Miami Commissioner Sabina Covo, who won a special election in February to replace Commissioner Ken Russell, who resigned to run unsuccessfully for Congress, is raising money like a real incumbent.
Between her campaign account ($69,400) and her political action committee, Dream Miami ($238,150), she’s got more than $300K raised so far, according to her latest campaign finance reports, which is a lot for a seemingly clueless newbie. It includes $25,000 from attorney Jay Solowsky, vice president of the Brickell Homeowners Association, $12,500 from Jorge Mas, who is building Miami Freedom Park on the Melreese golf course, and $15,000 from Becker Boards, which does outdoor advertising like on buses, $10,000 from real estate investor Gregory Freedman, co-founder and co CEO of BH3, and $8,000 from Event Entertainment Group.
This is incumbent level fundraising. But, according to her PAC expenses, she has longtime political consultant (and murder suspect) Seth Gordon beating the bushes for her. Gordon, who has been considered a suspect in his first wife shooting death in 1975, has been paid $20K so far for his fundraising efforts on Covo’s behalf.
Read related: Nervous in first Miami Commission meeting, Sabina Covo froze on Pledge
Banker and LGBTQ activist Damian Pardo comes in second place, raising $120,000 in his first month, according to his campaign report. But that includes a $60,000 loan to himself. His PAC, We Can Do Better, has not reported raising any funds yet has Christopher Miles, the former chief of staff to one-term GOP Congressman Carlos Curbelo, as chairman. That’s an interesting connection.
James Torres, the president of the Downtown Neighbors Association, has raised just over $21,000 for his campaign account and just over $91,000 for his PAC, Roundtable Miami. And Eddy Leal, the former attorney to Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, reported collecting $13,780. He says he doesn’t have a PAC. Not yet, anyway.
Someone named Gabriela Ariana Chirinos has raised $200 and Christy Reeves Tasker hasn’t reported anything, so we’re not going to focus on them just yet.
The qualifying period for the Nov. 7 Miami election is from Sept. 8 to 23. There will be a runoff on Nov. 21 if necessary. The seats for Districts 1 and 4, currently held by Alex Diaz de la Portilla and Manolo Reyes, respectively, are also on the ballot.
Sabina Covo leads Miami District 2 candidates in campaign fundraising added by Ladra on
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