DLC names two key cronies: Ed Marquez, JD Patterson
Miami-Dade Deputy Mayor Ed Marquez is safe. For now.
Marquez was on a list of county officials that many political observers thought would be out with the election of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who was expected to clean house. We can cross him off. He has survived week one.
Levine Cava has kept Marquez as Chief Financial Officer, but stripped him of his deputy mayor title, indicating that she could run the county more like the non profits of her roots than like a government. Former Miami-Dade Police Director J.D. Patterson will become the county’s first chief public safety officer — which is the non profit name for a director of public safety.
Both are Carlos Gimenez loyalists (read: lackeys).
The former mayor, now a congressman, brought Marquez with him after the recall election in 2011. Gimenez had worked under Marquez when he was fire chief in Miami and Marquez was the manager. That’s the main reason folks thought he’d be out, that G-man bond. But Ed does have a wealth of experience. In addition to budget and finance, he’s worked in Human Resources, Internal Services, Audit and Management, and Information Technology. He’s been around. Which is why Internal Services Director Lester Sola is probably safe, too.
They know too much.
Marquez might be la Alcaldesa’s consolation prize now that former Deputy Mayor and longtime Budget Director Jennifer Moon has said yes to the commission’s proposition that she move over to their side. Yeah, that’s right, Moon would rather work with Commissioner Jose “Pepe DUI” Diaz than the new mayor, who just demoted her anyway.
Read related: Miami-Dade Commission may wearing new strong mayor’s powers on budget
And, so, what’s a new mayor to do? Maurice Kemp is out the door. Jack Osterholt can’t stay awake long enough to get through a briefing. Another Gimenez 2011 lackey who once worked for the rock quarries making homes in Miami Lakes crack, Osterholt is the vice mayor who, when Gimenez recused himself, recommended last year a $5 million economic development subsidy for Son #2 Julio Gimenez‘s steel mill in South Dade. He’s also on that list, which has Transit Director Alice Bravo on top.
So, Levine Cava has to keep Marquez, at least for now.
Often put in charge when Gimenez went to Paris or something, Marquez is nothing if not a survivor. He can go with the flow. He has been at the county on-and-off for 30 years, with stints at the city of Miami, the school board and the investment banking private sector. Many say he’s the numbers cruncher behind Moon but without the ego and sex appeal. He’s like a sloth. Not because he’s lazy but because he is slow and methodical. A smart, nerdy sloth. That’s how you survive at County Hall.
“My number one priority is to protect the lives and livelihoods of our residents and make sure our community is on a solid financial footing, particularly during this economic crisis,” Levine Cava said in a statement.
Read related: La Alcaldesa Daniella Levine Cava wastes no time to hire, meet with staff
“As deputy mayor and the current CFO, Edward Marquez has helped oversee Miami-Dade’s complex, nearly $9 billion budget for the last nine years. He brings a wealth of experience helping governments to balance their budgets and stay fiscally strong. I’m thrilled he will help to see our community through this turbulent time and emerge stronger, as we ensure county government can provide essential services to support our families and small businesses.”
“The work of safeguarding our local economy and county budget against the fiscal impacts of the pandemic is ongoing,” Marquez said in his own say-nada statement. “I’m proud to continue on under Mayor Levine Cava’s administration and work alongside her to keep Miami-Dade’s government whole and working on behalf of the people we serve.”
Marquez should be proud to keep his $294,000-a-year salary, although he should actually get a pay cut since he is already the “current” CFO, and he’s no longer the deputy mayor. Another demotion, like Moon’s.
And, hopefully, he’ll show up. From 2012 to 2014, Marquez took the most administrative leave of anyone in the mayor’s office — 168 hours worth $21,566, according to a WPLG Local 10 investigation by Ross Palombo. Someone should find out how many days off he’s taken since then. Things that make you go hmmmmm.
No word yet on what the salary will be for Patterson, but he is basically the new Kemp, so it will be around the $239,000-a-year he makes as a tier 2 deputy. Patterson already has a $13,000-a-month pension from Miami-Dade Police, where he ended as director from 2013 to 2016.
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That means he was in charge during the public corruption investigation of the 2012 absentee ballot fraud in the Gimenez campaign, the one where the boletera‘s notebook was found eight months later. The one who, as soon as that investigation started moving forward, oversaw the 2014 dismantling of said public corruption unit. Is he there to cover up for DLC now?
Gearing up for the county sheriff’s race in 2024?
Patterson will oversee the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s office during a particularly taxing time and Miami-Dade Police Department as it prepares for its leadership to transition to an elected sheriff model. Will Patterson run?
Patterson, who sidelines as a pastor, also joins just as the county reinstates it’s Civilian Independent Panel to review police abuse complaints.
“Teams responsible for public safety will work with a leader solely dedicated to keeping the community safe. I can’t imagine a better person for this role,” Levine Cava said, citing Patterson’s career in community policing, crime prevention, youth mentorship, mental health and substance abuse treatment and “building deep relationships in the neighborhoods he serves.” Ouch. Pobre Jack.
“As a lifelong Miamian with over 30 years of experience,” Patterson said, “I know firsthand how critical community trust is to keeping residents, first responders and law enforcement safe.”
Hopefully safer than he has done as the current assistant police chief in Miami Gardens, which has one of the highest crime rates per capita in the United States. The chance of being carjacked or burglarized there is one in 21.
Read related: Miami-Dade approves a watered-down independent civilian panel for police
“In Mayor Levine Cava, Miami-Dade has a leader who understands that safety begins by investing in the communities we serve,” Patterson said in his own statement. “I look forward to working alongside her in the role of chief public safety officer to protect the well-being of all Miami-Dade’s families.”
Does this mean we have two police chiefs? This public safety director thing did not work so good in Coral Gables, where an assistant city manager was also the head of the police department. The tension and chaos that ensued ended up taking the city manager down.
Miami-Dade Police Director Freddy Ramirez was gracious about it on Twitter. “Congratulations to CFO Marquez and former Miami-Dade PD Director J.D. Patterson in your new role as Chief Public Safety Officer! I look forward to working together in safeguarding Miami-Dade County.”
PBA President Steadman Stahl said “We got along with him when he was the director.
“We can work with him.”
Will they stay or will they go? County administration changes in Miami-Dade added by Ladra on
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