Pinecrest's first mayor will definitely be a lawyer

Pinecrest’s first mayor should have no problem understanding whatever legal challenges the new village faces.

The three candidates - Evelyn Greer, Henry Hunnefeld and Stuart Koenigsberg - all are lawyers.

Evelyn Greer is perhaps the person most responsible for the Village of Pinecrest. She and Charter Commission member Gary Matzner began to organize the village’s move toward incorporation about 2 1/2 years ago.

Greer said she had become frustrated by a lack of police presence and that their community was sending much more to Dade County in taxes than it was receiving in services.

She had always entertained the idea of running for mayor, but didn’t reach a decision until after the vote for incorporation last September.

“It’s almost the end of a long road,” Greer said.

Greer said one of her strengths is that she has already spent thousands of hours talking with Dade County officials about setting up the new village.

“If I win the election, I start, Day One, knowing the 10 most important things about running a city. Like how we collect revenue and where we go to get it,” said Greer, who also runs a real estate investment firm that owns commercial property outside of Dade County.

She will not seek a second term if elected, she said. Pinecrest’s mayor will serve four-year terms.

Henry Hunnefeld wants to be part of something historic and being Pinecrest’s first mayor fits that bill, he said.

“The first leaders of our community are going to establish a pattern for all time,” Hunnefeld said.

He said he has always had political aspirations, but never realized them because he had friends on both sides and didn’t want to alienate anyone. This race, however, is different.

“That’s not a problem in Pinecrest,” Hunnefeld said. “It’s evident this is a nonpartisan election.”

His concerns are similar to those of the other candidates. He wants Pinecrest to stay as it is, a community of single-family homes, and keep taxes down. And he wants a streamlined government.

“I want to have a minimum amount of rules for the community’s real needs,” Hunnefeld said.

He favored incorporation from the start but has concerns. “There could be significant down sides to incorporation, like raising taxes and hiring a rinky-dink police force,” Hunnefeld said.

Stuart Koenigsberg is one of the few candidates running for office in Pinecrest who doesn’t believe his community has a significant crime problem.

“We don’t have a problem with typical crime,” Koenigsberg said. “We have a lot of petty crime - radios and cars stolen, mailboxes smashed.”

He said Pinecrest could defer crime by having a more visible security presence. Setting up a police force with pensions and worker’s compensation claims and insurance is an unnecessary expense, he said.

“We can contract out and hire security with a skeleton police force,” Koenigsberg said.

He also said owning a construction contracting firm will help him in his bid for mayor.

“I can make sure that the quality of construction in Pinecrest won’t create another Country Walk,” Koenigsberg said. “No one else [running for mayor] has any clue how to build something.”

All registered voters within Pinecrest from Kendall Drive to Southwest 136th Street between U.S. 1 and Old Cutler Road, can vote for mayor on Tuesday. All council races are also open to all voters.

Continuation Furniture

Page 3K: PLEASE SEE MAYOR, 4. Page 4K headline: Mayor hopefuls offer their Pinecrest vision. Page 4K marker: MAYOR, FROM 3.

Meet Pinecrest’s Candidates for Mayor

Evelyn Langlieb Greer

Personal: 45, married with three children.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Barnard College, New York City … law degree, Columbia University, New York City.

Professional: Attorney with Hogan, Greer & Shapiro, owner Greer Properties … Has not held political office … member, Barnard College board of trustees … founder, Girls Basketball League in Pinecrest and of Pinecrest Neighborhood Action Committee.

Main issues: Police protection. Local control of zoning and neighborhood beautification.

Henry J. Hunnefeld

Personal: 38 and single.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H. … law degree, University of Miami.

Professional: Attorney with Carusello & Hunnefeld … has not held political office … volunteer, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater Miami and Dade County Chapter of the Special Olympics … former director, Coconut Grove Jaycees.

Main issues: Proper police protection. Holding the line on taxes and avoiding conflicts of interest on zoning issues.

Stuart L. Koenigsberg

Personal: 34, married with a child.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, University of Miami … law degree, University of Miami.

Professional: Attorney with A Able Advocates - Stuart L. Koenigsberg … has not held political office … owner, Affordable Construction Contractors … member, Florida Bar, Association of Trial Lawyers of America and Put Something Back, a legal-aid service.

Main issues: Improved police protection. Conversion of Parrot Jungle into a recreational park. Efficient municipal services without raising taxes.