Lynda Bell losing seat in only heated county race

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Judging from absentee ballots and early voting numbes, which have already been tallied, it was a good night for only three of the Miami-Dade Commission incumbents.

Vice Chair Lynda Bell could be singing the blues.

Bell, who was the only one facing a true challenge from neophyte social service activist Daniella Levine Cava, had an early lead of 528 votes after the absentee ballots were counted.

But by the time early votes were tallied in, she was losing by almost 375 votes. That climbed to more than 400 votes by 8:30 p.m.

Levine Cava should hang on to that lead through the Election Day turnout.

Levine Cava’s upset would be a pretty powerful punch not just to Bell, but also to Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who gave the Vice Chair his blessing and fundraising machinery.

It would also be a major score for the county employee unions who not only supported Levine Cava, but worked hard with her campaign team for several weeks, as well as for the Miami-Dade Democrats who practically ran her race.

“It’s inspiring,” said a jovial PBA President John Rivera, who arrived with Levine Cava and former Commissioner Katy Sorenson, whose open seat Bell took in 2010, to the victory party at the Palmetto Bay Village Center.

“This is a good victory for employees,” Rivera said, adding that he thinks one vote will make a difference. “We’ve lost some votes 7 to 6,” he said. “And often, it only takes oe commissioner to have the guts to take something in the right direction.”

The other three incumbents facing challenges (barely) blew their opposition out of the water.

Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz was winning with 72% of the votes against Marjorie Figueira, who was solely funded by the Pets’ Voice and auto mogul Norman Braman.

Jean Monestime was holding on to a way comfortable 65% lead over former Commissioner Dorrin Rolle, who he beat in 2010, and Javier Souto had a 78% of the vote, an insurmountable 60-point lead, over Marina Meadows, who barely campaigned.

  Daniella Levine Cava, Lynda Bell