Political career
In 1996, Celestin ran for the Florida Legislature, but did not succeed. In 1997, he formed the ''Haitian-American Political Action Committee'' (HAPAC). In 1998, he ran for the Florida Senate, but was not successful. He sued to overturn the election, claiming that the results were tainted by illegally registered voters. Prior to his 2001 election as mayor, Celestin had also run for mayor in 1999. In 2001, Celestin was elected as Mayor of North Miami, becoming the first Haitian-American mayor of a sizeable US city. He was re-elected in 2003 when the deadline for opponents passed with no challengers. He left office in 2005 due to term limits. In 2009, Celestin had considered running for mayor again, but pulled out so as not to be 'divisive'. In 2011 he ran for the State Senate for the position vacated by Frederica Wilson, who replaced Kendrick Meek in the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives. On March 1, 2011, he was defeated by Democrat Oscar Braynon. In 2016 United States presidential election, 2016, he stated he would likely not vote for Donald Trump despite his partisan affiliation.References
Living people 21st-century mayors of places in Florida American politicians of Haitian descent Florida Republicans Haitian emigrants to the United States Mayors of places in Florida 1956 births People from North Miami, Florida Politicians from Port-au-Prince African-American mayors in Florida 21st-century African-American politicians 20th-century African-American politicians Black conservatism in the United States {{Florida-mayor-stub