Freak endorsements from Alex Penelas, Uncle Luke, Baby X raise eyebrows

When Miami-Dade Commissioner Xavier Suarez endorsed Esteban “Stevie” Bovo for county mayor, political observers raised an eyebrow. When his son, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, endorsed Renier Diaz de la Portilla in the Miami-Dade District 5 race, we did a double take.

On Wednesday, former Mayor Alex Penelas — who came in third in the first round of the mayoral race in August — also endorsed Diaz de la Portilla, and we got whiplash. Then, on Thursday, Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell — yes, of 2 Live Crew fame, but also a former mayoral candidate in 2016 — endorsed Bovo for mayor.

Literally, wtf is happening?

Each of these nods may be surprising at first blush. And concerning. Like a sign of the apocalypse. The way we’re going, Penelas could endorse Bovo any minute now.

Could there be something in the water? Someone on Twitter said Uncle Luke might be under duress. “They’re holding a gun on someone he loves, right?” Several women had a simpler explanation: Misogyny. The other candidate would be Miami-Dade’s first female mayor.

“It’s not because he’s more qualified, experienced or has better proposals to move us forward,” tweeted Maribel Balbin, president of the Miami-Dade League of Women from 2013 to 2016. “So It leaves only one thing #GenderBias plain #Sexism.”

But each of these endorsements could have a perfectly logical explanation, which we just have to guess ourselves because after repeated calls and texts, neither Suarez nor Penelas would comment.

I guess it’s too difficult for them to explain. It’s telling that they would not return calls over two days or more.

In Suarez’s case, it makes perfect sense. Renier Diaz de la Portilla’s big brother, Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla is the big papi on campus. He runs the place. Mayor Suarez has to make him happy. Especially if he wants ADLP to vote yes on the Miami Freedom Park deal. Remember that? Remember that former Commissioner Willy Gort, who was replaced by Alex Diaz de la Portilla, had voted no?

The other thing is the threat that Alex could run for Miami mayor next year. Las malas lenguas say that if Reni loses the county race, as expected, big brother will run for mayor and leave his seat open for Reni to be appointed. Like they’re going to appoint Christine King in November to replace Commissioner Keon Hardemon (more on that later).

This is harder to believe. Alex Diaz de la Portilla has far more power than the mayor already. Why would he want to change that? Or take a chance on losing the next two years, during which he can do so much damage, including the redrawing of districts for him and his allies? Ladra takes the other route: He will back Suarez for mayor — as long as he can stay the boss.

While Baby X has political and business motivations, Penelas is all business. His entourage of special interest lobbying friends invested a ton of money in his failed mayoral run. But he can give them something of value in return if he has a county commissioner’s ear. Even if he could corrupt Commissioner Eileen Higgins, she would be a clumsy novice. The DLPs — plural, because there’s no way Renier will act alone if elected — are experts at gaming the system for their wheels and deals. And it has to be something good because Penelas just endorsed someone who showed up drunk to a candidate forum.

That makes more sense than the other theory floating around, which is that this is payback to the Miami-Dade Democrats for supporting (wink, wink) Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava in the mayoral race. Like Penelas stood a chance after what he did to Al Gore in 2000, which shows Penelas doesn’t need a reason to ding the Democratic Party.

But it wasn’t super enthusiastic. The text announcement sent Wednesday spelled Renier’s name wrong. It was Reneir Diaz de la Portilla. Que pena!

Which brings us to Uncle Luke. People can’t believe that a black rapper-turned-activist and columnist who defends the first amendment and represents the urban community would endorse a tyrant who not only shuts down any dissent — actually cutting people off during public comments and having some escorted from chambers — but also denies systemic racism exists and thinks the BLM movement is about rioting and violence. It flies in the face of facts.

But some political observers say the real reason Campbell’s endorsement of Bovo is so surprising is because Levine Cava has more money.

Ladra may catch a lot of shit for this, but campaign consultants have always said that the way to get black votes is to spread the green around. Not literally, as in every black voter gets paid. But figuratively, as in black influence is purchased. There are certain black community operatives — you know who you are — who take tens of thousands of dollars, for instance, to motivate community leaders, radio hosts and faith leaders to promote a particular candidate. It’s marked on campaign finance reports as a get-out-the-vote expense. Some are said to sell support for a donation to a foundation or non-profit. Others might bargain their backing on how many of “my people” a candidate will hire for campaign work or beyond.

In 2011, Uncle Luke backed former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina in the recall mayoral race because Carlos Gimenez wouldn’t give his buddy a job. Wonder what job Bovo promised who.

Of course, this happens in every community. Bought influence has no color. And certain Cuban radio hosts are famous for political payoffs. One has a nickname “Cuatro Lucas,” ’cause if you pay him $4K he’ll sing your praises.

The point is that each of these freak endorsements has a perfectly logical explanation.

Or maybe we have an invasion of the body snatchers.

Alex Penelas, Esteban Bovo, Uncle Luke

Freak endorsements from Alex Penelas, Uncle Luke, Baby X raise eyebrows added by Ladra on October 23, 2020
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