Our mailboxes this week are stuffed with mailers big and small for candidates from the congressional race in 
District 26 to county commission contests to municipal matchups to judicial jousts to the battle for the property appraiser’s office.
But one mailer stands out — because it does not promote any particular candidate.
“Absentee voter fraud alert,” screams the headline on one side — under the banner “Public Service Announcement” — warning voters against giving their mail-in ballots to anyone and providing the numbers for the State Attorney’s Office and the FDLE’s voter fraud task force.
“Anyone who collects Absentee Ballots from you, other than immediate family members, can be subject to fines up to $1,000. Protect yourself from Absentee Voter Fraud. Do not let anyone take your ballot.”
The other side has a photo of someone handing over an envelope and the same words under a different headline, that reads, “Attn: Miami Dade voters — Don’t become a victim of absentee voter fraud and don’t put your vote in jeopardy.”
But while it doesn’t say his name, this mailer was put out on behalf of Miami-Dade Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz, who is facing a less than serious challenge from Marjorie Figueira, who was put in the race against the veteran incumbent by the Pet’s Trust people and may have some non AB-related campaign violations already (more on that later).
It was paid for by the We The People electioneering communications organization (read: PAC) — which is an umbrella PAC, Ladra believes, for all the incumbents — and went out only in District 12.
maybe the purpose is to put a little chill on the operations of boleteras in Sweetwater, who include Councilwoman Isolina Maroño, who may be unhappy that Diaz has abandoned her son, former Mayor Manny “Maraña” Maroño, and not come to his defense after he was arrested and then sentenced on federal bribery charges.
Read related story: Manny Maroño plea deal may mean handing over bigger fish
But I don’t care what the Diaz supporters’ ulterior motives are. Ladra is totally psyched with the idea and 
wishes more political operatives would copy it and take it county wide. Not just in English and Spanish, like it was done here, but in Haitian Kreole, too.
And why stop at the mailbox? Why not produce PSAs for TV and radio, too?
Did you hear me, former Property Appraiser Pedro Garcia? After losing his election by just in absentee ballots in 2012 — a year with record absentee ballot investigations and arrests — Garcia, who won in early voting and on election day, has gone so far as to hire a private detective to ferret out AB fraud activities. Some of those funds could be redirected toward a chill campaign.
Maybe the PBA, which has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone committing absentee ballot fraud, should get some radio time at PSA rates.
Ladra would love to hear something like this on Radio Mambi.
Non candidate mailer warns of absentee ballot fraud added by Ladra on
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