While a Miami-Dade Commission seat has sat vacant for two months, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wasted no time in naming former Miami Springs Councilman Daniel “Danny” Espino to the county school board Monday to replace Christi Fraga, who resigned to run for mayor of Doral and has a runoff in December.
Espino was youngest council member elected in Miami Springs when he first ran in 2009. In 2012, he left to run for the Miami-Dade School Board, but lost to former School Board Member Susie Castillo (64-36%), who is also in a December runoff for a Doral Council seat.
Well, if you can’t get elected, this is another way to get on the board. Once you are there, it’s much easier to get elected as a de facto incumbent. Just ask School Board Member Lubby Navarro, who was appointed by former Gov. (now Sen.) Rick Scott in 2015.
A big fan of former School Board Member and then Congressman Carlos Curbelo, Espino worked as a city attorney for North Miami Beach, Miami Springs, North Bay Village and Doral. He also represented, at some point, the towns of Medley, Southwest Ranches and Cutler Bay, the villages of Pinecrest and Virginia Gardens and the Homestead Housing Authority.
Read related: Christi Fraga won’t resign now so voters can elect a school board replacement
At Doral, he was appointed within months of having lobbied the council. At the time, Fraga was a councilwoman. Fraga told Ladra weeks ago that she recommended a successor to the guv. She wouldn’t say who, but las malas lenguas say that she suggested Espino.
Last year, Espino — also chairman of the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce — joined Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin and Tapanes Law as a partner, “focusing exclusively on land development throughout the county.”
From his bio on the law firm’s website:
“Through his elected and appointed public service and representation of multiple municipalities, Dan has developed substantial knowledge in issues related to local governments throughout South Florida. In his private sector practice, Dan has extensive experience representing developers and other property owners before local governments for land-use, zoning, and procurement matters, navigating the complex channels of regulatory, administrative, and public hearing approvals.”
So he’s qualified to be a school board member how?
United Teachers of Dade President and recent reject on the state ballot Karla Hernandez Mats seems okay with it.
“As a fellow Miami Springs resident, where Mr. Espino served as a councilman, I know that he appreciates the responsibility of public service for a common good,” Hernandez Mats said in a statement.
“UTD looks forward to working collaboratively towards maintaining and improving our top-rated school district,” she added.
Read related: Conflicts of interests cloud city attorneys pick in Doral
Earlier this month, Miami-Dade voters approved a $300 million tax referendum to support teacher raises and keep school police on campuses.
“This vote of confidence served as confirmation to our school board and the administration that our community appreciates and values the tireless and selfless work of our educators and staff,” Fernandez Mats said.
Meanwhile, sources say that the guv has intentionally not appointed anyone to replace former county Commissioner Joe Martinez, who was suspended in September after a public corruption arrest, because DeSantis expects the charges to be dropped so he can lift the suspension.
Gov. Ron DeSantis appoints Danny Espino to Miami-Dade School Board added by Ladra on
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