While Ladra has already made some endorsements and predictions for this month’s election, it might be a good idea to repeat them and add some others today, now that early voting has started.
A lot of attention has gone to the Miami-Dade mayoral race, but there are also seven commission races 
and five of those seats — at least, maybe more — will go to brand new people. This sea change could overhaul the whole dynamic of our board of commissioners and the priorities of our county government.
The decisions made on Aug. 18 and Nov. 3 (for those races that go into runoffs) will affect us for at least the next four years, and possibly longer.
So, without further ado, except for judicial and school board candidates (maybe later), here are Ladra’s chosen hopefuls on the ballot:
For Miami-Dade State Attorney: Not the current incumbent, Kathy Fernandez-Rundle, who is very visible these days but that only happens every four years. She has failed time and again to charge 
not just politicians who are obviously dirty — many say she lets the window expire intentionally — and has even been implicated in the absentee ballot fraud caught in Hialeah in 2012. She is also too reluctant to charge police officers who step over the line. She is only the third state attorney in our county and has been in office 27 years. That’s almost as long as Commissioner Dennis Moss! Does she think she’s queen? Attorney Melba Pearson doesn’t have to be much more than an alternative. Any alternative will do. But Pearson happens to also be a former assistant county attorney with 15 years experience, mostly in the domestic violence and career criminal/robbery units. So she knows how the SAO works — and doesn’t work. She left because of Fernandez-Rundle’s reluctance for reforms and became the deputy director at the American Civil Liberties Union in 2017. Seems like a balance we especially need right now. Ladra both endorses and predicts a win for Pearson. People are fed up.
Read related: For Miami-Dade mayor, Xavier Suarez offers real change, no strings attached
For Miami-Dade Mayor: The only one of the four viable candidates who deserves this, who deserves our trust — because that is what we give with our vote, people — is Xavier Suarez. He has been the 
only person on the commission to vote against the irresponsible budgets of termed-out Mayor Carlos Gimenez and the raiding of the half-penny tax People’s Transportation Plan funds to cover maintenance costs. He has gone so far as to sue the county. Suarez has always been his own man and doesn’t owe anybody anything. He doesn’t want anything for himself — except the fame and glory of going into the history books. Every other candidate has some kind of questionable baggage, agenda and or entourage behind them. Every other candidate has dark money and negative smear attacks. Xavier is clean. That absentee ballot fraud that got him kicked out of office in 1997 was perpetrated by someone else. He just got swept up in it. Former mayor Alex Penelas, who will likely be in the runoff with Suarez or Commissioner Daniella Levine-Cava, knows that. But it doesn’t fit his narrative.
For Commissioner District 1: I’m sure that Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert is a nice guy and 
I’ve heard mixed reviews from people about him. But he seems to have buckled to the Hard Rock Stadium owners and he’s been in office for more than a decade (counting his councilman years). Let’s give Sybrina Fulton a chance. As a county employee who has worked in several different departments, she has insight into what is going on in the rank and file and she might know how to trim waste and find savings and efficiency. You have to walk the walk. As the mother of Trayvon Martin and a nationally-recognized poster mom for the Black Lives Matter movement, she may also provide an important voice to have on our county commission. Especially at this time. Ladra endorses and predicts a Fulton win.
For Commissioner District 3: Ladra has a prediction but not an endorsement because she doesn’t 
know anybody else in this race except for Miami Commissioner Keon “Pay-to-Play” Hardemon, whose lobbyist cousin Barbara Hardemon not only works for InterMiami, the group that wants to build a real estate park disguised as a soccer stadium on the Melreese golf course, but also manages his $926,000 campaign war chest (account and committees together). Hardemon will most definitely come out on top of the five-way race. Hell, he may even win it outright. Poor us. Hopefully, Gepsie Metellus, who Ladra endorses because she could be the best one to compete against him in November, will help force a runoff and give everyone a chance to give Hardemon a good hard look.
