constituents is the most important skill for a council member of Miami Shores Village. His leadership and budgetary abilities as the director of the Pediatric Anesthesia of a large busy practice will be an important facet in the skill set required to be a council member.
Some of the issues near to his heart include the sensible use of the Miami Shores residents’ tax money, which has escalated in recent years. The careful development of downtown Miami Shores, maintaining its unique ambience and enhancing the singular charm of this area, is another priority. As his son was a pupil at the Miami Shores Doctors Charter School, this institution is near to his heart. He feels it is important to ensure educational standards and give the taxpayers value for their money. He is committed to be a pragmatic representative of the people of Miami Shores, and - most important – to listen to and voice their concerns and opinions.
Prospero Herrera II: Occupation: Director of Support Services, Maintenance Operations, MDCC, Age: 45, Birthplace: Bronx, NY, Family: Married to Julie; two children, Prospero and Katrina.
Prospero Herrera II and his wife have lived in Miami Shores for 19 years. He feels that Miami Shores is still a wonderful, safe and diverse community to live and raise children. His son Prospero (age 19) is a student at Columbia University and daughter Katrina (14) is in the ninth grade at Miami Country Day School. He believes that the Village offered the recreational and library resources and environment to his children to allow them to succeed in college and at school..
Herrera was elected to the Miami Shores Village Council in 2001 and 2003. During his terms on council he supported ordinances and programs that improved the quality of life for the resident s of Miami Shores, such as the development of Doctors Charter School.
After this term in office, Herrera served on a number of board and advisory committees, including community representative for North Dade Medical Foundation.
Herrera says there is a need for dedicated and experienced individuals who are willing to serve and listen to the residents of Miami Shores. With his extensive civic background and work experience in the private and public sectors, he will work on the issues of commercial annexation and charter review, Wi-Fi Communication, code compliance, education, residential and city wind mitigation, communication with our state representatives’ office, green environment and transportation.
Herta Holly: Occupation: Cushman Schools Associate Development Grants Manager; Age: 69; Birthplace, Wilmington, DE; Family: Sons: John, William and Edward; Grandchildren: Hayes, Katie Marie, Johnny, Anders and Eddie
Herta Holly has raised her family in the Village since 1963. She is a proven leader.
As president of The Greater Miami Shores Chamber of Commerce, she highlighted Police Officer of the Quarter, the Downtown revitalization plan, and the TEAP award (financial support for classroom teachers).
As Vice Mayor and Councilman, she has fought for a safer and fiscally sound village. As councilman she enacted "Sexual Violator Residency Prohibition" protecting the community from sexual predators, and as Chair of the General Employees Pension fund procured advisors to increase returns and to decrease costs.
As a board member of North Dade Medical Foundation, she established Doctors Charter School of Miami Shores, provided endowment funds for scholarships to Miami Country Day School. The Cushman School, Barry University's School of Nursing and partnership programs in Nursing to Florida Memorial College, St. Thomas University and the University of Miami.
As President of Miami Shores Rotary, she gathered scholarship support for neighborhood schools. A Board member of the Barry University Advisory Board, Ms. Holly is also a member of the Miami Shores Mayor’s Community Task Force. Miami Shores Property Owners Association, Miami Shores Women's Club and Miami Shores Presbyterian Church.
Ex-Mayor of Village of Miami Shores Spero Canton says: “I applaud your ongoing commitment to our community. Your leadership at the Miami Shores Chamber of Commerce and your presence on the Village Council has made this a better community for everyone."
Eddie Lewis: Occupation: Self-employed; Age: 54; Birthplace: Miami Family: Married to Brenda; two children: Lori and Steven; one grandchild, Jerrell
Eddie Lewis has lived in Miami Shores for 20 years. He has served on various committees and boards that have provided him with the knowledge required to hold public office competently. He is well informed on the politics of the nation, state, county and municipalities ever since falling in love with politics as a young person watching the civil rights movement, a movement of which all Americans can be proud for its progress, development and achievements. There is a lot of work that needs to be done in the community. That is why Lewis has offered himself to run for public office. He is up to the challenge. The most important lesson he has learned from politics is that we all can have a positive effect on our community by being involved. For Lewis, politics is not a dirty word, but an amazing project of democracy to achieve the best for all the people.
Stephen Loffredo: Occupation: Attorney; Age: 54; Birthplace: Miami; Family: Married to Diane, three children: Daniel, Katie and Michael
Stephen Loffredo and his wife know Miami Shores Village is a great place to live, and to raise a family.
Their children, Danny, 26, Katie, 24, and Michael, 17 attended Miami Shores public and private schools including Miami Shores Elementary, St. Rose of Lima, Archbishop Curley, and Miami Shores Barry Charter School during their formative years, proving that quality education is an important part of Village life. Currently, Danny Loffredo is serving as the Interim Youth Director at Miami Shores Presbyterian Church, while Katie, a UF graduate, lives and works in Gainesville, FL. Mike is a senior in the North Miami Beach BEAM program and is looking forward to college life next year. Steve is happy to live within walking distance of his law office on NE 2nd Avenu, especially since there's now a local coffee shop close by.
Diane and Steve have called Miami Shores home for over 25 years.
Steve has previously served on the Village Council as Vice Mayor, 1987-1989, and as Councilman in 1989-1993 & 1997-2001. Most recently, he served a two-year term from 2005-2007 and is running for re-election. He believes strongly in supporting our police department and recreation programs. In his past term, he has worked hard on the village's hurricane preparedness and recovery programs.