Is it really any surprise to anyone that the race for House seat 112 has gone this far on the ugly scale? I mean, we are looking at a contest where one brother got his wife to put her name in the hat against another brother and an ex-wife may have financed a nasty mailer against her former Senator husband.
Does anyone really think that’s going to have much of an effect on the result?
In fact, thank goodness for the nastiness in the contest between former State Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla and former State Rep. Gus Barreiro, otherwise this would be a sleeper of a race.
And nothing with a DLP in it should be a sleeper.
I called it a bore earlier because Ladra is quite certain that Diaz de la Portilla, the Dean of South Florida politics, is going to win this one easily despite all the attack ads calling him an abusive husband and the might — and, maybe, money — of practically the entire Miami-Dade legislation because of “the war” (more on that later). He’d win it in his sleep — if he ever slept, that is.
But now — and, c’mon, you really didn’t see this coming? — we’re going to start to have fun. Because both the candidates are tearing each other apart and making this a contest of who is the least baddest man.
On the one side, you have Barreiro, being outed in mailers and pro-DLP GOP blogs as a deadbeat dad who abandoned his 8-year-old ki
d in some snowy state to come to paradise and make a name for himself. That name, by the way, was Owens. Gus Owens Barreiro, because he is only half brother to Miami-Dade Commissioner Bruno Barreiro — and there’s a whole ‘nother war there because the commissioner (who is up for a tough re-election) apparently got his wife to file paperwork for the same seat early on, though she never followed up. What a shame, eh? That would make it even more fun. The point is Gus dropped the Owens when it became politically expedient to do so — like he dropped his wife and kid.
Nobody really cared too much that Reaganista blogger Christian Camara wrote a piece calling Barreiro a chivato — or “snitch” in Spanish — for having first filed a complaint against his one-time buddy, former State Rep. Ralph Arza for allegedly using racial slurs against then Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Rudy Crew (whose name of course is going to be all over these races full of ghosts from Christmases past) and then played two drunken, obscene crank calls that Arza had left his former colleague on his cellphone to the eagerly-awaiting press corps — and ended Arza’s political career, even though just maybe a little early. He was going down anyway.
But the big, allegedly too-egregious hit came from Tea Party Miami blogger Eric Von Tausch, who ran a post that compared Barreiro to Aurora, Colorado, mass murderer James Holmes because both men had profiles on the singles swingers network website adultfriendfinder.com. Miami New Times blogger Kyle Munzenrieder says it was over the top, but who is he kidding? Because it’s a beautiful detail. Maybe it’s not a headline, exactly, but it’s a delicious detail for a political blogger and if you don’t admit it, you’re lying. Because it gets better. Barreiro reportedly used the screen name “CubanCigar107” — and we are quite sure the number he referred to is for his former house district. Maybe now he wants to be “CubanCigar112.”
Oh, please. You don’t think Dean DLP already thought of that? I gave him nothin‘! But do look for more hits to hammer Barreiro on how the PBA actually endorsed a suspected pornography aficionado, since Barreiro — who was termed out of the House in 2006 — was fired in 2009 after a random audit of his state-issued laptop found 382 pornographic images and that the user, “CubanCigar107” no doubt, viewed 42 web pages containing “sexually explicit, sexually provocative” content. His job at the time? Chief of residential programs at the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. That’s right, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. Nice place for porn, eh?
He says he was framed. Of course he was — 382 times.
DLP calls him “a desperate man who is a known deadbeat dad and a pornographer” in the Marc Caputo Miami Herald story about the nastiness of the race. “I suspect he’s simply trying to cover up his lack of moral character,” he is quoted as saying. And, no, the Dean does not talk to me about these things despite some common assumption that he does and Ladra’s constant begging. He just likes to tell me stories about the good ol’ days over and over again, relive his glory — kind of like what he’s trying to do by getting elected now.