Read related: In dirty Miami-Dade District 5 race, both front runners are ‘communists’
For Commissioner District 5: This is a tough one. Or not. Before former Miami-Dade School Board Member Renier Diaz de la Portilla jumped in at the 11th hour — he didn’t want to give us a chance to 
talk about it too much — Ladra was fully in support of Miguel Soliman, simply because he is not incumbent Eileen Higgins, who has succumbed to special interests and lobbyists and has lost lots of her original support because of it. But now Ladra finds herself forced to hold her nose and endorse Higgins. Soliman is really a long shot, especially with another anti-Higgins choice — one with a history of dirty campaigning — and we simply cannot let Renier DLP get this seat. His brother, Miami City Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla — who ran for and lost that seat in 2018 — will be in charge and will be insoportable. This has been one of the uglier races, with both Diaz de la Portilla and Higgins calling each other communists and hitting each other with negative attacks. It’s also the race with the best mailer so far, which landed in mailboxes last week, depicting the Renier and Alex as the Fredo and Sonny, respectively, of course, of the Corleone family — The Godfathers of Dirty Politics. It’s already a classic. I’m framing mine.
For Commissioner District 7: This is Raquel Regalado‘s year. Ladra thinks she should have run for mayor but at least she will be in a decision-making position on the commission. And at such a crucial time. We’re going to need her. The former Miami-Dade School Board member, who forced Gimenez into a runoff in 2016, is a consensus-building reformer and, frankly, just smarter and more capable than the 
other two candidates (don’t even count the unnamed, long-shot spoiler in there to take Hispanic votes from her). Former State Rep. and Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner needs to take some anger management classes before she runs for office again. Or just retire already and start a book club. It’s like a committee. And activist Michael Rosenberg was a nice guy before he started running for office but has now become a single-minded, end-justifies-the-means asshole who has done almost everything in the campaign illegally, which doesn’t bode well for someone who wants to be an elected. The People, Animals & Government Ethics 2020 PAC, led by his Pets Trust co-founder Rita Schwartz, has paid for everything with, basically, $50,000 from Schwartz herself (or is it?) Ladra both endorses and predicts a Regalado victory. It would be nice if we could get it over with this month, too. Dale Raquel.
For Commissioner District 9: Ladra predicts that Kionne McGhee will make it to the runoff on sheer name rec and district demographics and, well, because he’s known as a stalwart defender of only-
rail-will-do in South Dade. So this might really be a race for the No. 2 spot and there are four other candidates vying for that. Attorney Marlon Hill is the best financed with a campaign finance account that’s been twice as fat as McGhee, who should have incumbent money but doesn’t (unless there’s a hidden PAC somewhere), according to the latest campaign finance reports. Pastor Mark Coats has been campaigning the longest and perhaps the hardest. Save for Community Council Member and activist Johnny Farias, who has been campaigning forever. But let’s not underestimate Homestead Councilman Elvis Maldonado as the potential runoff challenger, as possibly hinted to by the growing number of Hispanic voters — or, rather, the good percentage of Hispanic voters returning absentee ballots in that district. Either way, there’s definitely a run-off here and, lo and behold, none of the candidates are terrible losers. No endorsement… yet.
In Miami-Dade District 11, sleeper Robert Asencio could can Joe Martinez
For Commissioner District 11: It doesn’t really terribly matter who wins here either, because both 
candidates have good intentions. Ladra predicts incumbent Joe Martinez will pull it off, despite being Commissioner Cranky and treating some people badly. Trust me, if you’d been burned by Joe, you’d know. But vote instead for former State Rep. Robert Asencio, who doesn’t have any negative baggage or bag guys. Not saying Martinez does, but he’s also been in office for a long time and this is an opportunity for a sea change on the commission. Joe can manage his daughter’s singing career.
For Commissioner District 13: Felicidades Sen. Rene Garcia. It’s already yours. Call me.
For Congress in the Republican primary District 26: My choice is Miami-Dade firefighter Omar Blanco, a real public servant (read: hero) who has dedicated his life to helping others. In 2014, his leadership on the fire union helped prevent rolling brown-outs — where Gimenez suggested taking 
out fire rescue units for shifts at a time to save money. Blanco also helped pass the cancer presumption bill for firefighters last year, which is important to thousands of families across Florida. His wife is a school teacher. Both grew up in the working class district. There is no way that Carlos Gimenez should be elected even as dog catcher. Not only because of his track record of giving multi-million dollar no-bid contracts and jobs away to his family and friends, not only because he diverted the funds meant for expansion of MetroRail so he could balance the budget, not only because he never met a secret backroom deal he didn’t love, but also and most recently because he has totally mishandled the COVID-19 response and shown what kind of arrogant, ivory tower leader he is at heart. Also, this is a partisan primary race and he’s not even really Republican. Sure, Gimenez is registered with the GOP. But he has gone where the wind blows, endorsing Hillary Clinton in 2016 and flirting — or pretending to flirt — with becoming a Democrat. Now, suddenly, he’s a Trumpster? Don’t believe it. It doesn’t really matter because neither one of them will beat Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in November, but Blanco deserves a chance to try and Gimenez deserves to be sent home with his tail between his legs.
