MIAMI-DADE SCHOOL BOARD

Curbelo, Bendross-Mindingall elected to Miami-Dade School Board

In the remaining races for Miami-Dade School Board, two candidates with political experience had a lead over their opponents.

BY KATHLEEN MCGRORY

KMCGRORY@MIAMIHERALD.COM

Political consultant Carlos Curbelo and former state Rep. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall were elected to the Miami-Dade School Board late Tuesday.

Curbelo, 30, came away with a solid victory over former School Board aide Libby Perez.

He will represent School Board District 7, which encompasses most of southwest Miami-Dade.

``I feel honored and privileged,'' Curbelo said. ``But there's little time to celebrate. There's a lot of hard work that needs to be done.''

In the contest to represent Miami's urban core, Bendross-Mindingall defeated schools administrator Ronda A. Vangates.

Bendross-Mindingall, 68, a former principal and teacher, said she was eager to get to work.

``District 2 is not your average School Board district,'' she said. ``We have unique challenges and unique strengths.''

While Bendross-Mindingall and Curbelo each have political experience, both will be first-time Miami-Dade School Board members.

They join newcomer Raquel Regalado, who won a seat in the August election by capturing more than half of the vote in a field of five candidates.

All three have pledged to bring a fresh perspective to the School Board.

DISTRICT 7

In the District 7 race, Curbelo raised more than $225,000 -- nearly 10 times more than Perez.

He will serve the two years remaining in outgoing board member Ana Rivas Logan's term. Logan won a seat in the state House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Curbelo, an aide to U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, said a top priority is securing additional funding to account for the cost of living in Miami-Dade. He also hopes to increase teacher pay.

``We need to see how we can give our teachers some relief after all the years of sacrifice,'' he said. ``And we need to see how we can continue spending the resources we have more efficiently.''

DISTRICT 2

In District 2, Bendross-Mindingall and Vangates were competing to fill the seat left vacant by retiring board member Solomon Stinson, who endorsed Vangates in the election.

Both women raised about $140,000 for their campaigns and spent weeks knocking on doors in Miami's urban core.

Bendross-Mindingall had the support of the Miami-Dade teachers union.

``She'll have a strong understanding of what we're talking about,'' said United Teachers of Dade President Karen Aronowitz.

Bendross-Mindingall will start by putting together a team of engaged parents, community members and educators, she said.

``I'm up for the challenge,'' she said. ``I could start tomorrow.''

Classics in Social Science - Projections

Wednesday, November 3, 2010