The Herald story came after Barreiro struck back at DLP with a mailer that calls attention to the Dean’s unfortunate and messy divorce and the temporary restraining order requested against him in 2010 — and later withdrawn, which the mailer doesn’t mention. Lame, Gus, lame. You are going to have to up your game if you want to go head to head with a DLP. Because who doesn’t have a restraining order from a jilted wife or a hateful husband, especially in that district? Who doesn’t know that people say hurtful and false or exaggerated things in court during such turbulent emotional times? Tsk, tsk. I’m actually sort of disappointed. Is that the best you can do? Really? (Hint: Google him).
But while the former Mrs. DLP, Claudia Davant (dressed in red in the mailer here) feigns being horrified by the mail piece, it looks like she may have funded it — with $2,000 to the Barreiro campaign coming from her and her business partners.
Davant didn’t call me back after I left her a message Wednesday night — okay, late Wednesday nigh
t. Ladra is a night owl dog. But she texted me moments later: “Hi Elaine. I don’t normally respond to late night phone calls,” she wrote (it was only 10:38, c’mon lady),”but I stand by my statement to the Herald. I did not authorize nor do I condone using me personally for political purposes, including using my likeness,” she said, referring to the photograph of her standing with her arms crossed, head cocked, leaning against the wall — like she’s saying “look who’s coming back to haunt you” — a perfectly-chosen professional profile photo the Barreiro camp took from the internet (they took one of the Dean from Political Cortadito’s website, too. Without our consent, either.).
“I have sent a cease and desist letter to the CCE responsible,” Davant finishes.
Really? Really? Then why did the lobbyist give Barreiro a $500 contribution to Barreiro’s campaign? His report lists the donation from The Davant Company on July 2. Same day that her three partners in another business called Adam St. Advocates — Robert Beck, his wife Tanya Johnson, and political consultant David Ericks — each gave $500. That’s $2,000 from DLP’s ex-wife — just enough, probably, to fund the mailer.
That CCE — which is a PAC in sheep’s clothing, the only difference being it can’t ask you to vote for anyone but it can urge you to call DLP and “tell him he doesn’t share our idea of family values” — is based in Melbourne, of all places. Conservatives United lists three contributors for it’s $13,500 total: Vero Beach attorney Lisa McClaughlin — who also owns a company named JAM Capital Management (which I believe I’ve seen on campaign reports) — gave $10,000, Vero Beach dentist Joseph Thomas gave $1,000 and the other $2,500 comes from a landscaping company in Troy, Michigan — where there just happens to be a lot of McLaughlins. Hey, isn’t that where Barreiro allegedly left his child and ex-wife with no financial support? Or was that Wisconsin? No expenses are listed on the campaign reports filed July 13, so we’ll have to wait ’til after this Friday to see what the mailers cost Barreiro’s CCE.
The Dean has his own PACs — and the Herald story got it wrong about who’s got the edge with the cash. Caputo made a rookie mistake. Dean DLP has both the better name recognition and the better financing. Maybe he has just under $19,000 in his campaign account, compared to Barreiro’s close to $30,000. But Diaz de la Portilla is the chair of not one, but two PACs — he isn’t hiding behind someone else fronting the PAC like Barreiro is. Citizens Desiring Accountable Government got one $40,000 donation from Orion Medical Enterprises in North Miami Beach and Citizens for Accountable Reform (yeah, I know, you’d think DLP could get more creative) got another $9,500 — $2,000 from School Board Member Carlos Curbelo’s Capital Gains company and $7,500 from Innovate Florida, another PAC (yes, I hate it when PACs give to PACs that give to yet other PACs because it looks like money laundering to Ladra). The point is, with the PAC totals included, the Dean is up about $25,000 in fundraising. That’s the edge. It’s in reverse, Marc.
So, hop on that bus, Gus. You got 19 days to make a dent — and the divorce Davant thing is a dead horse, already, daddy. Really. Nobody cares. Nobody is going to believe her anymore. And don’t you dare go near the dog thing or Ladra will have to stop growling and bite you. Elvis and Priscilla are off limits.
