When did we decide that forums were better than debates? And why? Spoiler: They’re not.
The first commission candidate forum put on by The Miami Foundation was boring enough that Ladra recommends a recording, if they have one, but only for anyone having trouble getting to sleep. Yawn.
None of the candidates — Kevin Marino Cabrera, a political operative from Donald Trump’s Florida campaign in 2020, Coral Gables Commissioner Jorge Fors, Miami Springs Councilman Victor Vazquez and marketing consultant Dariel Fernandez — did anything to stand out.
Read related: Misleading mailers and inferred endorsements abound as election nears
Maybe it was because moderator Gloria Ordaz from Telemundo did not ask a single interesting question. No questions about the misleading mailers that voters got this week. Even Ordaz was bored, which is why she skipped Fors for a question on housing. She didn’t even notice. He had to raise his hand and say “Hello.”
Sidenote: Freddy Balsera, who is married to Ordaz, gave $1,000 to Marino Cabrera’s political action committee, Dade First, in June through Balsera Communications.
Everything was very expected and the candidates were practically identical on their approach to climate change, affordable housing, septic to sewer, transit, parks, yadda, yadda, yadda.
Nobody went out on a limb or said anything too far removed from anyone else in this Spanish-language forum. It is unknown if they’re going to have one in English.
But there were some observations worth noting:
Vazquez, the only Democrat in the race, was the only candidate to say that we cannot cross the Urban Development Boundary line. “Absolutely not,” he said without hesitation. The other three hemmed and hawed about future need and every application being considered individually.
Vazquez, a lifelong educator, was also the only one who talked about the needs of future generations. While frontrunners Merino Cabrera and Fors focused on ensuring quality of life and services for seniors (read: voters), Vazquez talked about making Miami more affordable for young families so his 25-year-old daughter doesn’t have to move away.
Asked if they would approve a referendum for a bond to fund park improvements and expansion, Marino Cabrera was happy with just saying no. One word. No hesitation.
Read related: Miami Foundation plans forums for every Miami-Dade Commission race
The others don’t want an additional tax either, but Fors said there are existing county properties that could be turned into parks. His vision is to have a park within five minutes walking distance of everyone in District 6.
While Marino Cabrera crowed about his lack of experience — “I am not a career politician” — both Vazquez and Fors said their time as municipal electeds provided them with an ability to hit the ground running.
Dariel Fernandez, who was already going to come in fourth place, was practically invisible.
The Miami Foundation has it’s second forum Thursday for the candidates in Miami-Dade Commission District 2 to replace termed-out Commissioner Jean Monestime. Let’s hope the candidates are more different from each other and offer something interesting this time. Register here.
Boring forum does nada to help voters pick from 4 in Miami-Dade D6 race added by Ladra on
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