Who will be appointed? Ladra’s money is on a former councilwoman
Updated: Hialeah Councilman Oscar de la Rosa announced Tuesday that he would resign, as promised when his stepfather campaigned last year for mayor of the second biggest city in Miami-Dade. You know… to avoid any potential or perceived conflict of interest.
Esteban Bovo won in the first round Nov. 2 and papi and hijo have been serving together, however, for more than two months. People were beginning to think de la Rosa was going to back out of bowing out.
De La Rosa told the Miami Herald he waited so he could see through some of his items, including the creation of a 24/7 entertainment district and incentives to promote workforce housing in new residential developments. He said he and his dad worked on the workforce housing item together.
Wait. So there was no conflict of interest in that?
Read related: All in the family: Steve Bovo’s stepson runs for Hialeah Council
The tradition in Hialeah is for the council to appoint someone to serve out through November — when the city can tag onto the general state ballot — rather than have a special election. The mayor doesn’t have a vote but is expected to either make his recommendation outright or through his lackeys, either Councilman Luis Rodriguez or the new Council President Carl Zogby.
Bovo can count. And he needs four votes to get anything done.
But the council members can count, too. And if former President Jesus Tundidor or new Councilman Bryan Calvo can convince independent Monica Perez (not hard) and newly elected Jacqueline Garcia-Roves — she’s the wild card swing vote — to appoint someone who would be independent of Bovo, not a pocket vote, then they might have a chance at the required five votes for a veto when they need one.
If they don’t, then Bovo could be veto proof.
Tundidor told Ladra that he hadn’t even thought of that and that he’s comfortable with Bovo’s leadership so far. Actually, and with less than 100 days in, Stevie has gotten high marks from a lot of people. They really liked that, just days after being elected mayor, Bovo forced out the embattled and tarnished police chief and initiated a public process to succeed him.
“He’s just trying to really increase transparency,” Tundidor said. “And he’s shown so far to be someone who can work with everybody.”
These appointments can be very important. They have always or almost always turned into elected office for the de facto incumbents. These include former Council Members Vivian Casals-Muñoz, who was appointed in 2006 and termed out in 2019, and Katherine Cue-Fuente, who was appointed in 2008 and termed out last year.
Read related: Esteban Bovo solidly wins his second place prize job: Mayor of Hialeah
In fact, that same year, a young ambitious Stevie Bovo was appointed to the Hialeah Council, to replace Rene Garcia, who went to state office. And Bovo used that to propel him into the State House and then the county commission.
So, who is the lucky lackey that Mayor Bovo would anoint as the next council member?
As usual, Bovo did not respond to Ladra’s calls and text messages.
During the campaign, he supported nurse and rehab center owner Angelica Pacheco, who lost. But she’s had trouble with an employee and her license at the state and has other issues, like past arrests for assault and child abuse. There might be resistance to her. It’s not a good look for Bovo, who is flying high right now (more on that later).
Read related: More on Hialeah candidate Angelica Pacheco’s arrests — and her web of lies
The mayor should nominate, or the council should appoint someone who ran and came close, like Maylin Villalonga, who lost the runoff against Luis Rodriguez but got almost 2,000 votes. She is someone who at least has been on the ballot and had the support of some citizens.
Better yet, longtime city activist Milly Herrera would make a fine voice for the residents. Hialeah voters have voted for her at least twice.
But it is most likely going to be Casals-Muñoz, who is a longtime Bovo friend and dropped out of the mayor’s race last year when he jumped in. He definitely trusts her and can use her experience “during these difficult times” to convince the council. Ladra is not sure term limits would apply to an appointment. But they really just want to help her run for State House in District 111 in November, which is when the appointment would end.
Bovo introduced her at a Hialeah Chamber of Commerce event last week.
Councilwoman Monica Perez said someone who is new would have to learn the rules in a short time.
“But whoever is going to be put there is going to be working with a young new council,” Perez said, “and has to know that we’re all very independent thinkers, we’ve all stood on our own and we’ve all held each other to the fire.”
Meanwhile, de la Rosa — who was accused of living in Coral Gables but said he was just spending nights at his girlfriend’s house — can probably run in the City Beautiful in 2023.
Because Papi is going to stick around as King of Hialeah as long as he can.
On Tuesday, Bovo tweeted a photo of the press conference in front of City Hall where de la Rosa announced his resignation.
“Today, my son, Councilman Oscar De La Rosa, resigned from the City Council to avoid any conflict of interest,” Bovo wrote. “I am proud of you! You will continue to accomplish great things.”
As promised, Hialeah mayor’s son Oscar de la Rosa resigns from council added by Ladra on
View all posts by Ladra →