So what else you got? The people who watch these races like it was American Idol are waiting — and they will vote you off the island if you don’t give us a good show.
State House 112 race wakes up from its coma added by Ladra on
View all posts by Ladra →
[…] fought over custody of their dogs, Elvis and Priscilla. Davant later supported Gus Barreiro in the 2012 race for state house that ADLP eventually won the primary and lost the general to a first-time candidate named Jose Javier […]
so much for alex
Nina….this has nothing to do with his race…..he will win.
The rest of the stuff you just wrote is fantasy. But whatever, you have your opinion, even if it is misguided.
You don’t know.
Short and sweet? SHORT and sweet? What have YOU been reading, ’cause it wasn’t these posts. Nothing short about the 112 stories. Or most of my posts, for that matter. They may go too long, in fact.
But, then again, you make a habit out of being wrong.
Senator ADLP has always lived in that house in Little Havana and he could have stayed away from Tallahassee and likely made more money and had more power. But an open seat snuck up on him and he decided to go back to what he does best. Or second best. It makes no difference. His second best is better than anyone else’s best.
And, at least from what I’ve seen of The Dean, he is not in it for the power or the glory. He is old enough to have a don’t-care-less attitude about his title or the prestige. Sure, he likes the GAME. And why not? He plays well.
But he’s in it to make a difference. Whether it’s ensuring we have a dial tone for emergency calls even if our service is cut or securing close to $30 million to clean up the Miami River — more than any other legislator who takes credit for it — he LIVES to make things HAPPEN. That and talking to little old ladies who worship the ground he walks on.
You are the one in lala land if you don’t agree that J-Rod is pretty much toast, mi hermano.
At least he got a free education.
Love, Ladra
Keep living in lala land…..I know them, I know how they operate….they are addicted to power and all the trappings. They are shakedown artist and people hell bent on power.
Alex served 18 years in House and Senate…..but just couldn’t stay away. During that time he didn’t live in the district and used the position to profit has much as he can. Rene has a cozy position in the School Board, but he had to run for the House, but I am sure he did it because his passion to serve. Miguel makes a mint lobbying the county (RED LIGHT CAMERAS), but of course, they are in it to serve the community.
I get it…..if Ladra likes you the blog will be short and sweet. If Ladra doesn’t like you, she will sarcastically create conversations, allegations and try her best to destroy reputations.
Clearly, you don’t know the DLPs as well as you think. We do NOT drink Kool Aid. Our beverage may be blue, but it’s Johnny Walker. And he thrives at using his political savvy, not power, to shake politicians out of their stupor and make things happen for his community. He obsesses on nothing. Not for too long, anyway.
And not everybody likes Renier. He could have worked harder, yes, but I doubt that only 1 or 2 ballots were tainted. C’mon. There are 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 that we already KNOW of. Imagine what we don’t know.
We agree with one thing: Manny Diaz, Jr., es un muerto. I call him a puppet, whose election was driven by the Wicked Cigar Czar of the North to try to secure his speakership (which is dead in the water whether or not the Senator is elected).
You don’t know the clan that well, apparently. And, yes, as I’ve stated, I like them. Ladra has come across lots of politicos and the DLPs are the most open and honest I’ve met so far. I know what some people think. I thought so too (read the archives), but when challenged to get to know them, I have realized they are not beholden to anyone.
Maybe that is what has you upset? That the DLPs don’t really owe anything to anyone? But that’s one of the things I like the most about them.
Everyone in the political circles? You mean real sleazies who are dying of envy?
Love, Ladra
Clearly, you drank the DLP kool aide. Alex is an alcoholic who thrives at using his political power to shake people down. Doesn’t bother living in the district and thrives on seeing who he can screw over. His obsession is to further is political career and ambition.
Renier, is Fredo……everyone likes him but a light weight. He lost his election because he thought he could just roll out his name and the sea would part. Other than 1 or 2 ballots that may have been tainted, Fredo got spanked, and the worst part is the guy that beat him es in muerto.