Read related: Omar Blanco reminds CD26 voters that Carlos Gimenez voted for Hillary Clinton
For state rep in District 116: The Republican incumbent, Daniel Perez, deserves to be re-elected in the primary. The freshman is so beloved in Tallahassee that he has already been chosen to be the 
Speaker of the House in 2024. He has a barely-there challenger in Gabriel Garcia, who raised $500 so far and is really being funded and helped by State Rep. Jose Oliva, who will likely become a lobbyist and wants to have his way in the Capitol after he’s gone. Perez is fighting a nasty attack campaign calling him a communist because he went to Cuba years ago with his then-fiance to meet her family members, including some elderly grandparents who might not have gotten another chance. People forget that Cubans cannot leave the island and so that’s why Cuban-Americans have to travel there to see family. Perhaps he shouldn’t have used the opportunity to fill his wedding book with photos on el malecon and among Havana’s ruins. But they were young and in love in Havana! Who can blame them? And when might they get that chance again? Why should foreigners and Hollywood elites like Danny Glover and Beyonce get to selfie on Calle Obispo but not us? Ridiculous. Voters, many of whom have traveled to Cuba to visit family members, should reject this smear and also Oliva’s meddling where he doesn’t belong.
Feel free to let me know if there is a particular race that Ladra should weigh in on that she hasn’t already. There are still two weeks to election day. And anything can happen.
Ladra’s picks for 2020 Miami-Dade county, state and federal elections added by Ladra on
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To Vic……..I can’t tell if your comments are a compliment or a critique. If it is a compliment, then thank you. To clarify, there could be some people that “think” I am an asshole, but never told me or wrote me about it. (Until today.) I could offer some suggestions who those people might be. Call me if you are interested in knowing who I believe might think it. 305 439 3571…..
To a YOUNGER Michael…..”Sound like he is willing to compromise”. Send me your email and I will share with you some responses that will cause you to think differently. Or call me at 305 439 3571… Or, look at the public record regarding Calusa.
From….the older Michael…..
Rosenberg sounds like an activist willing to compromise and conquer to win at any cost…. sounds like Levine who was an activist before she changed her name to run for office…
Who is to blame though? The crooked politicians or the voting constituency that keeps voting in crooked people who compromise and bend rules or break laws?
For the record, I know lots of people who have called Michael an asshole.
I thought he was okay with that persona and really did well at owning it?
Some say there’s no such thing as bad publicity, so I suppose the back and forth between Ladra and Rosenberg is good for both? It does add a little comic relief to our semi-quarantined Zoomed existences. I would like to point out however that Ladra’s pick against Rosenberg isn’t squeaky clean considering that she’s still running her radio show, full well knowing (because Gimenez told her four years ago) that ethics rules require broadcasters to go off the air once they’re running for office. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article69472457.html
Dear Mike… and what’s with the Miguels today?
Show me someone who is squeaky clean and I will show you someone who needs glasses.
But, also, you are wrong about Raquel’s work on Hoy Por Hoy, the morning news and commentary show she shares with Felix Guillermo weekday mornings. Rules are different for paid journalists and/or media personalities, which is what Regalado is now on Radio Caracol, as opposed to unpaid broadcasters or, worse, broadcasters who pay for radio time. If journalists would have to quit their jobs to run for office, that would certainly be unfair. Which is why they are allowed to stay on the air and run.
Newspaper reporters also don’t have to quit to run for office, though they would likely not be writing about their own election. And Regalad has not talked about her race on the show.
Nice try though.
Love, Ladra
Yeah, what is it with all these Mikes today? We all must be old since I don’t usually hear that name with young men or boys these days. And I sometimes need glasses just to find my good glasses. Another sign of aging.
