And, no, they don’t mean Joe Martinez
If one thing has become clear as we approach the primary in the historic election for Miami-Dade sheriff, it is that all the Republicans in the race but one share a common theme: Anyone But Joe.
No, that’s not about former Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez, who was arrested for the public corruption charges of unlawful compensation and conspiracy to commit unlawful compensation, suspended from the commission by the governor and qualified in the days before the election. Martinez keeps saying he is innocent and that the arrest was politically motivated to keep him from this office.
And he immediately moves to the top of the heap, even though he may have started late, simply because of his name rec.
But the ABJ mantra is for former Miami Commissioner Joe Sanchez, a former Florida Highway Patrol officer and spokesman who served for 11 years as the commissioner in the city’s District 1 and also worked for Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez as the “supervisor” of her dignitary protection. The other candidates keep pointing at the fact that he has never commanded a unit or patrolled a street.
Read related: KFHA forum for Miami-Dade sheriff candidates helps narrow down the field
Sanchez says he’s taking the heat because he’s leading the polls by 10 points. “I’m surprised I’m not on the list of Jeffrey Epstein’s guests in the Bahamas,” he told Ladra. (Watch us see that in a mailer, now).
Actually, the only poll Ladra has seen has him leading Martinez by less than five points, with less than 11% overall because 67% of the voters were undecided. This was a month ago.
But he is just not respected by his peers. He says he’s the only independent candidate, but las malas lenguas say he was recruited to run by Republican lobbyists in Tallahassee who want to have a way into the new sheriff’s office.
In private, some sheriff candidates might say who they could vote for if they weren’t running. Many like retired Miami-Dade Police Maj. Mario Knapp, the apolitical veteran. Others like former MDPD Major and attorney Ignacio Alvarez, for his real life experience. And some could see themselves voting for the current Miami-Dade Assistant Director Rosanna Cordero-Stutz, who had a nice bump in fundraising after the announcement of the Donald Trump endorsement in April, according to her last campaign finance report.
But everybody who spoke to Ladra is ABJ. Anybody but Joe (Sanchez).
Sanchez has been painted as a pansy. He’s a nice guy, alright — a good husband and father. “Good people,” is what almost everyone says about him. Someone you could share a beer with at a barbecue or want on your team in a pick-up softball game. But he’s a political failure, with the Marlins Stadium albatross around his neck. Sanchez cast the deciding 3-2 vote to support the 2009 bond plan to build the stadium, now estimated to cost taxpayers $2.6 billion to repay.
And he’s consistently dishonest about his 37 years in law enforcement.
First, you would have to subtract the 11 years he spent as a Miami Commissioner, during which he took a leave of absence. Sanchez says he was on the reserve program, where he had to be if he wanted to keep his law enforcement certification. He had to go through training, he said, and work two days a month. Two whole days!
So, 37 minus 11 equals 26 years.
But he has also spent the last 15 of those years as a public information officer, dealing with the media and giving interviews, becoming sort of an icon in his Smokey The Bear hat. One might argue that is not traditional law enforcement experience. It’s more like PR experience.
So, 26 minus 15 equals 11. He has 11 years experience in law enforcement. That’s far less than 37.
Sanchez will argue that his wide range of experience makes him more qualified for the sheriff’s job. But just because you’ve done a bunch of different things, doesn’t mean they are the right things to train you for this position. And how wide is his range of experience, really?
“They say a state trooper is not a cop, but I spent 18 years out there writing tickets and making arrests,” Sanchez said, coming down from 37 years, but not far enough. Oooooh, writing tickets and making arrests. Terrifying. He also proudly notes that he was appointed to the advisory board for the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Gee. Whiz.
Sanchez has never hired or fired anybody, except as chairman of the Bayfront Park Trust and Downtown Development Authority when he was a city commissioner. “And the events required police participation and a plan of public safety that I put together with the police,” Sanchez said, grasping at straws.
He said he never held a rank, never took a promotional exam at FHP, because that would mean leaving Miami, he said. “And I never wanted to leave my family.”
He also probably didn’t want to leave his business, Badge Pros Consulting, which, allegedly, provides law enforcement agencies and private companies guidance on security matters and traffic control. It also serves as a middle man for off-duty police work at private properties or events. The address for the for profit business he’s had since 2014 is the address for the FHP’s Troop E off the Florida Turnpike. Sanchez told Ladra that he would no longer run the business if he was elected sheriff.
