Lopez-Cantera move could pave way to higher elected office

But how important is that appointed job – outside the campaign, that is – especially since the state has seemingly been running fine without one for 10 months? After all, former Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll last March after she was linked to an illegal gambling operation run by a veterans’ group and nobody’s really been the wiser.

More importantly, why would CLC, just elected a little more than a year ago to the $190,000 post – in a field he repeatedly has said he has a real zest for — take a pay cut of about $70,000 to move back to Tallahassee with or without his young family?

The answer to both is combined. Because C-Lo is going to be the first Hispanic Lt. Gov in Florida history and has the good looks, intelligence and charisma to turn that mostly figurehead position into a real job with teeth and, subsequently, into his pathway to the county’s mayoral seat. Or the next elected office. Whatever he decides. The Senate is not completely out of the question, especially if he uses this post as wisely as most expect him to and gains significant name recognition outside of Miami-Dade, where Lopez-Cantera – despite having served as Majority Leader – is pretty much a nobody. And some say he is eyeing the Congressional seat that now belongs to U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, as well.

Still, sources close to him say he wants to be county mayor more than anything and CLC won’t deny it. He wouldn’t return several calls and text messages this week, though he has always been very accessible before (look how fast power goes to your head), but the most he has told Ladra on multiple past occasions is that he’s not thinking that far ahead.

Yeah, nobody believes that.

“He’s certainly someone who’s looking to move up the political ladder, if you will,” said pollster and FIU political science Professor Dario Moreno.

Which is why this post might just make sense. C-Lo told reporters this week that he wants to impact policy as Lt. Gov. He does not want to serve in a ceremonial position, cutting ribbons and proclaiming So-And-So’s Day.

In the same breath, however, he declined to talk about anything more than the ceremony. “Today’s really about the announcement,” he told The Miami Herald Tuesday when reporters asked about real policy stuff like immigration, an issue where Scott may need some help. But if he puts matters where his mouth is and starts talking about important issues, he can make a name for himself.

Of course, he’s going to have to get his boss elected first, which could be a daunting task this year. Even Lopez-Cantera did not sound too convinced at the press conference Tuesday when he told a reporter, “I think he’s going to win. I think we’re going to win. I’ve got to get used to saying that.” Key word: Think. Note to campaign people: Remind him to use the word “know” instead.

That’s another reason why this post can be useful. If Scott is re-elected, C-Lo can take some of that credit, which will translate into big campaign support on his next bid, wherever that is.

“One of the reasons he was put there was to help Scott with Hispanic voters,” Professor Moreno told Ladra. A few insiders say that Scott was pressured to pick Lopez-Cantera in part because he would help reach out to the quickly growing Latino vote.

And with absentee ballots, which is how he won the 2012 countywide appraiser’s seat. Since CLC is also part Jewish, he could help with the Jewish vote as well as with Miami-Dade, Florida’s biggest county, which the GOP lost by 200,000 votes in 2012.

Nobody expects Lopez-Cantera to turn Miami-Dade to Scott country, but if he can narrow the gap just a little bit, that will help, Moreno said.

“If he does prove to be an asset to the ticket, I think his political future is bright.”‘

So what happens to C-Lo if Scott loses?

It depends on how well our cubanito performs.

“He’ll be under more scrutiny than he has in the past,” Moreno said, adding that if he makes a mistake, Lopez-Cantera could become the Dan Quayle of Florida.

“But if he gives good interviews, is articulate and steps up to the plate, it won’t matter,” the professor told Ladra. “It will  prove to a lot of people that he’s ready for prime time.”