It took many Miami Beach residents by surprise when last week's Election Day on Miami Beach resulted in a clear victory for political novice and entrepreneur Philip Levine in the mayoral race. Most people quietly anticipated there would be a runoff, as was expected of the commission races as well. But, in the case of the mayoral seat, it looked like a sure thing. Here you had three candidates with obvious appeal. In addition to the insurgent Levine campaign, there was the campaign of Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Gongora, a well-known local leader and an early campaign season favorite. Also in the mix was Steve Berke, a brash young former athlete and entertainer who utilized clever guerilla marketing tactics to compensate for his opponents' larger war chests. Berke's campaign platform also included support for the decriminalization of marijuana, a ballot issue, also, that garnered a great deal of support in passing citywide.
