Miami, Fla. – Two Haitian immigrants are vying to replace Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jean Monestime who’s forced to leave office due to term limits.

North Miami Mayor Philippe BienAime and non-profit founder Marleine Bastien are headed for a runoff on November 8 for District 2, which constitutes a large Black and Caribbean population.

Bien-Aime and Bastien were the top two vote getters in the August primary election in a field of six candidates but since neither collected at least 50 percent of the votes to win outright, a runoff was required.

Bastien, who migrated to the U.S. from the village of Pont-Benot, Haiti, where she began tutoring literacy to children and adults when she was eight years old, has been active in the community for nearly 40 years.

She earned her master’s degree in social work from Florida International University and began work at Jackson Memorial Hospital as a medical social worker, where she raised awareness for children and families battling HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and sickle cell anemia.

Bastien is founder of Family Action Network Movement, a Miami-based nonprofit that helps low- to moderate-income families with a variety of services, including health care access, crisis and domestic violence intervention, job training and after-school programs.

She operates a $2 million budget for the organization that also advocates for issues like affordable housing and immigration reform.

In 1994, Bastien received the MiamiDade County Volunteer of the Year Award, followed by the Miami-Dade County Social Worker of the Year Award in 2000 for her services.

As a candidate for County Commissioner, Bastien said she is focusing on creating policies to strengthen women, children, families and businesses to combat local challenges in healthcare, affordable housing, education, curbing gun violence and job growth.

"I believe that it is vital that our elected leaders’ approach all of these issues with the interest of the residents in mind and not any single interest group," she said. As commissioner, I will ensure that residents are prioritized in all decisions made at the county level."

Bien-Aime declined a request to be interviewed.

According to his bio, Bien-Aime was born and raised in Port-au-Prince Haiti and migrated to the United States in 1993.

He worked in the automobile industry for 20 years before opening up his own business.

Bien-Aime entered the political arena in 2013 when he was elected to the North Miami City Commission and became mayor in 2017.

He said he’s living the American Dream and wants to help others to achieve their dreams including bringing affordable housing in a skyrocking market.

Bien-Aime’s political platform also includes supporting local businesses that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing climate change, traffic congestion and upgrading the transportation system, according to his campaign website.

Bastien’s campaign got a big boost when Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava endorsed her for county commissioner.

In her endorsement letter, Cava called Bastien a "good friend" and said she has been on the front lines of our community advocating for affordable housing, empowering women and making neighborhoods safer.

"Marleine Bastien is a well-known advocate and community leader and I’m proud to endorse her for County Commissioner, District 2," Cava said. "For over 40 years, she’s led efforts to empower our communities, provide healthcare and housing to low-income families, protect our children, and improve our public education system. I know she’ll continue to fight for justice, fairness, and progress in Miami-Dade."

Bastien said she’s honored by Cava’s support.

"She’s a leader who is immensely respected throughout the community and has shown she cares deeply about getting things done for our residents," Bastien said. “She is a change maker and in less than two years as mayor, Daniella Levine Cava has shown why so many across Miami-Dade County were ready to see her lead. I look forward to working together as we tackle the affordability crisis, address housing challenges, expand business opportunities, and create a strong economic agenda to bridge the economic gaps for the residents of District 2.”

Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 291 is also backing Bastien. “Over the past 40 years, Marleine has shown an unparalleled commitment to the Miami-Dade community, and we are confident she will serve the residents of District 2 well in her role as commissioner,” TWU Local President Jeffrey Mitchell said in a statement.

Also supporting Bastien are her primary opponents, former North Miami Mayor Joe Celestin, retired firefighter William D.C. Clark and entrepreneur Monique Barley-Mayo.

Bien Aime has drawn support from former Broward County Mayor and recent Congressional candidate Dale Holness, who lost in the August Democratic primary to Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick for a second time, lobbyist Ron Book and real estate attorney Juan Mayol, who represents some of the biggest residential and commercial developers in the state including the Lennar Corporation.

Each supporter contributed $1,000 to Bien Aime which is the maximum amount allowed for an individual under MiamiDade’s campaign finance law.

Bien Aimé has raised a total of $992,000, including loaning himself $50,000, most from real estate developers.

Bastien has raised $246,000 running a grass root campaign.

Monestime’s office said the commissioner hasn’t endorsed any candidate running in the District 2 race.

District 2 covers portions of Miami, North Miami Beach, Opa-locka, Hialeah and the unincorporated neighborhoods of Liberty City, North Dade Central and Biscayne Gardens.