Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Captain Omar Blanco, a 20-veteran of the department and former union president, has officially announced that he is running for Florida House of Representatives in District 115, where Rep. Alina Garcia is vacating to run for Miami-Dade Elections Supervisor.
It was known that Blanco, who ran for Congress four years ago, would run for the open seat. He filed his state candidate statement and treasurer appointment with the Florida Division of Elections last month almost right after Garcia’s announcement. But Monday, the campaign made the official announcement.
As a fire captain and ex president of the Metro-Dade Firefighters Local 1403, Blanco “has demonstrated his ability to lead under pressure and deliver results for his community,” reads a press release.
“His tireless efforts have not only saved lives but also shaped legislation at the local, state, and federal level, including the passage of crucial bills like the firefighter cancer coverage in Florida,” it says. “Unlike career politicians and Tallahassee insiders, Omar brings a new perspective given his experience on the front lines protecting and serving the community.
Read related: Caught playing politics, Jose Oliva pivots on firefighter cancer bill
Ladra first met Blanco when he fought fight against the rolling brown-outs in Miami-Dade in 2014. We crossed paths now and then, and again when he fought to pass the state cancer bill in 2019, when former Sen. Frank Artiles — who has since resigned in shame from office for a racist rant and been arrested for his role in a sham state senate candidate — tried to hold the legislation hostage in retaliation for Blanco’s support of a fellow firefighter, a Democrat, against Manny Diaz, Jr. in his first senatorial race.
He’s a fighter.
In 2020, Blanco signed up to run for Congress against then U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, without knowing he would end up in a primary against his county boss, former Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez. He posted a web ad that blasted Gimenez for saying he’d vote for Hillary Clinton in 2016.
That video has since been removed from the web.
Read related: Congressional candidate Omar Blanco sues to get Carlos Gimenez off the ballot
In a statement Monday, Blanco positioned himself as a longtime conservative with deep roots:
“Growing up in a conservative household, I learned the values of hard work, public service, and personal responsibility. I am ready to fight for the ideals that make Florida great by protecting our freedoms, ensuring limited government, safeguarding our individual liberties, and focusing on common-sense policies over misguided woke ideologies.
“I am committed to tackling the pressing issues facing our community. From addressing soaring property insurance rates to eliminating red tape, keeping taxes low, and ensuring a high-quality education for our students, I am dedicated to finding practical solutions that benefit our community.”
Despite the mistaken and unfortunate use of the word “woke,” Blanco is an ideal candidate. He’s labor friendly, teacher friendly — his wife is a public school teacher for more than 15 years — and anti-corruption. He’s a Republican, but he’s not afraid to go against party idiots, having gone up against former Artiles during the cancer bill fight — before everybody else knew what a tool he is — and Diaz, Jr.
In 2021, he was given the 2020 Florida Professional Firefighter of the Year award.
Nobody else has announced any intention to run for the seat, on either the R or D side. But it’s early.
Miami-Dade Fire Captain Omar Blanco runs for office again, in FL House 115 added by Ladra on
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