As always, the candidates in our local elections are not the only ones who win or lose come Election Day. A bunch of influence peddlers, lobbyists, developers, consultants, environmentalists, preservationists and other special interests will float up with the winners on the ballot, or go down the losers’ proverbial drains.
And this has become somewhat of a tradition on Political Cortadito. So, without further blah blah blah, here are the winners and losers of the Miami 2023 elections.
WINNERS:
- Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins was downright giddy at Miguel Gabela‘s victory party. Sure, she helped Commissioner Sabina Covo in District 2, but she can work with Commissioner Elect Damian Pardo. That’s not going to be too awkward for very long, if at all. And now she also gets to work with Gabela — or, rather, anyone other than Alex Diaz de la Portilla, who not only did nothing for the district, but also ran his baby brother against her in 2020, and mailed some nasty hit pieces on her.
- Former State Rep. Manny Prieguez, who has become a lobbyist and somewhat influential in Miami, is going to give extra thanks at dinner Thursday. Prieguez provided thousands in funding to Gabela for his campaign. It’s penance, really. Because he also heavily funded ADLP’s 2019 campaign. He can put them in office and also take them out. Prieguez has sued Diaz de la Portilla in civil court for what he says was a shakedown on the Rickenbacker Marina contract. One thing to watch: What he wants from Gabela.
- James Torres didn’t win the election in District 2, coming in fourth in the first round, but the race sure elevated his profile and increased his relevance as the president of the Downtown Neighbors Alliance. His voice is louder now. And by using it to endorse Pardo, who won Tuesday, he sorta wins, too. Or he can pick a winner. He also now has Pardo’s ear, one would assume, so he’ll have more influence on the commission on behalf of the 30,000 people who live downtown.
- Campaign consultant Emiliano Antuñez, who finally got Gabela elected after a few tries. It only took felony charges against the incumbent. And it is a sweet sequel to helping get Steve Losner elected mayor of Homestead last month.
- The citizens of Miami, especially Allapattah and Coconut Grove, are also big winners. Allapattah because they finally may get some real representation in the form of improvements and services from someone who actually does live in the area and doesn’t just pretend to. Coconut Grove because they got a twofer. Not only did they get a new commissioner, a really promising one, to replace the one that broke her promises and ignored their needs on the Virrick pool and other priorities, but they can also revel in the defeat of on one of the incumbents who divided them with pleasure and clear intent during the redistricting process.
LOSERS:
- Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo almost seemed like a candidate in the election, especially in the D2 race, where both candidates were tied to him. But both runoffs were also referendums on Carollo, evidence that the people are not to be fooled any longer. Crazy Joe went on AmericaTV the night before the election to lambast Miguel Gabela, who ran against (and beat) suspended Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, for almost a full half hour. He said Gabela had nefarious intentions. But what he knows is that this could be the end of his reign on the commission. One of the other two commissioners, either Manolo Reyes or Chairwoman Christine King, will read the writing on the wall and join the two new commissioners on their anti-Carollo, er, we mean anti-corruption crusade, which citizens (and Ladra) won’t let them forget.
- The Miami-Dade Democratic Party, which once again backed a local Democrat against another Democrat in a non partisan race — they need to do this in partisan races only. When they do it on these local non partisan races, it usually means that they are grooming the candidate for higher office. Getting him or her (usually her) ready for Congress or the State House. That’s what las malas lenguas say about Miami Commissioner Sabina Covo, who lost Tuesday to financial advisor and human rights activist Damian Pardo. So the Miami-Dade Dems basically wasted their time and money cultivating the wrong person.
- Political consultant Christian Ulvert, who failed to get Covo reelected, which makes her less viable as a potential challenger to Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar or State Senator Ileana Garcia. So that’s one source of future income that’s gone. He’s gonna have to go out and look for another.
- Miami City Attorney Victoria Mendez might be counting her days. Gabela has said repeatedly that it is his first priority to rid the city of Carollo’s legal team. Pardo ran on a platform of rooting out corruption. Tricky Vicky has been caught doing a bunch of unethical, if not illegal, acts in and out of City Hall. Her use of the office to try to thwart a citizen recall of Carollo are well documented on this blog. Remember the cheat sheet? And she is also elbow deep in an operation run by her husband where the couple buys homes from seniors and then resells them for large profits. Just the optics are bad. And again, all they need is one more commissioner to see that the city would do better starting fresh with a real professional.
