Miami Beach’s Phil Levine raises funds for Carlos Gimenez

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Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine is having a fundraiser for Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez Tuesday. Also hosting: Beach Commissioner Ricky Arriola and lobbyist Alex Heckler, who is partners with former State Rep. and original G-man Marcelo Llorente.

The event is at Levine’s company offices, Royal Media Partners at 960 Alton Rd.

Gimenez and Levine have been buddy-buddy almost since the latter was elected in 2014. They did an ice bucket challenge together (photo left). And even though the two disagreed on funding for the BayLink leg of new rail, they joined forces on battling Zika and flew to Washington together (even though Gimenez repeatedly says we have to solve our problems here) to lobby Congress for more funding.

The Beach mayor even has a cameo in a Gimenez campaign ad (so does Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez, the admitted loanshark).

Levine’s support means a lot to Gimenez, who needs Anglos (read: non Hispanic white) voters and Democrats to gain the edge over Miami-Dade School Board member Raquel Regalado, who forced him (surprise!) into a runoff in the August primary.

But what does Levine want from Gimenez? The torch, maybe?

It is no secret that Levine originally planned to run for Miami-Dade mayor. Consultants convinced him that that would be impossible because his last name doesn’t end with a non-silent vowel or a Z. But Ladra hears he is a stubborn man. While we also believe that he has eyed the governor’s mansion, maybe he holds out hope that he can compete in a crowded Miami-Dade field come 2020 when Gimenez is termed out. He may think he’d have a helluva leg up with the predecessor’s blessing.

Or maybe he just wants Gimenez and his monied pals — Heckler et al — to help him raise funds for the governor’s race?

Nah. Levine is a proud millionaire who likes to self-fund his campaigns and buy little old Cuban ladies with chachkies and salsa parties.

In fact, why is he hosting a fundraiser at all? Can’t he just write a check for whatever it is he’d raise?

Ladra can’t wait to see how many Beach city vendors are on Gimenez’s next campaign report.

  Carlos Gimenez, Philip Levine, Raquel Regalado