There are now only 13 candidates in the city of Miami special election to replace former Commissioner Ken Russell in District 2.
It’s only only because we started with 15.
Renita Ross Samuels-Dixon withdrew from the race, complaining that the city commission didn’t go the way of an appointment instead. She wanted to be appointed, not elected. And a judge found — after the city clerk filed a lawsuit to boot her off the ballot — that Alicia Kossick did not qualify because she had not met the residency requirements.
It’s almost laughable that a Miami City commission candidate is disqualified because of residency. We know at least two sitting commissioners who didn’t live where they said they lived at the time of their election.
In addition to living in the city for a year before the qualifying deadline, candidates must be electors in the city for a year.
Read related: 15 candidates qualify for Miami District 2 race to fill Ken Russell vacancy
According to the complaint filed by City Clerk Todd Hannon — and how many times has that happened? — Kossick’s voter’s registration and her driver’s license had her living in Coral Gables, not the city of Miami, as recently as last March. That’s less than the one year required residency before qualifying.
Records show Kossick, owner of The Polished Coconut, was registered at a house on Riviera Drive in the Gables from August 2016 through April 2021. On April 6, 2021, she changed her address to one in Miami. On March 9, 2022, it changed back to Riviera Drive.
But Kossick didn’t change it. According to her attorney, David Winker, she is a casualty of a new law (read: Gov. Ron DeSantis’ voter suppression) that automatically reverts your voter’s registration back to the address on your driver’s license, which Kossick never changed. Which is also illegal.
In any case, she is out.
That leaves us with the lucky 13, from which Sabina Covo, former Miami city attorney Eddy Leal — who is only on leave from his job in the mayor’s office — and Downtown Neighbors Alliance President James Torres are emerging as a front runners.
And, of course, former and disgraced judge Martin Zilber, who has the backing of Commissioners Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Joe Carollo and, sources say, Christine King. Zilber, who was spotted hanging out with ADLP at Thursday’s commission meeting, was said to be in the mayor’s office Friday, seeking his support.
Read related: Miami will have a special Feb election to fill Ken Russell vacancy in District 2
And, las malas lenguas say, the powers that be are pressuring the Miami Fraternal Order of Police union to also endorse Zilber. Some union members want to stay out of it altogether — like Commissioner Manolo Reyes has said he will do — and there was supposed to be some kind of emergency FOP meeting last week to make the decision.
Historically, the District 2 commissioner has been elected from Coconut Grove by Grove voters who could be more motivated to vote than ever.
The remaining candidates in the Feb. 27 special election are:
- Sabina Covo, a former TV, radio and print journalist who has a communications and marketing company and does communications for Melo Group, a local developer. She lives in Coconut Grove.
- Michael Goggins, a wealth manager and compliance officer. He lives in the Brickell area.
- Javier González, a Realtor, former bakeshop owner and four-year president of the Cocoanut Grove Village Council. He ran for city commission in 2015. He lives in Coconut Grove.
- Lior Halabi, a digital marketing director and former political strategist for the Israeli Knesset. He lives in Edgewater.
- Eddy Leal has taken leave from his job as a city of Miami attorney who works in the office of Mayor Francis Suarez. He lives in the Brickell area, where he also owns two investment properties.
- Maxwell Manuel “Max” Martinez has a marketing agency and ran against Mayor Baby X last year and is proud of his 11% against “the most famous mayor in America.” He lives in the Brickell area.
- Lorenzo Palomares, a tax attorney and onetime congressional candidate (lost the primary to Carlos Curbelo) who later became a Donald Trump surrogate in 2016. He is the father-in-law of Omar Blanco, a Miami-Dade County firefighter who also ran for congress unsuccessfully 2020 (lost the primary to Carlos Gimenez). He lives in Coconut Grove.
- Kathy Jane Parks Suarez, a Tampa transplant and automobile dealer. She lives in Coconut Grove.
- June Ellen Savage, a real estate salesperson who also works part time at a Home Depot, according to her financial disclosure. She lives in Coconut Grove. But she ran for mayor of Miami Beach in 2017.
- Christi Tasker, a home decor and fashion jewelry designer who is big on social media and volunteers for the Alzheimer’s Association, among other groups. She lives in the Brickell area.
- James Torres, the popular president of the Downtown Neighbors Alliance has also served as president of the board of directors at Viscayne Condominiums. He is also director of business development at Hotwire Communications. He lives in the downtown.
