An ardent electorate from the Haitian-American Diaspora showed up in droves, armed with biting questions and vocal support for their candidates, at the recent candidate forum hosted by the Voice of Haitian Americans in the Diaspora (VHAD) at the Little Haiti Cultural Center in Miami.

Several candidates for the upcoming primary elections, set for August 14, spoke at the panel. The county commission level included candidate Michael Jackson Joseph for Miami-Dade County Commissioner District 3, candidate Ralph Kenol for Hollywood commissioner District 2 and incumbent Miami-Dade District 1 commissioner Barbara J. Jordan.

Dr. Rudolph Moise, who is again running for the Democratic candidacy for Congress, and Rod Vereen, who is running for Miami-Dade State Attorney Democratic candidacy, also spoke at the forum.

But it was the intense exchange among Democratic State House candidates and their supporters that caused much disruption at the VHAD forum. These included candidate Bobby Powell for State House representative for District 88; incumbent State House representative for District 104 John Patrick Julien, who is now running for District 107; incumbent Democratic state House representative of District 108, Daphne Campbell; and her opponent for the democratic candidacy, Alix Desulme and Pat Santangelo.

Supporters for state house candidates flared up during the question and answer session, particularly between supporters of the State House District 108 candidate Pat Santangelo and Alix Desulme, and the only two Haitian-Americans currently in Florida House of Representatives, Daphne Campbell and John Patrick Julien.

The crowd eventually could not be subdued by the moderator, and the candidates walked out in protest.

Despite the upheaval, VHAD Chairman Dr. Danel Cedent noted the progress the Haitian-American community has made in state representation, with numerous Haitian-American candidates up for this year's election. He also praised the public servants for their "dedication and commitment."