Rep. J-Rod 1st to use stadium in pennyless PAC ad

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State Rep. Jose Javier Rodriguez was one of the first members of the Miami-Dade delegation to publicly denounce the Miami Dolphins stadium deal as the scam it is and voice his strong stance against it.

Now, he’s the first one to capitalize on that for his political future, which is probably the most vulnerable newly-won state seat in 2014. Ladra happens to know people started looking for someone to line up against J-Rod — who many say won solely on the Barack Obama coattails of November 2012 — the day after the election.

So, it’s no surprise he would take advantage of this wildly unpopular Dolphins stadium deal to raise his stock with a well-timed mail piece — especially during a non-campaign year.

“Thank you, Representative Rodriguez, for voting against another taxpayer funded stadium disaster,” reads the side with a photo of a pensive JJ looking over a what we are supposed to assume is some important piece of legislation.

“Jose Javier Rodriguez believes there are more pressing needs in his district than providing financial aid to a billionaire,” the other side reads. “These priorities include: Improving our public schools, helping public universities like Miami-Dade College and FIU, Jackson Memorial Hospital, elderly services, especially our senior centers.”

And while the Dolphins people will quickly say that the $259 million in tourist tax dollars they want to tap cannot be used for those things, let me remind readers that the $90 million they stand to get from a legislative pass in Tallahassee even if the referendum does not pass can be used for those things.

The mailer pulls out two quotes from the same, single Miami Herald story, in an effort to elevate the freshman, and promotes J-Rod as an independent elected who can’t be bought by lobbyists. “Under intense pressure from special interests, Representative Jose Javier Rodriguez voted against using our tax dollars for the Dolphins stadium,” says one part.

It’s really brilliant. Good strategy on his part. And Ladra is glad someone finally is getting a different message out to voters — someone other than the Dolphins.

Only one problem.

The Citizen Alliance for a Strong Economy PAC that claims to have paid for it on the political disclaimer does  not have one penny in the bank, according to its financial reports filed with the state. In fact, since forming in May of 2012, the PAC has not raised or spent a cent as of the last report through March 31.

So either they got someone to donate to the PAC just for the mailer in April. But who really paid for the mailer?

Well the same Melbourne lawyer who represents Citizen Alliance represents two other PACs, too. Business Alliance for Small Businesses has about $1,000, which is probably not enough, and Conservatives United has $4,000, which may have covered it but J-Rod — the ultra-liberal, great Hispanic hope for Florida Democrats — couldn’t possibly have those words in the return address disclaimer.

Ladra called J-Rod to ask him. Left a message. He hasn’t called back yet.

Maybe he’s busy getting ready for the Spanish-language Dolphins stadium debate hosted by the Miami-Dade Democratic Party on May 4, which is a day after the legislative session ends?

Isthat a sign he knows it’s going to pass?