The move created a surprise opening for the two remaining Democrats who had qualified to challenge him: Daphne Campbell, a registered nurse, and Alix Desulme, the North Miami city clerk.
Campbell, a political newcomer intent on challenging the then-incumbent Brisé, began campaigning for the seat long before Desulme, the establishment candidate who was elected last year to the part-time city clerk post.
Their campaigns have hit a fever pitch, with the race to be decided in an Aug. 24 primary that will be open to all voters -- not just Democrats -- because there are no other candidates running. Heavily Haitian-American, District 108 begins in northeast Miami and heads north along Biscayne Boulevard through El Portal, Miami Shores and North Miami.
MUDSLINGING
``The biggest single voting bloc -- not that the voting bloc is monolithic -- is gaining the support of the Haitian community,'' said Haitian-born Brisé, who has backed Desulme. ``But the district is very diverse, and it's an open primary, so everybody's coming out.''
With the intense campaigning has come mudslinging, including that Campbell, who uses her married name, is not Haitian -- though she, like Desulme, was born in Haiti. (Campbell's campaign says it has now taken to adding her maiden name, Durand, to advertisements.)
``There's a little bit of tension in our community,'' said Lucie Tondreau, a political consultant for Campbell.
Most of the campaign chatter has centered on Campbell's history operating a chain of nine group homes for disabled people in Miami-Dade, Broward and Lee counties called Professional Group Homes, Inc.
Beginning in late 2005, the state Agency for Persons with Disabilities received reports that four clients of the agency had died at one of the Professional group homes under questionable circumstances. One woman died after being raped by a teenager; another resident died after choking on a sandwich.
PROBLEMS
Inspections of some of the group homes from that time period also turned up troubling problems, records show: Some staff members were working 80-hour weeks, representing a ``threat to the health and safety'' of clients. Rodent droppings were seen ``on shelves near and upon food.'' Dead roaches were seen on the floor. Toothbrushes were ``comingled'' And swimming pools were ``green.''
Administrators at the disabilities agencies imposed a moratorium, lifted it, and then imposed one again. Then, in September 2006, the disabilities agency, APD, terminated Campbell's contract, effectively shutting her down.
Campbell appealed APD's decision, and lost. But within the next two years, both healthcare and disabilities administrators reversed themselves. Campbell was given new authority to bill under the state's Medicaid program for the needy, and to operate group homes for people with disabilities.
``The bottom line with the whole thing: I didn't do anything wrong,'' Campbell said. ``I did not lose any license.''
She blamed Desulme and one of his key supporters, Brisé, for telling people otherwise on the campaign trail, though Desulme and Brisé denied the accusation.
For her part, Campbell, 53, criticized her opponent for waiting until the last day of qualifying to file to run -- and for choosing to enter a legislative race with three years left in his city clerk term.
`OPPORTUNITY'
Desulme, 33, said he had long planned to run for the House seat after Brisé's term expired.
Those plans were moved up after it became clear that Brisé could be appointed to the Public Service Commission, added Desulme, who owns a marketing and public relations firm and works as a curriculum support specialist for the Miami-Dade school district.
``When I heard that he might be getting this appointment I did not want to be left out of this wonderful opportunity,'' he said. ``I did not want for anybody to just run unopposed.''
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