I know the clan well……you like them and that is ok……but everyone within political circles know how sleazy they are.
Senator Alex Diaz de la Portilla is nothing like those people. You have no idea what you are talking about.
Those people have no respect for Democracy or freedom of the press. They are bullies who punish political critics and use illicit means and intimidation tactics to collect absentee ballots from frail and frightened elderly. They have been “made” men and women by their political Godfathers.
The DLPs made themselves and are not beholden to anyone. They run their campaigns, as far as I’ve seen (and I’ve seen it pretty close up), with hard work, not shenanigans, which could be why School Board Member Renier Diaz de la Portilla lost his bid for House seat 103 in an election rife with voter fraud and irregularities.
While cowards like you hide under pseudonyms to make accusations that don’t stick, the DLPs have been up front about everything and have never hidden from me.
Give me specifics, not just generalizations that can’t be proven — otherwise, your envy is showing.
Love, Ladra
Treat ADP just like you treat Hernandez, Bovo, Isis, etc…
You butchered them…..ADP maybe the worst of all elected officials in Miami Dade, and that says a ton.
Chopo, silly… Ladra told you I would get back to that later… and I will. I saw additional checks from other sources, not Dr. Jacob, totaling about $55,000 for his PAC… so it’s not a singular source any more, really.
Also, there is a good back story there. He never knew Dr. Jacob when he got the state to revert BACK to Jacob’s FLORIDA business because the bid was for LESS than the ALABAMA company tied to lobbyists and at least one legislator that was being recommended as a CHANGE. Herald didn’t get the whole story. They rarely do.
And Jacob contacted him AFTER to thank him (which is how it’s done). According to the story, which I am trying to confirm/document.
Couldn’t wait, huh? Well, I don’t make a habit of regurgitating the Herald without putting in context so espera, muchacho.
Still, so glad to know you have me on your RSS.
Muah, Ladra.
Alex Diaz de la Portilla gets $125K from controversial donor
State House hopeful Alex Diaz de la Portilla has no qualms about accepting $125,000 from a controversial donor.
The considerable contribution to Diaz de la Portilla’s political committee, Citizens for Accountable Government, came from Miami Beach physician Allan Jacob.
Donations from Jacob have drawn scrutiny before.
Two years ago, Jacob gave $15,000 to a political committee run by Diaz de la Portilla’s older brother, Miguel.
Days later, Alex Diaz de la Portilla, then Senate majority leader, penned a letter that helped Jacob’s kidney dialysis company in its bid to keep a state contract.
Both Jacob and Diaz de la Portilla denied any connection between the contribution and the letter. Jacob said he supported the political committee’s principles. And Diaz de la Portilla said his letter was meant to stop the state from spending $2.5 million on a new dialysis treatment center — not to benefit any contractor.
Diaz de la Portilla, a Republican who is running to represent Shenandoah, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne and parts of Coral Gables, said there’s nothing wrong with the latest contribution, either.
“It’s not an issue,” Diaz de la Portilla said of the check, which he reported in August. “Has Alex Diaz de la Portilla ever voted for anything related to Allan Jacob? The answer is no.”
It wasn’t clear if Jacob was still doing business with the state. He did not return calls Thursday.
Diaz de la Portilla said he had only met Jacob twice and the men have neither personal nor business ties.
“He called me to help me because he liked my ideas,” Diaz de la Portilla said. “I’ve done a lot for Mount Sinai and Miami Jewish Home. He liked that.”
But Diaz de la Portilla said he wants to get to know the doctor better. He plans to ask Jacob for another $100,000, he said.
“Hopefully, he’s going to become a friend,” Diaz de la Portilla said.
Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2012/10/alex-diaz-de-la-portilla-gets-125k-from-controversial-donor.html#more#storylink=cpy
[…] State House 112 race wakes up from its coma | Political Cortadito Go to this article […]