Andrew “Kid” Korge will kick off his campaign
for State Sen. Gwen Margolis‘ seat with a party next week hosted by everybody and their mother. Or father, actually.
No fewer than 88 people are hosting the event, and the list is definitely a throwback to the days of former Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas. A one-time Senatorial hopeful himself, Penelas is, like, the only one not on the list, which includes old Penelas pals like Freddy Balsera, Rodney Barreto, Brian May, Sergio Pino and Chris Korge, father of the candidate and one time Penelas BFF who made many of his millions in concessions at Miami International Airport.
The party is Tuesday at Casa Korge in Pinecrest.
The host committee, still in formation, also boasts about two dozen elected officials and former electeds, including former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, Aventura Mayor Enid Weisman, Cutler Bay Mayor Peggy Bell, Key Biscayne Mayor Mayra Peña Lindsay, Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn, South Miami Mayor Phillip Stoddard, Miami-Dade Commissioner Xavier Suarez, Palm Beach State Attorney Dave Aronberg and a bevy of council members from a few different cities.
One might think some of those electeds are indebted to Korge, who has raised a lot of money for them and given them a lot of his own government-fueled capital. They’re just paying the favor back. Or forward, if they’re running for office again.
With close to 90 names and more promised, the kick-off almost seems like overkill. Almost. Because Kid Korge could use the momentum and cash injection that such an event can produce. The lawyer and community activist who has never held public office or a real job (he works for Papi’s real estate holdings company), is likely running against State Rep. David Richardson, who is an elected already, and even actually passed a couple of bills in his freshman term despite being a blue man in a red world. Okay, so they were really easy bills in support of Israel and against the trafficking of Nigerian girls — who is going to vote against that? — but they were bills he got passed nonetheless.
All of this is still hinging on whether or not Margolis — who’s pushing 100 if she’s a day — will even retire. She has said that she will run again if she feels well enough. Sources told Ladra earlier this year that she wanted Richardson to succeed her. But his quickness to declare and file paperwork may have put her on the defense. Korge has filed for the same seat — but in the 2020 election. Of course he has every intent to switch should Margolis decide she’s retiring after all.
Read related story: David Richardson sets sights on Gwen Margolis’ seat
Margolis hasn’t done much fundraising, although
she can always put a half a million of her own money in at the 11th hour. She has about $17,000 in hand, including $6,500 in contributions reported in February.
Richardson, on the other hand, has about $184,000 — $100,000 of which he loaned to himself in January, after Korge’s intention to run was made public. He also raised most of his campaign funds ($64K) in February, but he’ll be frozen through the end of May since electeds can’t raise funds during the legislative session.
A campaign insider for Kid Korge said that they expected to report more than $100,000 in their first report at the end of this month (which is Tuesday; though the report is not due to the state until April 10).
But, um, that’s easy if they have 88 hosts — in formation! — who are committed to raising (or contributing themselves) $1,000 each.
They ought to raise $100,000 on Tuesday night.
Alex Penelas crowd hosts Andrew Korge Senate kick-off added by Ladra on
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