State Rep. David Richardson (D-Miami Beach) has nothing to worry about.
The Republican candidate that had filed to run against him a week before the deadline June 20, apparently did not have enough funds in her campaign account to cover the $1,781.82 qualifying fee, according to the Florida Division of Elections.
Que pena!
“CELEBRATION TIME,” Richardson exclaimed almost too giddily on Facebook. “I just got a call from the Florida Department of Elections and was notified that my Republican opponent’s check covering the election filing fee has ‘bounced.'”
“She has been disqualified and as of today I AM THE OFFICIAL UNCHALLENGED WINNER in my re-election to the Florida House of Representatives District 113,” he said. His caps, not mine.
“You just can’t make this stuff up. There will be a South Florida party coming soon.”
Richardson got more than 100 comments congratulating him, including one from Cedric McMinn, a Miami-based outreach director for the Charlie Crist governor’s campaign.
Congratulations Rep. David Richardson,” McMinn said. “You keep #MakingHistory! So proud of you and all you do for our community!”
Related story: Republicans enter House race against Richardson, McGhee
Reached in DC, where Richardson — the first openly gay to serve in the Florida House — attended the LGBT reception at the White House Monday, he said he was “humbl
ed and honored” to have won re-election without breaking a sweat. Or, at least, without breaking much of a sweat.
“I was surprised by the late entry in my race a few weeks ago, but energized to earn my re-election,” Richardson told Ladra late Tuesday. “So many friends and supporters called to offer their help.
“I will continue to represent Florida in a way that demonstrates I serve only at the pleasure of my district constituents,” he said, forgetting, I guess, that he represents the 113th District, not the state. But he’s in that DC state of mind.
Laura Rivero Levey — who lost miserably a 2011 bid for Miami Beach mayor against Matti Bower Herrera in 2011 (getting 4.22 percent) — had filed against Richardson on June 13.
This was 10 days after the Miami-Dade Democratic Party announced it had found challengers for every single incumbent Republican in the House and one extra Dem to run in an open seat.
Related story: Miami Dade Dems wage full House battle with 6 challengers
Miami-Dade Republican Party Chairman Nelson Diaz, who could not be reached late Tuesday, told Ladra that, despite rampant rumors to the contrary, the local party was not behind the candidacy of Rivero and Carmen Sotomayor, who qualified the same day to run against Democrat incumbent Kionne McGhee, of South Dade. But he welcomed their enthusiasm.
Sotomayor looks like she may still be in it, according to the Florida Division of Elections website.
But what happened to Rivero? Ladra doesn’t know. And we can’t call her to ask because the paperwork she filed to qualify was erased from the state elections website.
Maybe it bounced — like her check.
David Richardson wins after GOP challenger bounces check added by Ladra on
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