In what has become an increasingly ugly and partisan race for a non-partisan post, Miami-Dade Commissioner Lynda Bell — the 
only incumbent truly facing a stiff challenge — stepped up the heat in recent days, unveiling a TV ad that has none other than Republican Congressoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen endorsing the former mayor of Homestead and dropping a second mailer that blames her challenger for the Marlins Stadium deal, even though the woman was not an elected.
“Hola. I’m Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. And I ask that you go out and vote for my great friend, Commissioner Lynda Bell,” Ros-Lehtinen says in the Spanish-language ad. “Lynda Bell has always fought for our values, creating jobs, keeping your taxes low and protecting our families.”
Fought for our values and protected our families? Whose families does Ileana mean? Didn’t IRL, a darling of the LGBT community and winner of the SaveDADE Champions of Equality Award, know that her “gran amiga” Lynda Bell was against marriage equality? Meanwhile, SaveDade endorsed challenger Daniella Levine Cava because “District 8 residents deserve a pro-equality commissioner. … aimed at overturning discriminatory measures banning same-sex marriage.”
It’s gotta be a party thing, then. Right? Go GOP!?
It’s also gotta be about a week or two late. The majority of the absentee ballots that were going to be returned, have been returned. Early voting is more than halfway through. Ladra doesn’t know what Bell was waiting for to pull that gun out.
Read related story: Lynda Bell vs Daniella Levine Cava debate becomes heated spar
But it is part of a big push this week that also included a second mailer linking Levine Cava — who sent four mailers of her own — to the very unpopular Marlins Park stadium deal.
“The worst shellacking taxpayers have ever gotten from a baseball stadium,” reads the headline on one side. 
“Miami-Dade taxpayers were ripped off and lied to, and Daniella Levine Cava is to blame,” it says, adding that her organization, Catalyst Miami, supported the super lame deal that leaves the city in debt until kingdom come.
“No to stadium deals. No to Daniella Levine Cava.”
Neither Lynda Bell nor Jose Luis Castillo returned calls from Ladra. They never do. Heck, they barely say anything when I approach them in person and, actually, run away as fast as they can.
Maybe it’s because the Marlins attack is a little disingenuous.
Everybody knows that Catalyst Miami was part of a coalition that worked against the $634 million stadium deal.
Bell has cited a 2008 commission meeting in which the nonprofit’s policy director spoke about how to make the ballpark agreement better. The first Marlins stadium attack came in an earlier flier paid for by a Tampa PAC with ties to the Republican Party of Florida, Castillo and Carlos “CJ” Gimenez, the lobbying son of Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Good to Go” Gimenez, who is supporting Bell . That, by the way, is really one of the best reason to vote for Levine Cava — to take out one of the mayor’s pocket commissioners and make them veto proof.
Read related story: Lynda Bell photo implies UTD endorsement she ain’t got
Another reason: Bell seems okay with lying. Because Levine Cava did not speak in favor of the Marlins stadium. Her organization’s policy director spoke against it, offering alternative creative solutions that would improve the deal.
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I don’t know if the PBA members know this or not but Daniella accused Miami police of profiling and brutality but this was long before she promised them more money for their support.
Tells you what public service means on both ends. Say anything to win and we got your back despite insulting us in the past. $$$$$ talks and walks for John Rivera that’s what he is all about.
Just google it and you will find several mentions. The actors in this farce take voters for fools.
I am disgusted as a voter today! I saw the fire fighter union beating up on an old man at Coral Reef library when I went to vote! There were 10 fire fighters who surrounded this old man with a Lynda Bell shirt. Are these the tactics Daniella wants to bring to county hall?!? Check it out…I think Lynda Bell’s campaign put the video on Facebook.
Nice Try. The “Old Man” Bell political operative tried to bait the firefighters for a week and got yelled at for insulting one of their wives. Beat up? Proof? Hope he and Bell enjoy unemployment together. At least he probably enjoys social security
Excellent post. I’m so sick of Lynda Bell’s lies. I just hope the voters in District 8 are paying attention.
Bell sponsored an ordinance that benefited her daughter’s business — while the business was registered at the Commissioner’s home address. What’s more, she sponsored the item that would give millions to her campaign donor, but said the item was really the Mayor’s? Really, Lynda? The Mayor can place his own items on the agenda or they can be placed in the departmental section.
Bell looks out for her family and friends — not the average resident.
Recently, Lynda Bell voted to give away waterfront parkland. Parcel B might be valued at $400 Mil. Bell asked for no RFP. Just gave it away.
A spanish speaking rising star of the left, right in Palmetto Bay? IRL’s would be safer if Daniella wins a commission seat, then she’d be busy at the BCC until 2022 and not looking for more Republican giants to slay.
BTW great story on Salon today. It lampoons a rabid anti-transgender wing nut in Fayetteville AK, Michelle Duggar, who has the same “concerns” about little girl’s bathroom Bell does.
http://www.salon.com/2014/08/20/michelle_duggars_hateful_anti_transgender_rights_campaign/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialflow
For over 20 years now we have had to put up with Ileana Ross Lehtinen’s antics. This woman has made a political life out of using Radio Mambi to swindle old folk out of their votes. While she pushes the anti-Castro agenda her congressional district suffers from loss of jobs and many othe ailments Her influence and that of her husband Dexter is simply not tolerable anymore. We suggest she finds a real job and stop poking her nose in local politics which has nothing to do with her.
I think they should drug test all candidates in political races… I think it would explain a lot … And Ileana should be ashamed of herself since she has a transgendered child… Maybe she can have her kid tutor Lynda?
I can’t believe how much and how blatantly Lynda Bell lies. She’s shown that she will do anything, say anything and fabricate anything just to get ahead. I’ve come to see she has no integrity- she is utterly disgusting. SUCIA.
There’s an old saying. Tell me who you hang out with and I’ll tell you who you are. The congresswoman hanging out and supporting corrupt Bell. Need I say more?
Apparently the Bell party believes that the speakers before the County Commission wield the power to influence. May I say, hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
The photo of Bell supporters, including the pale guy who is on her staff, look very happy blocking the handicapped parking spot.
I agree with FAST AND LOOSE. Calling Lynda Bell anti-gay because she voted against allowing men to use the little girls’ room is 100% wrong. This is a major public safety issue. Regarding the Marlins — Daniella Levine is a liberal who postures. Her policy director should have been yelling if her organization was truly unhappy with the Marlins deal. If Catalyst Miami was so unhappy and concerned with the deal, why didn’t Daniella voice that opinion at the BCC the way she now voices her opposition on everything? Rather, they offered ideas on how to make it “better” insinuating that the deal was good and that it could be “better.”
Not hard to figure out the leana Ros-Lehtinen math. A political neophyte comes out of nowhere and has a right wing incumbent on the ropes within a matter of weeks?., in a district the incumbent drew for herself? And the BCC has 8 year term limits? No, she says to herself, we don’t no stinkin’ popular democrats living in the 27th congressional district with a bully pulpit.
Just because Bell was opposed to men using women’s public restrooms while crossdressed you assume she is anti-gay? Maybe you can offer proof of that. Little girls use women’s public restrooms or had you not thought of that while a man is urinating in the next stall? When the Levine led Catalyst Miami spoke to the issue of the Marlin’s Stadium at the BCC, I would like you to read the transcript and show the readers the words used by the policy director that stated unequivocally “WE OPPOSE THE STADIUM.” Anything less than that is untruthful. Levine is using earwax eater Joe Garcia so why is it a problem for Ileana endorsing Bell? Strange why Bell and Castillo don’t return your calls, you must really be perplexed about that.