Ladra’s ethical position is in complete agreement with her endorsee’s attorney’s position as reported by the four-year old Herald story. Ethics can sometimes appear murky. Fortunately, Caracol is not owned by the lying, failing, enemy-of-the-people, traitorous New York Times with their position against running for office as clear as a glass of Miami’s finest tap served at my neighborhood Rio Cristal (it’s time for a palomilla steak and flan). Considering Miami is somewhat a banana republic, I’M HAPPY TO CONCEDE THIS POINT TO LADRA. https://www.nytimes.com/editorial-standards/ethical-journalism.html#participationInPublicLife
I’m heartbroken. I just saw on Channel 4 that Rio Cristal, a Miami icon that I lovingly referenced in my August 4th comment, has succumbed to the virus shutdowns. Thanks to the owners and staff of Rio Cristal, especially the Bird Road store about a mile from my home, for the many, many years of great food and service. I will miss you and I hope you find good blessings in your futures. https://miami.cbslocal.com/2020/08/07/iconic-rio-cristal-restaurant-closing-as-another-victim-of-the-pandemic/
For those that think the antics of Cindy Lerner are made up, here is the 10 minutes version created from Pinecrest residents that had documented YEARS of outbursts. We were told that if someone would put together ALL of the out of control moments of Cindy Lerner’s publicly documented career, the video would be over two hours. At this point, there is no two hour version, but how much can you take anyway?
Regarding sexism. This behavior isn’t proper no matter who does it. Also, if this is what you see in public, can you even imagine what it must be like in private with her!?!?!?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr5MNDPoG4M
P.S. I count at least 9 wardrobe changes.
Dear Ladra,
If you want to make up stuff to justify your answer, that you can believe what you write if it makes you feel better.
“Snow-jobbed for the KFHA invitation”….. (can’t even fathom a response to that)
“Sold out neighbors” (did you ever check the public records for the answer)
Perhaps in your mind, when I strongly encouraged you to see your doctors after my near death experience….I guess that was also a “snow-job”. And when I encouraged you to not be negligent as I had been…I guess… “more snow”….
Your distortion of the 442 (now 445) callers is also disappointing. That is not how many votes I have. That is how many people cared to call with 100% (without exaggeration) shocked that I actually answered the phone! I have no idea if they are going to vote for me, but they have my number for any future concerns for when I am commissioner. You even turned that into a negative!
My conclusion, based on your reporting….
(1) You guess a lot
(2) Not inclined to get the facts
(3) use name calling out of frustration for clarity (Asshole and lunatic are truly your words)
(4) Like to say that I believe am always right….clearly you haven’t worked with me
(5) Criticize someone that placed an ad when you publicly asked for advertising support to keep your blog going, again guessing about ulterior motives rather than understanding it was to help keep your blog going)
Rather than all the guessing and assumptions, why not take one issue, Calusa, go to the public records, do the work..and then answer your guessing/assumption questions about that one issue. Don’t you want to know, or is guessing more fun?
Michael
Dear Michael, you seem to forget that you DID talk to me about your Calusa deal because, as people who know you know, it’s hard for you to not try to justify everything you do. You said something about having lost so much property value already and not wanting to be completely underwater on your residential property investment.
I’ve been trying to keep you out of legal trouble because you asked me to and out of respect for our past friendship, which was sincere on my part. But now you’re calling me lazy, frustrated and, worse, a liar. It’s entirely your fault if it all seems a little disingenuous.
Love, Ladra
Re: County Mayor race. If a man had yelled at meetings three times over eight years, no one would bat an eye. This (largely false) meme about Lerner having a temper, based on a heavily edited video, is basically playing to sexism. Shame on you for falling for it, or pretending to fall for it for tactical reasons; without it you’d have to admit that Lerner is the most competent, most honest, of the candidates.
But you’re 100% right about the State Attorney contest….
Dear Michael (the other Michael), don’t be too sure. Especially in a #metoo world.
That said, if the same verbally abusive behavior had been exhibited by a Hispanic elected, male or female, I am quite certain that the Miami Herald and several community organizations would be demanding his or her immediate resignation from office. Dime que no.
By the way, I don’t regularly pretend. For tactical (??) or other reasons. Just like I’m not pretending on the state attorney’s race, where we apparently agree.
Thanks for being a loyal reader. And don’t you have endorsements this year?
Love, Ladra
August 4th, 2020. First time in my life I was called an “asshole”.
The name caller, Elaine De Valle. The same person that said I was her “soul brother” a few months ago. I haven’t changed one bit,,,, except I have even more passion to want to help others than ever. My phone number is everywhere and to date, I have received and answered 442 phone calls from voters/constituents in District 7 in the past month. People are starving for an elected official that will listen, and I will be that commissioner. Nothing will change.
