Miami-Dade Commissioner Jean Monestime raised a whopping $77,000 in contributions in 
March — more than he has in any other single month since he started raising funds in March of last year — bringing his total to nearly $300,000 for his re-election bid.
Monestime’s monthly take was the biggest of all the incumbent commissioners up for re-election. Vice Chair Lynda Bell, who faces the only real opposition so far, raised just over $55,000; Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz, who may face opposition (more on that later) raised $49,175 — more than in February but less than half the $106k he raked in on the first month of the year; Commissioner Javier Souto, who faces a couple of newcomer challengers, raised an additional $39,100 to add to the $50k raised in February; Chairwoman Rebeca Sosa raised $22,700 for a $222,000 booty that nobody expects her to need; and Commissioner Sally Heyman raised $16,600.
And I know you campaign consultants and political gurus don’t like this monthly reporting requirement but Ladra loves it!
Anyway, Monestime faces [barely] a comeback challenge from former Commissioner Dorrin D. Rolle, who has raised a paltry $17,000 in comparison — and only $250 from two donors in the last month.
It’s a whole different ballgame now that you are not an incumbent, ain’t it Commissioner Rolle? Four years ago, when the fresh-faced Monestime became the first Haitian-American on the county dais, Rolle had raised nearly $400,000. Not including any PACs.
But maybe money isn’t everything anyway. At least not in the light of allegations of ethical shenanigans in connection with with the James E. Scott Community Association, a nonprofit which dissolved through bankruptcy once Rolle left. Monestime won that race with less than $110,000.
Still, many would say money is something. And Rolle has already spent $14,232 of his campaign booty, leaving around $3,000, which isn’t enough for a council campaign in El Portal. And that’s as much as the other candidate, Antwayne Dwayne Lenoir, has, which is at least one reason why he’s not really viable at all. Not against Monstime monster bank account.
Monestime — a charismatic politico Ladra predicts is going places — has spent much more at $42,000 of his $295,000 war chest — most of it to his consultant and professional funds raiser Brian Goldmeier — but he still has more than $250,000 to spare.
Which, at least right now, looks like much more than he is going to need.
Jean Monestime raises whopping $77k in one month added by Ladra on
View all posts by Ladra →