- Vanessa Garcia Azzam. La pobre. Mrs. Alex Diaz de la Portilla thought she married an upstanding public servant, a city commissioner with a future in politics. She didn’t realize she would be bailing him out of jail and watching him lose his childhood home. She didn’t know she may have to visit him in prison soon. Do they even allow conjugal visits at Metro West? And will she get to keep her no-show job at the county? (More on that later).
- Eddy Leal should have stuck to the pact and endorsed Pardo. Now he’s not only not going to get a job back at the city, but he’s also out of the loop.
The rest of us will win when we get to see that first meeting with Carollo and Gabela on the dais together. Don’t forget the popcorn.
And, as always dear readers, you are welcome to identify your own winners and losers in the comments.
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Eddy Leal really screwed up. The dude bashed Covo for a year. Then he came in Fifth in the election. Then he endorsed Covo? Hmm.. No morals…
8 years of Ken “Photo Op” Russell and 9 months of idiot novice pandering Sabina Covo have been hell for City of Miami District 2 residents. And who can forget the 9 years of criminal / scammer Marc Sarnoff AKA lobbyist Sarnoff? That dude sold his vote 100 x. Few people know that Dist 2 generates over 72% of all the revenues for the City of Miami. Residents need ethical adults in charge.
Let us see if Damian Pardo and Miguel Gabela hire experienced staffers. Otherwise, political veterans like Tricky Vicky, Artless Art Noriega and Shifty CFO Larry Spring will scam them blind.
” Stay tuned as the melting of corruption begins and is about to spread out a bit.”
I hope so and amazed Alex Diaz de la Portilla lost .
” The Miami Police union lost big time. Not only did their chosen candidate, ADLP lose, the police union forever lost their credibility by endorsing a defendant under felony criminal indictment”
Miami policia from what I see is one of the most negligent in their duties , texting addicted , waste of tax payers money in Florida .
Outside of Miami most would be fired for not patrolling and hanging out and texting ,gossiping , comiendo mierda most of their shift .
Age is irrelevant as far as texting addicts .
Due to Miami’s unspoken Cuban affirmative action these assorted police chiefs lack basic management skills and zero accountability of their troops is the norm here .
Add they or perhaps politicians down play the stealing that goes on here .
I know two people here in Doral in 2 different gated communities who had catalytic converters removed / stolen from their pick ups and though reported it , etc no police reports on the on line crime reports , this happened couple months ago.
You do have top police in Miami but they are in the minority .
I feel like a winner as well.. my first ever crack at the Political arena gained me a better understanding and more importantly, a closer relationship to our residents. Elated at the fact that Gabela was able to finally rid us of DLP, and extremely excited for this new era we’re hopefully entering in Miami politics. I’m here to be a part of that change!
James Torres is the real winner, he exposed corruption in REAL TIME. Many just talk about it, he back it up!
Good for him. He many not of won, but good things to come, I hope.!
Jame Torres for Mayor
Thank you for helping Pardo.
Crazy Joe. Hopefully Manuel Reyes will get the message. Reyes needs to stop approving crimes promoted by Crazy Joe and Tricky Vicky. It is insane that Tricky Vicky and Francis Suarez force taxpayers to pay the legal bills for corrupt Joe Carollo and Alex DLP. Wow! And corrupt Suarez makes taxpayers pay for his 24/7 chauffeur services…using $150,000 per year police officers. Lots of them.
More losers:
Elected officials aka Ulvert’s stable of candidates who blindly endorsed an inept incumbent :
1-Mayor Levine
2-Commissioner Higgings
3-Representative Gantt
4-always running for office former state senator Taddeo
Let’s not forget former bad commissioner Russell also endorsed Covo.
Congratulations to the grassroots volunteers who helped, went against the consulting machine, the big money, the rigged Miami-Dade democrats endorsement and made this happen.
Have any of them congratulated Commissioner Elect Pardo?
Eddy Leal lost three times. He lost his second race for D2 commish. He lost his voter base by endorsing corrupt Covo. And he lost a paying City job. What a loser.