In the meantime…..you can read for yourself…..the words of Elaine De Valle.
“KFHA President Michael Rosenberg, who has become sort of a soul brother, invited me to come back again sometime before the primary in August. And I think it’s a great idea. I had such a blast on Thursday. I’ve always wanted to do stand-up comedy and talking about local politics is practically the same thing.”
https://politicalcortadito.com/2020/03/14/ladra-had-a-great-time-talking-at-kfha-thursday-an-is-available-for-parties/
Elaine was great at that event, (her first public appearance in 10 years) and once covid is over she will make a great guest for your events as well. So funny and full of information.
By the way, the 442 people that called me don’t think I am an asshole. That would be only Elaine.de Valle.
Dear Michael, it’s really hard to believe that this is the first time IN YOUR LIFE that you have been called an asshole. I know for a fact it isn’t the first time you’ve been called a lunatic.
Yes, I did feel more soul sibling with you when we were both trying to get government to be more transparent and our electeds to follow the rules. But, as I said in the post, you have turned into an asshole as an ends-justifies-the-means candidate who doesn’t care about breaking the rules, being not very transparent as far as selling out his neighbors and/or being funded by a single person by at least, and probably more than, $50,000… everything you were against when we first met, which is why we bonded. And you think you are always right. There is no arguing with you anymore. You act like Carlos Gimenez. Above reproach.
In fact, I now think that maybe you snow-jobbed me with that invitation to speak before the KFHA. Because it is hard to believe you didn’t intend then to run for office only four months ago. In fact, I wonder if your benefactor political action committee advertised in Political Cortadito last year to apply pressure for this apparently planned campaign. Maybe you thought that would win you some kind of advantage? You wouldn’t be the first one to think so. Guess you are not so different after all.
I’m sure there are more than 442 people that think you are not an asshole. There are lots of people who don’t think Donald Trump is an asshole either. Doesn’t make any of them right. And you will need a lot more than 442 votes to get in the runoff.
Thanks for being a loyal reader.
Love, Ladra
I hope with all these new Miami-Dade Dade County Commissioner’s as well as the next Mayor that they need to represent “We the People” yes,us constituents who we vote in office .Most like Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez as well as Miami-Dade County Commissioner Bovo all work for their Lobbyists, Friends, Family,Consultants and the list goes on ! Let’s stop playing games and really truly have a Transparent Government. The only way to do that is to be upfront to know we need real reform and there needs to be real reform, hence:The Miami-Dade County Ethics and Public Trust Agency who have non elected people who keep collecting a paycheck along with an awesome pension plan for their worthless and fraudulent work if you can call it work .Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez only talks about the Miami-Dade County Expressway Authority hwy robbery toll Agency that keeps nickel and diming all of us .Where is an investigation into that Agency been ? Total corruption at its finest!We need real change and not a bunch of Bull-Shit Spin from our Politician’s we elect in office to serve and work for us people in Miami-Dade County!
Tisa McGhee is a better choice. Keon Hardemon is a crook. Even the Herald refused to endorse Keon. And Gepsie is a one issue candidate. She is “all Haiti, all the time”. Dist 3 needs someone new.
Nice picks… Marlon Hill is prolly what’s right for the people, but most people prolly don’t realize it yet…. He needs to find another seat… Too bad, he isn’t running in District 8.
Let me add that plenty here vote on name recognition which also favors Rundle and regardless of why they vote for her , I have respect for anyone who votes more then just once every 4 years .
Vote for who you want BUT VOTE .
MOST Hispanics are politically apathetic and IF they even bother to register ( HUGE IF ) they rarely vote .
” Ladra both endorses and predicts a win for Pearson. People are fed up.”
I voted for her because ANYONE but Rundle is my motto but I do not think she will win .
A large percentage of voters in Miami are not going to vote for anyone who is Black over a White Cuban or White Hispanic period and this as a White Cuban or has been my experience .
If this election was during a 4 year Presidential election then it is different but not a normal local election .
I would be surprised if I am wrong but would be great if I was .
Both are Democrats so it is not even about political party which in truth means very little here .
Rundle has enabled corruption left and right , does not stand for anything but she is a White Cubana and here in Miami that carries weight .