Run, Raquel! Run!
That’s the sentiment among many political observers, 
junkies and activists in the 305 — and probably thousands of voters — about Miami-Dade School Board Member Raquel Regalado, whose profile has risen sharply in the last few weeks but says she is undecided about running for mayor of Miami-Dade.
Her recent victory over the courthouse bond tax that failed miserably Tuesday, with 64% of the vote against, was followed by a brilliant speech Wednesday at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce luncheon, in which she connected with the audience telling the story of her exile childhood, feeling transient always, and how that came back to her when she visited the unaccompanied immigrant children in South Dade.
Little did we know that there was already a new twitter handle so support her run for but not really out of nowhere.
@Ready4Raquel is not Regalado’s own, highly-anticipated announcement, she said.
“I wish I had thought of it myself. It’s great,” she said, telling Ladra that she learned about it from Herald reporter Doug Hanks.
“I’m so flattered,” she said. “It’s so smart. I love it. I think it’s a great handle.”
It’s also brilliant PR. By coming out early on as the “community’s choice” 
to go against Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Cry Wolf” Gimenez in 2016, she deflects others who may consider it and basically claims pole position. This is also a “third party” validator, like a draft so-and-so for state senate page on Facebook, which gives her instant street cred. Not that Raquelita needs it.
Regalado still won’t make up her mind, though she is seriously considering it. But the new social media push on her favorite platform — whoever did it must know that about Regalado — might help sway her.
“Obviously I still haven’t made my decision. But what is the best way of getting my attention. On twitter, which I love,” she said. “It does feel good.”
Might I suggest these supporters pay for a poll so they can show Regalado how easy it would be to take Gimenez down and pressure her some more?
Regalado suspects someone who was at the Chamber luncheon Wednesday.
“I did get a lot of emails from people that they liked what I said.”
Ladra was there and she was spectacular. Such a much better speaker than Gimenez ever was. Ladra, for one, can’t wait for the debates. Run, Raquelita! Run!
No pressure now, but we are so ready for Raquel.
New twitter handle pushes Raquel Regalado to run for mayor added by Ladra on
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