Ladra might have lit a fire under Miami-Dade Commissioner Esteban Bovo‘s butt this week: After posting about his new perceived ambivalence for the 2020 mayoral race — which most observers and experts think he’ll lose — Bovo sent a “save the date” to a very special announcement Sept. 30.
“Please join the commissioner’s family, friends and supporters in the 
community for an important announcement regarding Miami-Dade’s future,” says the very plain invitation with no logo, letterhead or anything. Like it was put together in a hurry.
It got into mailboxes the day after Political Cortadito said Bovo could be reconsidering the countywide run.
This mysterious announcement will come at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 30 at Casa Marin, a Cuban restaurant in Hialeah that is a political staple. Ladra can’t help but wonder who from the city government is going to be there, since las malas lenguas say Mayor Carlos Hernandez is supporting former Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas.
Read related: Esteban Bovo’s 2020 mayoral dreams doomed via Alex Penelas
The conjecture — which is not entirely Ladra’s own — was that Bovo saw the 
writing on the wall when Penelas became a candidate and sucked all the air out of Hialeah. Or half the air. Bovo needs all of Hialeah because his support is deeper than it is wide, and he can’t win countywide without every single vote that Penelas is going to steal from him.
But some political observers have since told Ladra that there is no down side to him running, even if he knows he will lose. He keeps his name in the news. He is able to raise funds and stay relevant. It could help him with his next race, whether it be or Hialeah mayor or state office again.
He likely won’t use the campaign to attack Penelas, as to not upset the former county mayor’s supporters and get Penelas’ support when he runs for whatever else. 
He could attack the others, however, which might also score him points with Penelas.
Some insiders also say that he is being pressured by his wife, Viviana Bovo, a senior advisor of western hemisphere affairs to U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who is too ambitious (read: snobby) to settle for First Lady of Hialeah.
But why all the games? Why does Bovo not respond to multiple queries about his candidacy for more than two weeks and then invite folks to this mystery announcement at the end of the month?
Why doesn’t he just say he’s running?
Will he or won’t he? Esteban Bovo will announce something Sept. 30 added by Ladra on
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