Thank goodness for the Miami-Dade Democratic Party! Our loyal, local blues turned what could have been a ho-hum year of mid-term elections with very few challenges at the state level into a full 
House partisan battle.
Que fun! Now it’s a party.
Dade Dems Chairwoman Annette Taddeo-Goldstein will publicly announce Tuesday, after a press release went out Monday, their “No More Free Rides for Republican Legislators” campaign — and unveil six Democratic challengers. It is the first time, said a statement from spokeswoman Rachel Johnson, that the party has gone head-to-head with every Republican House incumbent in Miami-Dade.
“It is time that the Republicans get a clear message: No more free rides,” Taddeo-Goldstein said in a statement. “After the catastrophic failure of Republican legislators to put Florida’s people first this year, voters deserve a Democratic choice on the ballot. Many of these incumbents have never even faced a challenger before. Not any more.”
She said the GOP-led legislature has “failed to tackle” the really important issues: Medicaid expansion, raising the minimum wage, and adequately funding our public education system are named examples. You can expect those to be the issues that these Democratic candidates run on.
“Meanwhile, Republicans continue to pander to corporate special interests,” the statement says. You can expect those interests to be raised as well.
Of course, Taddeo doesn’t mention that this will help create more Democrat voter urgency in a year when the governor’s race could hinge on it. And maybe she doesn’t realize what a thin blue bench this exposes. I mean, Juan Cuba is the one with the most name recognition.
The fat chance candidates who are filing on Tuesday are:
- Mariano Corcilli, an attorney, former criminal prosecutor and U.S. Marine is the only one running in an open seat. He will file in District 111, which is being vacated by State Rep. Eddy “Here Comes Hialeah” Gonzalez who is termed out and is running for Miami-Dade property appraiser. There are three Republicans already declared: Miami-Dade Republican Party Vice Chair Bryan Avila, who everyone says is the heir apparent, Alex Anthony and Alberto Amador, a non practicing attorney who spent the session in Tallahassee but has not returned emails since and has no phone number. He may not even live in the district. That’s okay, though. Neither did Gonzalez.
- Juan Cuba, Executive Director of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party, former White House appointee and Obama field director (read: ground game guy) in Miami-Dade will run in District 116, now occupied by Rep. Jose Felix “One More Pepe” Diaz.
- Kristopher Decossard, described as a Miami native, FIU alum and Army veteran raised by a single mother will run in District 115 against Rep. Michael Bileca, who had a rather closer than expected call in 2012 against Jeffrey “Doc” Solomon, who probably wasn’t tapped because he’s already running for a council seat in Pinecrest (more on that later). There’s also an independent in that race, a guy named Guillermo Viamonte, Jr., who, alas doesn’t stand a chance.
- Nelson Milian, a Cuban-American tech entrepreneur from Hialeah and founder of a youth summer camp focusing on the intersection of technology and the arts, will run against Rep. Jose Oliva in District 110, and could threaten the latter’s dibs on the Speaker’s seat.
- Carlos Pereira, a community organizer and president of the Venezuelan-American Democratic Club, will run in District 105 against State Rep. Carlos Trujillo, who the party has repeatedly slammed for refusing to bring the minimum wage issue to the Economic Development and Tourism Committee he chairs. That District includes Doral. The Dems cast well.
- Omar Rivero, a Cornell graduate and digital entrepreneur who specializes in online political activism, is running in District 118 against Rep. Frank Artiles.
Update: They have since added State Rep. Jeanette Nunez to their list. They musta forgot her.
There are two Republican incumbents who already have Democratic challengers: Rep. Erik Fresen will have to face either Ross Hancock, who almost beat him in 2012, or Daisy Baez. And Rep. Holly Raschein (District 120-Florida City) will face Pamela Gray.
Said Cuba: “We know this will be an uphill battle, but it’s a necessary one. We couldn’t be more excited to offer voters of Miami-Dade a better choice than the status quo — and to hold the Republican incumbents accountable for their lack of leadership on issues important to their constituents.”
It is true that, win or lose, a debate on issues and leadership is good for voters and electeds alike.
And for watchdogs like Ladra, who already has a question: Will the local Republican Party do the same with the Democratically held seats that are not being challenged, or will they stick to defending their turf? More on that later.
Miami-Dade Dems wage full House battle with 6 challengers added by Ladra on
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