Insiders fear the gov has already hand-picked a successor
A Doral activist has started a petition to get Miami-Dade School Board Member Christi Fraga to resign from her seat now, rather than effective in November, as she runs for mayor of the western-edge municipality.
Florida law requires Fraga to resign to run, but the resignation can be effective when the new term begins. The Florida constitution allows the governor to appoint someone to fill a school board vacancy of up to 28 months. Which means voters in District 5 won’t get to pick their school board member until 2024.
If Fraga resigns before qualifying, then voters can choose her replacement on the same November ballot.
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“Parents and teachers deserve the opportunity to vote for representatives in the School Board,” reads the petition on change.org that was started by Radys Nader, a father of two school-aged children. “We should NOT have appointments made by politicians. If Ms. Fraga is seriously concerned about our students and their education, she should defend our right to choose!”
Not gonna happen, she said.
“My job is to represent those who I serve in my community all the way t the last day that I can do that,” Fraga told Ladra. Well, she can do that all the way to 2024, but this opportunity came up.
“I have been very vocal about the decisions made in Doral,” she said. “I am not a huge fan of a lot of things that have been decided.”
Fraga did say that he has made a recommendation to Gov. Ron DeSantis‘ people, but she would volunteer who it was.
Las malas lenguas say that replacement is former Miami Springs Councilman Dan Espino, who lost the race against former School Board Member Susie Castillo in 2012 (64-36%). Espino is also a former Doral city attorney when Fraga was on the council. And insiders say that Fraga has timed the resignation effective date so the governor can appoint him.
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Why not former Miami Springs Councilwoman Mara Zapata? She got many more votes in 2020 when Fraga beat her just 56-44%. Not only did she get the support of far more voters — 41,369 as opposed to Espino’s 6,924 (it was a primary) — it was also more recent. We don’t know where those 2012 Espino voters live today. Or how they might vote.
Fraga was a council member and vice mayor in Doral from 2012 to 2020 before she ran for school board. Las malas lenguas say that polls showed she couldn’t beat Doral Mayor J.C. Bermudez, so she ran for school board to stay relevant. Bermudez is ending his term two years early to run for county commissioner, to replace Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz. Fraga is running against two current council members: Pete Cabrera and Claudia Mariaca.
And she’s been spending a lot of time campaigning, according to her Facebook posts, which means she could be shortchanging the school board anyway.
She does have a campaign kickoff on Thursday, June 2, even though she’s already raised more than $100,000, according to her campaign finance reports.
That’s two weeks before the qualifying — and resignation — deadline at noon June 17.
Christi Fraga won’t resign now so voters can elect a school board replacement added by Ladra on
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[…] Also listed as supporters on the piece: State Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, State Reps. Alina Garcia, who is running for supervisor of elections, Mike Redondo, Juan Porras, Danny Perez, the next Speaker of the House, and Alex Rizo, chairman of the Republican Party of Miami-Dade, Miami-Dade Commissioners Roberto Gonzalez (D11) and Anthony Rodriguez (D10), former Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz, who is now mayor of Sweetwater, and all four Republican school board members — Mari Tere Rojas, the chair, Monica Colucci, Alonso and Dan Espino, who is also a DeSantis appointment (to replace Christi Fraga, who went on to become mayor in Doral). […]
[…] Also listed as supporters on the piece: State Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, State Reps. Alina Garcia, who is running for supervisor of elections, Mike Redondo, Juan Porras, Danny Perez, the next Speaker of the House, and Alex Rizo, chairman of the Republican Party of Miami-Dade, Miami-Dade Commissioners Roberto Gonzalez (D11) and Anthony Rodriguez (D10), former Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz, who is now mayor of Sweetwater, and all four Republican school board members — Mari Tere Rojas, the chair, Monica Colucci, Alonso and Dan Espino, who is also a DeSantis appointment (to replace Christi Fraga, who went on to become mayor in Doral). […]
[…] Read related: Christi Fraga won’t resign now so voters can elect a school board replacement […]
Ladra. Usted tiene razón. Mi hija fue expulsada de Pinecrest north preparatory, escuela charter del distrito de Fraga. La expulsaron porque esta en silla de ruedas y no quieren tener estudiantes discapacitados en esa escuela. Presentamos una demanda por discriminación y llamamos a la oficina de la señora Fraga. Solo recibimos demagogia política y nada de ayuda. Al parecer está concentrada en un cargo político que aún no tiene y ha descuidado a los niños de su distrito. Una vergüenza
Radys Nader is an insignificant natt plastered on the wall, leftist, with the Mayor’s agenda in mind.