How about winners and losers from Miami Beach election? Your pal GONgora is finally GONe! You claim to oppose corruption and yet you supported the most corrupt candidate in the race. How could you? GOOD RIDDANCE!
Marc Sarnoff lost big time. The lobbyist Sarnoff AKA the disgraced Marc Sarnoff lost all his clients money betting on Alex DLP and on Covo. We hope all his LED billboard dreams are gone for good… Are Carollo and Suarez reading this?
Whenever a union endorses any candidate it is a HUGE signal that candidate just got bought. No unions, especially the Miami Firefighters Union and the Police Union ONLY endorse when the candidate PROMISES to increase the pay and benefit packages of the union members. So when Alex DLP, or Sabina Covo or a Michael Gongora gets endorsed by a union that just means the taxpayers will get screwed.
Another winner is Christi Tasker, who got good experience campaigning and raised her name-recognition. She will be heard from!
The $$$$$$$ Did NOT win This Election to District # 1 INTEGRITY DID . May Gabela STOP The City HALL CORRUPTION Once and for ALL ! Bravo MIKE GREAT JOB !!!!!
Eddy Leal really screwed up. He endorsed corrupt Covo. Really? After bashing Covo for 6 months for being stupid and corrupt and after loudly telling everyone it was Covo who was responsible for demolishing Allen Morris Park suddenly Leal endorses Covo? Because Miami and other sites allege Leal got bought. See if ANYONE hires lowlife Leal.
Excellent summary. Biggest losers were Alex DLP and idiot Sabina Covo. Both were horrible commissioners. Just research who contributed to their campaigns. All the sleazy lobbyists like Marc Sarnoff and various real estate developers. They knew they could always buy Alex or Covo’s votes!
I definitely agree with qualifying the Miami-Dade Democratic Party as a Loser in this case, because they shouldn’t be endorsing a fellow partisan over another, but for extremely rare circumstances such as opposing an extremist and/or criminal who would bring disrepute upon the party. Now, the local Democrat Party leadership will have to contend with an elected Democrat with an axe to grind against them, and will have to go out of its way to make amends. Que se jodan.
Let their mistake be a lesson to the Miami-Dade GOP and its affiliated clubs as well: except for rare and limited cases, NEVER ENDORSE IN PRIMARIES OR OTHERWISE AGAINST A FELLOW PARTY MEMBER.
Tic Toc Tic Toc. Just the beginning folks. Stay tuned as the melting of corruption begins and is about to spread out a bit.
When are we getting Crazy Joe out of office????
Thank you for all your investigative journalism! You are doing a fantastic job keeping everyone informed.
Gracias
1.Eddie” NoJobbie” is the real looser.. why because he is a looser.
2.Joe “Krusty” Carollo is always a looser!
3. Mayor Suarez also a looser! why Presidential run, really what was he smoking
4. Vicky Mendez bring the boxes for moving day
5. Sabina “I Pledge” Covo and her ties to being corrupt in less than a year time
6. Art Noriega brush up your resume, MPA may be hiring
7. Alex DLP jail time, Johnny Walker time, unemployment line
8. The FOP(President) as well for giving the endorsement, its like saying lets give an endorsement to an arsonist! FELIX you should be ashamed
9. Mayor Daniella “Bus gate”/Trashgate and a few others
10. Marc Sarnoff ONCE again cant get his clowns in order
Winners
The Voters/Community if Miami- that have spoken loud and proud in looking for change
Michael Putney won. His endorsement of Damian Pardo showed he stayed informed and got involved.
The Miami Herald won. Their endorsement of Gabela and Pardo were not the kiss of death their endorsements often are.
The Miami Police union lost big time. Not only did their chosen candidate, ADLP lose, the police union forever lost their credibility by endorsing a defendant under felony criminal indictment. Their long standing habit of endorsing incumbents in hopes of getting fat pay raises failed once again. They care more about their wallets than about the citizens they are supposed to protect.
The Miami firefighters union lost. Just like the police, their long standing habit of endorsing incumbents in hopes of getting fat pay raises failed once again. They also care more about their wallets than about the citizens they are supposed to protect.