Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, whose term ends in November, has raised $640,000 for his political action committee, Proven Leadership for Miami-Dade. But we still don’t know if he’s going to use those funds for a re-election campaign — he has not yet filed any paperwork for that — or a mayoral run, which is what everyone knows he really wants.
Only $8,000, all from the electrical workers union — with which The Dean has a special relationship — came into the account in February. That means the other $633K was raised in two months — $287,500 in March and $345,523 in April.
That’s already noteworthy. Then there are the big gifts: $150,000 from BG Fund 1 LLC Biscayne Global, which is listed as a real estate development firm — but Ladra couldn’t find it in a search of Florida corporate records — and $100,000 from Pristine DE, which couldn’t be found either. But the company is connected to Bill Riley, who also got Diaz de la Portilla to give away Biscayne Park to his client, Centner Academy. Pristine also donated $170,000 to Renier Diaz de la Portilla‘s PAC for his county bid.
That’s a lot of investment in the brothers by one entity.
His PAC’s most recent campaign finance report says he also got $50,000 from Marc Sarnoff‘s PAC, Truth is the Daughter of Time. Sounds more like it should be Allen Ginsberg’s PAC. Also listed are $20,000 from developer Lewis Swezy and from the owner of several A+ Mini Storage facilities, $10,000 from The Wharf Venue Management and more than $200,000 from real estate development interests.
At this pace, Diaz de la Portilla should be reaching about $1 million by the next reporting period. It’s a good way to scare would-be challengers away.
Read related: Miguel Gabela wants a rematch vs Alex Diaz de la Portilla in Miami’s District 1
For now, only Miguel Gabela is on the ballot with ADLP. Gabela, who lost to ADLP in 2019, has already opened a bank account for the race and has only collected a loan to himself for $9,500.
In the other two commission races, Commissioner Manolo Reyes has raised $196,440 for his District 4 race. But he has not raised a challenge. Commissioner Sabina Covo, who has raised $34,400 for the District 2 race. Nobody else has any money but they haven’t announced yet, except for Downtown Neighbors Association President James Torres, who announced Thursday that he was running.
Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla nets $633K for PAC in 2 months added by Ladra on
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” James Torres is back in the race. nice move by this guy. he got my back in the Grove.”
A lot of older Cuban voters in Miami are afraid of younger candidates who are not Republican or simply make it clear they lean right. This is my opinion .
Problem is the ” Republicans ” here are not Republican they are self serving con artists because pretty much this is Miami politics .
Miami IMO is one of the most ” user unfriendly ” cities in Florida for the elderly so wish they would try new candidates .
They get a lot of empty promises , nice speeches but that is it .
Even the elderly and / or disabled free Miami transportation for them is a zero accountability disaster .
” Guys like him cannot survive in the real world with real jobs so they go into politics to enrich themselves and their cronies.”
You know it and sadly this place is EASY pickings for them .
I do think with exceptions Hispanic politicos are a disaster there are exceptions but rare , look at the border it is pretty much every Hispanic country except Costa Rica .
Hispanics get ticked off when I say this but am I wrong ?
I was born in Cuba but that does not blind me to what I see not just here but Hispanic political strongholds whether California where my sisters live , etc , etc
HOLLY SHIP! (lol)
James Torres is back in the race. nice move by this guy. he got my back in the Grove.
I think this time he’s got it.
No better person than James who was open and honest in the Special Election that just happened.
Anything you need James. Thank you
WHY and HOW is it possible that the public no see this? Are the VOTERS not intelligent enough to realize that they should not be casting their valuable ballots for these sheisters???
What is happening?????
One of the owners of the Centner Academy (Leila Centner) School, spoke at a right wing forum, hosted at Trump Doral this past week. Other speakers, Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Alex Jones, Mike Lindell, Eric and Lara Trump, Michael Flynn. Amazing that a school owner would share the stage with someone who verbally tortured the parents of children (Alex Jones) slaughtered in a school shooting. City of Miami gives Centner Academy a park, wow! The ethics in today’s politicians is non-existent.
Alex De La Portilla and disgraced ex-commissioner Marc Sarnoff are just criminals out to steal as much from the taxpayers as they can. And the Centeners using lobbyist Bill Reily to pay bribes to Alex is so obvious. Reily helped the Centeners steal a public park. And the Centners want more… When will voters wise up? Alex De La Portilla does not live in his district. Crazy Joe does not live in his district.
Are WE Going To Allow The Developers and The Lobbyist To Destroy Miami , Is About time for The Public to take Stand and SAVE Our City , NO MORE DONATION$/ BRIBE$ ?
The Cuban mafia always rakes in the dark money. I am surprised people like him aren’t in jail, but then again why should I be surprise. There at a lot of two-bit criminals walking around and elected to office in this town. Guys like him cannot survive in the real world with real jobs so they go into politics to enrich themselves and their cronies. Otro descarado sapingo.
If ADLP get re-elected as commissioner or elected to anything else at all, is something that would clearly indicates there is something wrong with City of Miami voters. Electing a cheat, a crook, and a drunk for such an office is never a good idea. He and Crazy Pollo Joe have got to go, ASAP. No wonder everyone outside Miami this k we are a “Banana Republic…”