A Bush and a Korge among mayor’s hosts tonight

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Around 300 people are expected at a Young Professionals reception tonight for Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez.

The Brickell area soiree is hosted by no fewer than 86 “friends” (read: people with political interests), including Miami Commissioner Frank Carollo, Miami Beach Commissioner Jonah Wolfson, Coral Gables Commissioner Frank Quesada, architect Willy Bermello, Jr., former Miami City Manager Tony Crapp, Jr., former city of Miami Finance Director Larry Spring, former State Rep. Marcelo Llorente (Rep., District 116), campaign strategist Tatiana Gort, daughter of Miami Commissioner Willy Gort.

It’s a bipartisan affair as Democratic Party up-and-risers Freddy Balsera and Giancarlo Sopo are also on the endless list of hosts. So is Alex Heckler, a big Democratic Party fundraiser who is also Llorente’s new business partner.

Notable on that list are Jeb “Jebby” Bush, Jr., and Andrew Korge (son of political operative Chris Korge), who are said to be introducing Gimenez at the event, which starts 5:30 p.m. at Segafredo Brickell, 1421 South Miami Avenue. It’s like a dejavu — a junior dejavu, if you will — since former Gov. Jeb Bush and Democratic tree-shaker Chris Korge introduced Gimenez at a campaign fundraiser at the Biltmore Hotel last year.

Also notable, at least to Ladra, is the name Eric Padron, who is running for state rep in district 112 in a three-way Republican rodeo with former Rep. Gus Barreiro and former Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla, who is (or was) a friend and ally of the mayor’s and, some say, may have played somewhat of a role in his election last year. Has there been a falling out? I only ask because Ladra was also surprised to see Sen. Gwen Margolis (Dem., District 35) at the Gimenez La Carretta kick-off last month, sitting at a table with Ralph Garcia-Toledo, the mayor’s shadow/rainmaker and his wife, weeks after getting into a verbal spar with Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla — another ally and the mayor’s son’s boss — over redistricting her turf so Alex DLP could run for senator instead.

Is there no loyalty?

According to one insider, Padron was suggested as a host by one of the three dozen or so (read: too many to count) freelance political “consultants” (and I use the term loosely) working with the Gimenez dream team. And the mayor didn’t even know who he was, said someone close enough to know that.

Maybe he’ll get a chance to chat with Padron tonight — if Gimenez can get more than a word in with any one person.

Here is the full list of hosts from the invitation:

David Abrams • Matt Adler • Max Amster • Eddy Arriola • Ricky Arriola • Marcus Bach-Armas • Freddie Balsera • Elina Basham • Justin Beckham • Andrew Berkowitz • Michael Berkowitz • Willy Bermello, Jr. • Angelica Bertot • Lauren Book • Michael Brodie • Benjamin Brodsky • Jeb Bush Jr. • David Cardenas • Comm. Frank Carollo • Adam Cedrati • Barron Channer • Erica Chanti • Tony Crapp, Jr. • Robert Crawford • Tania Cruz • Nelson Echevarria • Stefanie Epstein • Keith “Fletch” Fletcher • JC Flores • Jose Fuentes • Luis Andre Gazitua • Carlos Gimenez, Jr. • Tim Gomez • Jose Gonzalez • Tatiana Gort • Ryan Grindler • Kira Grossman • Daniel Guerra • Isadore Havenick • Alex Heckler • Marlon Hill • Nelson Hincapie • Sofia Holtzman • Nick Inamdar • Saif Ishoof • Steve Johnson • Andrew Korge • Tiffany Leal • Jennifer Leesfield • Rick Lindstrom • Hon. Marcelo Llorente • Mark Llorente • Bruno Lopes • Jose Mallea • Roly Marante • David Martin • Brian May • David Maymon • The Misuraca Family • Nitin Motwani • Greg Namoff • Dean Neiger • Alex Odio • Eric Padrón • Ricky Patel • Frank Pena • Edson Pires • April & Jason Pizzo • Ben Pollara • Comm. Frank Quesada • N. Patrick Range, II • Gary Reshefsky • Barby Rodriguez • Harout J. Samra • Roland Sanchez-Medina • Cameron Sisser • Tracy Slavens • Mary Snow • Giancarlo Sopo • Larry Spring, Jr. • Joaquin Urquiola • JC del Valle • TC Wolfe • Comm. Jonah Wolfson • Eric Zichella

Get there early if you want to be able to breathe.