Former Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Joe Martinez — who lost a bitter battle for the mayor’s job agaisnt Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez in the first round in August — has launched his campaign to run against newly-minted U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia.
Oh, and he also wants to launch a cologne called The Commissioner.
Who does Martinez think he is? Justin Bieber?
“I can’t sing and dance,” the veteran county commissioner and former police officer — who just opened a consulting firm — told me Friday night when we finally spoke? He called me back rather quicklyl after Ladra saw he had announced his congressional candidacy and cologne on facebook about 5:30 p.m. Friday.
“Thank you to all who have inquired about my status and well being. After 29 years in the public sector, I have returned to the private sector as I opened a consulting firm, Joe Martinez and Associates which focuses on consulting, Public relations and business development,” he posted. The company was formed in September of last year, fresh off his August loss,
according to the state division of corporation and their online records.
Martinez told me he will not be “lobbying” perse because he will not go before government boards to ask for anything. He will advise businesses, however, on how to go before government boards to ask for stuff.
But that was expected. That he would get into the perfume business was not.
“I am also launching a cologne: “The Commissioner” but I need to build up a defined customer base prior to mass production. Those of you who have met me, know that it is a clean, lasting and memorable scent,” he wrote on facebook.
Wait,
whaaaaat? Lasting and memorable? I never stood that close, I guess. Because that is
not the odor I am familiar with at County Hall. But Ladra is not making that up.
Look on his page. The post had 79 likes and more than 40 comments within 90 minutes.
But many of those were for the campaign, not the cologne.
“As for my political future, I realize, as many of you do, that Washington is dysfunctional. It is strictly partisan politics and not much is accomplished,” Martinez wrote. “Twelve years I served on the County Commission with no party affiliation. Those are the rules in Miami Dade County. We were Republicans or Democrats but we did not govern along party lines. Sure, our basic philosophies followed our respective parties but when we made a decision, I would like to believe that all of us made it for the betterment of the people and not to appease our respective parties. At least I did.
“For that reason and others, I will be a candidate for United States Congress, District #26, in 2014. It will be an uphill battle I am sure, but a battle my family and I believe must be fought.”
Then this “non-partisan” champion definitely starts to sound more conservative and Republican with the kicker.
“If it is the Lord’s will to send me to Washington then look out.”
Martinez. He said he has made up his mind and is now committed to the race.
But this race is definitely one of those “more on this later” issues and I can’t wait to hear what the other potential GOP challengers to Garcia’s arguable short reign — which include State Sens. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla and Anitere Flores as well as Miami-Dade School Board Member Carlos Curbelo — will say.
Or see what they post on their facebook pages.
“I can’t sing and dance,” the veteran county commissioner and former police officer — who just opened a consulting firm — told me Friday night when we finally spoke? He called me back rather quicklyl after Ladra saw he had announced his congressional candidacy and cologne on facebook about 5:30 p.m. Friday.
