Another tell tale sign that Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine is looking to run for statewide office: He hired noted Tallahassee lobbyist Fátima Perez — who represents 
the city of Miami Beach — as his new chief of staff.
Alex Miranda, who has been by Levine’s side since the 2013 mayoral campaign and then was hired to be his chief of staff, announced earlier this month that he is leaving to join the Republican Party of Florida in Tallahassee, which gives him the opportunity to also pursue his law degree. His last day is Feb. 27, but Perez’s first day is next Monday, Feb. 23. So I guess he’s going to break her in.
Levine made the announcement in an email Tuesday morning, as reported in the Miami Herald (Ladra is not on his email list).
“I am confident Fátima’s work ethic and professional experience will be an asset to our office and our city,” he wrote. “I want to thank Alex for all his dedication and commitment to the City of Miami Beach and wish him the very best in all his future endeavors.”
Perez has been working in government for 15 years. She has served as senior advisor to former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and as a senior legislative aide in the both chambers of the Florida Legislature (for former Sen. Walter “Skip” Campbell and former State Rep. Annie Betancourt). After serving as an in-house lobbyist for AT&T, she went to work at the Akerman Senterfitt law firm and, more recently, as a partner at Southern Strategy Group, an Adams Street lobbying firm led by veteran Paul Bradshaw.
At the state, she is not only registered to represent Miami Beach, but also 20 other entities including Miami Lakes, Medley, Southwest Ranches and the Village of El Portal, Broward County, American Traffic Solutions (read: red light cameras), Sunshine Gasoline Distributors, Cruise Lines International Association, CVS, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the Miami Downtown Development Authority, Prepworks, the Florida Girl Scouts Legislative Network, MCNA Dental Plans, Kristi House and Isle of Capri Casinos, among others.
She also has nine open lobbyist registrations at the county for clients such as Waste Pro Florida, Apple and Microsoft, Sapient, BCR Environmental, World Duty Free Group and Nu Terra Development, among others.
And she still has time to advocate, as a board member, for Kristi House, Women in Distress and Community Partnership for the Homeless, among a slew of other civic posts.
So it is natural to assume that Perez, who still mostly flies under the radar, makes a ton of money. Is she taking a pay cut to come to the city as Levine’s chief of staff? Ladra asked Tuesday. The city has yet to respond. I will update when they do.
Read related story: Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine to file soon for re-election
But maybe it’s not a pay cut after all. Maybe Levine is supplementing the city salary from his endless personal funds. And it’s not a bad opportunity if Levine is, indeed, mulling a run against Sen. Marco Rubio — or for his seat in the case Rubio moves up the ladder — and Perez can go with him to Washington.
This hire certainly looks like it is suited for a state run. Perez gives Levine more access to state campaign contributions and state stakeholders. Sure, he’s a millionaire. But he didn’t get rich by throwing his money away and just because he self-financed his mayoral run doesn’t mean he’s going to want to do that again on a larger scale. Not now that he’s an incumbent elected somewhere. And Perez can help raise him money. She can introduce him to the people he needs to know.
She can also serve him well at the city. Fátima Perez knows all the gatekeepers in Tallahassee and can help Levine get what he wants for Miami Beach. She can call pretty much anybody and get a call back.
But she is reportedly a rabid Republican. And we all know that Levine is a Clinton-hugging Dem. So if and when they do run for higher partisan office, it could be fun to watch.
Oh, and psssst, Fátima, did he tell you that cock-blocking bloggers and journalists could be part of your job description?
Mayor Philip Levine’s new COS could hint at state run added by Ladra on
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