- Mario Francis Vuksanovic, is a city of Miami information and referral specialist for seniors. He lives in the Brickell area.
- Martin Zilber, is a former and disgraced circuit court judge who resigned when he was accused of ethical lapses. He was allegedly not at work when he was supposed to be and had his staff run errands for him — which makes him perfect for Miami, actually. He has been ADLP’s handpicked choice from Day 1. We don’t know where he lives because, as a judge, his address is exempt from public records. But Deputy Elections Supervisor Suzy Trutie assured Ladra he lives in District 2.
Palomares and Zilber already have signs out. Leal, Savage and Torres have been spotted knocking on doors. The Coconut Grove Women’s Club interviewed candidates on Monday.
Their first campaign finance reports are due Feb. 2. The Brickell Homeowners Association is planning to have a candidates’ forum on Feb. 13, which is the same day as the city commission meeting.
Two of 15 candidates out of Miami District 2 race as campaigns start added by Ladra on
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Sarnoff is a creep. Look for him lurking outside the men’s bathroom.
Marc Sarnoff is the disgraced former D2 commissioner. Sarnoff lied to Grove residents in 2006-2007 about his motives. Sarnoff even lied to the public claiming he was related to the famous Sarnoff family. That was a huge lie. Sarnoff only wants money for himself. He got paid to help Jorge Mas demolish 130 acres of Melreese Park and now Sarnoff and disgraced ex-mayor Manny Diaz get paid to cover Miami-Dade County in LED billboards.
The FOP was wrong for what it did today in endorsing Marty (as the NEW 3 amigos call him and including the want to be President Crypto Suarez)
The new FOP President(Felix) is a puppet to DLP/Crusty Carollo and the want to be QUEEN bee King who herself is a jester in Crusty’s playhouse!
Felix is more Cuban Mafi than Crusty’s playhouse! This guy is a disgrace to the FOP and the men/women in blue.
Wasted ALL of the candidate time. just to have the books cooked. Cactus Nation is riding hi on DLP’s A$$..it’s all about the PD contract and lets hope the new D2 Commis and City Manager have the pelotas to correct a few things.
Lets hope “ball and chain” comes into play. Dam I miss the pineapple
@D2 – I think you have bad information… Carollo, Diaz de la Portilla, Suarez and rumors say that they already bought King too… they are all with Zilber… January 7 Carollo played a little game voting for Zilver, Torres and Palomar but it was just games. it’s already public that Carollo is Zilber.
FOP Endorse disgraced Zilber, how sad it is that the city of Miami is controlled by 3 people, Postalita Suarez, Carollo and DiazdelaPortilla… but it is even more sad about FOP , Acevedo was “absolutely right”… They are coming up with a very big investigation…they can buy the FOP they also have a price, but rumors say that the Judge is hated in the Grove, nobody wants him, the people of the Grove will come out to do their right to vote. ..but it’s because they DONT WANT ZILBER… This time Carollo & DDLP were wrong, the people will do Democracy. Rumors say that… Ball & Chain is betting on Torres & Covo, there are already negotiations on the table, let’s see who pays more… just to annoy Carollo…esto se puso bueno…
Why is Carollo backing James Torres, maybe because since they both have arrest records we need more criminals on the commission. James Torres was arrested in 2000 same year Carollo was arrested.
https://communitynewspapers.com/biscayne-bay/well-known-former-judge-vies-for-open-commission-seat/
this article explains why I want to be your D2 commissioner and many of the untruths that people keep sharing – thank you for taking the time to read – Martin
I have lived in this community my entire life and I am not a puppet to anyone. I am happy to meet with any residents or any groups to discuss my candidacy and answer any questions or concerns. I am ready and experienced to get the job done on day one. I will by able to work for our district because I can work with others and get the support for D2 projects and parks and safety. (that is a good thing – not a bad thing!!) Thank you – and I look forward to meeting and speaking to all of you before and after the election. Martin
From Biscayne Times:
Zilber says he wasn’t planning on holding public office again, but he was approached by Joe Carollo, Alex Diaz de la Portilla and Suarez about serving the remainder of Russell’s term.