He hides behind a FB Group and never show his face at in-person events. He is a puppet of the current administration.
As far as I understand, Christi Fraga’s position cannot be voted on in the 2022 election. The person is designated by the Greate Governor of the State of Florida.
What does Radys due anyways, besides spend all day blocking people on Facebook and writing lies and nasty stuff about the mayor’s Mafia?
Funny, he criticizes but doesn’t have the guts to run!
P.S. J.C. Bermudez is abondoning the City of Doral with two years left on him current term! He violated the trust of the Residents of the City of Doral.
Radys Nader is an extreme right wing Arab fascist, like the mid-east dictators. He has been a long time member of the Doral Coalition, which is a front group for their political agenda,taking money from anyone who comes their way:developers, real estate, builders, polluters, etc.The Doral Coalition is the group that has always fronted for JC Bermudez, holding meet and greets for him,for example, in Doral. It was previously run by Claudia’s dad, Mr. Spangaro, a retired Citi banker, but now it is run by Yvette Petcovich , an attorney with illusions of grandeur. Most of their members are Cubans who voted for #45 as well and they stick together like glue, being able to control Doral in the shadows. Radys and some of the other thugs carry guns under their jackets and seem to provide protection to JC when he appears at public events. JC probably carries too due to his insecure nature and distrust of people.They all belong together, but no longer need to monopolize politics anymore.
It’s this all over again, Christi Fraga has been dedicated to OUR community since the very beginning. Sadly Radys all he wants to do his dis-credit all her job as a Councilmember and Vice-Mayor. Christi is just following the law and as long as she’s following what the LAW says then she has no problem. I trust her decision making to appoint someone new to the seat.
Now I ask, why doesn’t Radys run for a seat since he’s so vocal and LOVES attacking. I even ask myself what does this man do for living besides talking crap on facebook everyday
It is very dangerous to promote appointments to positions that should be ELECTED positions that VOTERS are supposed to weigh in on. Whether it is a Governor or a County Commission that is used as the substitute body politic (which recently occurred). The person may be a very good choice to replace the candidate that is leaving the position, but that decision should be made, after campaigns of all the candidates, by the people. What is most disturbing is that so many people are OK with losing their voting rights. Must be very frustrating for the “powers that be” to have to allow the public to make any choices for themselves. I guess their efforts won’t be thwarted this time either. Where can I sign onto that petition?
These local civic service, elected positions, are becoming their private fiefs ! .
” Fraga and Mariaca actually get things done for residents , a concept pro developer Cabrera can not grasp.”
I should have said that whether I or my neighbors we have all in the past contacted Fraga and Mariaca and they kick into gear .
At min they actually sent people to look at what we contacted them about .
Can not say the same about Cabrera and do not know anyone who can .
Flunky online political ” resumes ” are just that flunky distortions but my actual experience with Fraga and Mariaca has been very good and I am just a regular home owner in Doral and a 1 story home at that , lol not some powerful business man .
Mr. Leach, fyi, I did not call on Bermudez, Mariaca or Cabrera to resign because they all will be replaced on the same ballot. The only thing I advocate for is for voters to choose rather than the governor. Whether she is following the law or not, she could make a difference for voters in her district, the ones who voted for her tor represent them.
Love, Ladra
Radys has long been in the pocked of JC Bermudez. Notice she does not call on JC Bermudez, Claudia Mariaca or Pete Cabrera to resign earlier that election day. Fraga is simply following the letter of the law — as are the others mentioned above. If you don’t like it have your Florida legislature change the law. Don’t
My opinion as a Doral resident who like others has contacted them all , Pete Cabrera works strictly for developers .
He is the Jose Pepe Diaz of Doral .
Fraga and Mariaca actually get things done for residents , a concept pro developer Cabrera can not grasp.
Would not mind between Fraga and Mariaca the one who is not elected as Mayor be Vice Mayor .