Newby candidate Rosa Maria Palomino — who is running
in the seat to be vacated this year by termed-out Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, and against Sarnoff’s wife — might want to do a little despojo to shake off any bad campaign juju from her kick-off fundraiser last week.
Among the 20-some people who stopped by The Grove Spot Tuesday to meet and greet the candidate were at least three one-time wannabes who lost their own election bids: Michelle Niemeyer, who lost against Sarnoff in 2011, Alex Dominguez, a three time candidate who lost a commission race against Commissioner Frank Carollo in 2013, and, more recently, a bid for county property appraiser; and Miami Log Cabin Republicans President Mimi Planas, who lost a commission race in 2010 against Miami-Dade County Commissioner Javier Souto and seems to be helping Palomino with her campaign.
You think maybe next time she’ll seek some support from and company of people who’ve done this successfully.
But there were others, like retired school teacher and activist Ira Paul, who has submitted his name for the school board vacancy created by Carlos Curbelo‘s curious rise to Congress (more on that later), Pierre Creaveau and Tony Seller of the pretty active local Libertarian Party (who also have not won any election), a few members of the local Republican Executive Committee who live in the area and Denise Galvez, a respected local marketing guru, who met and promptly fell in love with the candidate and gushed about it on Facebook:
“If you don’t care about actively engaging in politics please tune out now. The rest hear me out. The City of Miami District 2 seat currently held by Sgt Sarnoff will be termed out in November. I met today a wonderful women, former small business owner, educator, and park activist who has bravely made the decision to run against Mrs Sarnoff who thinks she will win the seat thanks to her hubby passing down the monarchy. This CAN NOT happen. #1. I think its high time we get a women in office at the City of Mami. #2 Preferably a woman that is NOT the wife of an arrogant self interested former politician, and a woman who actually believes in serving the people. #3 Someone who believes in fiscal responsibility with a focus on building sustainable communities and long term business and job growth.
That said I believe Rosa Palomino can be that candidate. She needs our help!! Spread the word, volunteer or donate, and don’t sit back and complain when you don’t like the turnout in November.”
“The big sell for me is she’s not a professional politician,” Galvez told Ladra. “She built her own company from the ground up. All we ever see is attorneys or people who are groomed for this.”
Read related story: Mrs. Sarnoff makes the move for her hubby’s hand-me-downs
Galvez, who has some concerns about the Grove’s Business Improvement District and 
about Teresa Sarnoff serving as a proxy for her hubby, said she grilled Palomino anyway. “And she sounded very real. Not at all rehearsed. She was very raw and some people might think that’s inexperience, but not for me. For me it’s what we need.”
Sarnoff, who confirmed longtime rumors two weeks ag when she announced that she would, after all, run to fill her husband’s shoes, has the advantage of more money. Sarnoff has a PAC with at last $250,000 in it that he can use for her. That’s as of end of December. Get back to me Feb. 12th.
But she is vulnerable by the very fact that she is seen as an extension of her husband’s tenure — a way to skirt the term limits, if you will, and stay in a position of power. At least until Commissioner “Mayor Sir” Xavier Suarez makes up his damn mind and runs for mayor so Sarnoff can run for that commission seat.
That apparent conflict has created an opportunity for Palomino or either of the other two candidates who have already expressed their interest, activist Grace Solares and Mike Roger Simpson — or anyone else who might pop their head up in coming months — to steal this seat away.
And it has birthed the race to watch in 2015. Losers and all.
Rosa Palomino kicks off Miami campaign with list of losers added by Ladra on
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