If it looks like a fish and walks like a fish its must be stinky tuna Martin
The fix is:
Russell’s District 2 predecessor, Marc Sarnoff, who served from 2006-2015, remains a dominant force in any District 2 conversation and is a distinct contrast to Russell as a political player, lobbyist and lawyer. Sarnoff is a partner at Miami’s oldest law firm, Shutts & Bowen, where he has built a successful real estate and land use practice. He retains close ties with Miami commissioners and helped lead a Shutts team in representing the city in the development of 73 acres for retired soccer star David Beckham’s Freedom Park on the current Mel Reese golf course site.
Sarnoff, 63, holds more power as a kingmaker at a firm with nearly 300 lawyers and $1 million in profits per equity partner than as a Miami commissioner, where he chaired the commission, the Downtown Development Authority and the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, where District 2 has since lost power.in
Who’s behind Marty…SEE above ! So truly do we want more of the same crap? NO!
Torres is the choice for ALL of us … Not part of the grift, open and honest and never has violated the public trust like Zilber.
Eddie who?
The right hand man to Suarez postalita crypto mafiso dirty work.
And Marc S the ring leader to Marty.
Marty as the Mayor calls him.. is backed by:
DLP/King/Carollo and Baby Surarez
Leal:
Who knows but my bet is Suarez postalito and Ball and Chain (Fuller) and also he “illegally using condo associations right of first refusal to purchase units from fellow neighbors”
Covo:
Sabina “bankrupt” Covo backed by Looser Ken and Freaky Fried yes another looser back by SUGAR money…
Torres: left behind by Crazy Joe after Joe pushed for him, what’s the dance? Maybe Reyes is the wild card for all of this.
Javier: the lovable looser that loves to tell stories about noting.
And than the rest of the pack…move on .. I want real debates not one or two q&a’s
Poor Javier…always a bridesmaids. Never a bride
Always a let down, I agree with @Brickellvoice
And funny I live on Tigertail, and we too are tired of the GROVEITS thinking its all about the Grove..well its not. I can tell you this today I had the pleasure of meeting James Torres one on one and the guy knows his shit he stopped by ! YES he stopped by unlike other folks that send there “walking dead”
@D2 you must be Marc or Bert Hernandez in hiding… as you two clowns are the want to be KING makers….
And as a matter of fact Torres, has been open and honest UNLIKE your PUPPET..WHO has violated the PUBLIC TRUST….
Your like the typical uneducated voter in hi heels,
Why don’t you share your true self and what is it that Torres did or had done to you? Oh, I know he hasn’t KISSED YOUR &^S…. or allowed YOU to buy him off like you have other(s) in this race or other races.
We all have done our vetting…so please and with all respect, go look at Covo Aka Russell puppet. Zilber has DLP/Carollo/King and Cripto want to be President Suarez ALL in his pocket.
And ALSO the FOP wanting to push Zilber so that the “Alex/Carollo/King” clan can get there way….that a criminal offense.
My vote is JAMES TORRES
May GOD Bless The City of Miami Taxpayers ! “WE NEED a SHERIFF “
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Just to be clear, Covo was transparent and honest about the bankruptcy during the womens club forum and there is video evidence to support that fact. Please do not spread lies.
Wait until you see James Torre s arrest record.
Thank you for providing this critical information. I see that Nikki Fried has endorsed Covo for the seat. What is your take on that?
Milton zilber is renting a home from marysol patton on so bayshore dr while she claims homestead on it. The man just cannot follow the law
Javier Gonzalez has been knocking on doors for two weeks. He has met with community advocates from the Grove north to Morningside. He has decades of experience in D2.
Sabina Covo : She is a liar in the womens club they were asked if they had filed for bankruptcy, she replied “NO”. if she lied from the beginning, she will do it at the end… besides being the candidate of Ken Russell who left the district and never did anything.
Martin Zilber : endorsement from the corrupt Carollo, De la portilla and Mayor Suarez’s postalita crypto mafioso , and supuestamente The Fraternal Police Union
They are being pressured by De la portilla for the endorsement, poor them since nobody wants Zilber, the community does not want him because he will be another corrupt , in this race it smells to me that the community are the ones who will decide and not the mafia of the city of Miami.
This race will be between Torres and Leal because Brickell, Downtown, Morningside, Edgewater got tired of being abandoned by these corrupt. We don’t want any more candidates from the Grove, they have abandoned us and that’s why we will go out to vote. TORRES OR LEAL