“I have made it very clear that once I get elected, my company will be inactive,” Sanchez said in a text. “Badge Pros consulting will become inactive as a business in the State of Florida and I will focus on the responsibilities of the sheriff’s office.”
Key words: State of Florida. Maybe he can register the company in Delaware.
Sanchez has blasted many of the other candidates for not taking a leave of absence to campaign. “They’re campaigning on the taxpayer’s dime, a lo descarado,” Sanchez said about the current MDPD staffers in the race. “Who’s running the department?”
Among the candidates who are Miami-Dade Police officers — and Ladra believes they all took a leave of absence once they qualified — include Chief of Public Safety James Reyes, a Democrat who is likely to win the blue primary, Midwest Station Major Jose Aragu, Officer Ernie Martinez, of the Agricultural and Environmental Crimes unit, and Assistant Chief Cordero-Stutz, the highest ranking candidate, who Sanchez went toe-to-toe with in a pair of dueling videos. He says Cordero-Stutz used her Miami-Dade County Police vehicle to get to political events. If he’s elected, she’s likely out of a job.
Last week, Sanchez — who also likes to say he is the only veteran in the race — launched a website called RinoRosie.com, questioning Cordero-Stutz’s Republican credentials and reminding voters that she lives in Broward.
“Rino Rosie Cordero-Stutz claims to be a true Republican,” it says in a 37-second web video, going on to report that she missed voting for Gov. Ron DeSantis and the primary for Donald Trump and gave a campaign contribution to Democrat Charlie Crist when he was running for governor.
“Actions speak louder than words. Do not fall for Rino Rosie’s tricks,” the AI voiceover says.
But why would someone who is 10 points ahead need to attack the only woman in the GOP primary? Because he’s not.
He’s zoned in on Cordero-Stutz, but he says everybody else is equally unqualified. “None of them have the experience to deal with the political bureaucracy that exists.”
Sanchez was 33 years old when he accepted a challenge to run for city commission in 1998, he says. At the time, the city had a $68 million deficit and the state was threatening to take over. “People said ‘You’re crazy.’ I told them ‘This is an opportunity for me to learn. And I did. I’m very proud of my service to this community.”
Read related: Rosanna Cordero-Stutz gets Trump’s support in Miami-Dade sheriff’s race
Is he proud of the Marlins deal that is going to cost the taxpayers billions and became the model for what not to do with a publicly-funded stadium?
“I’ve never been indicted. I’ve never been investigated,” Sanchez said. “I went back to the Patrol that welcomed me with open arms.”
According to a report about the candidates disciplinary records by WLRN, he did get a written reprimand at FHP after it was learned that he had asked companies that clean up accident scenes to help him raise money to help “underprivileged children” — but what organization was unclear. It was considered a conflict of interest because those companies were directly regulated by the FHP.
And he’s gotten a little heat on social media for photos posted of him at an event attended by members of the far-right, neo-fascist Proud Boys, a militant organization that promotes and engages in political violence and whose members are among those jailed for the January 6th insurrection.
“I will take pictures with people out there. I don’t even know who this guy is,” Sanchez told Ladra. “I get invited to these events and next they’re saying I’m with a Proud Boy.” It is unknown at the time of this post if this particular Proud Boy is a members of the Miami-Dade Republican Committee. Is it the same guy who posed with Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart in 2018 at a Nicaraguan community protest?
He has scrubbed his Instagram of the Proud Boy photo but not the picture he took with former Hialeah Councilwoman Angelica Pacheco, who was arrested last month on healthcare fraud charges.
Sanchez has been leading the GOP wing of the sheriff clown car in fundraising with $130,072 in his campaign account and $394,320 in his political action committee, Law and Order, which is a strange name when you see that it includes $10,000 from Sergio Pino, whose home and office were raided last week by the FBI in a case involving threats against the life of the developer’s estranged wife.
It includes $4,000 from Jesse Manzano, his campaign manager — and also a real estate developer wannabe — and his partner Ralph Garcia Toledo, $10,000 from lobbyist Brian May, $10,000 from attorney Richard Cole — who specializes in personal injury defense law, medical, legal and professional malpractice — and $7,000 from the Latin Builder Assocation’s Bernie Navarro.
But he has spent a boatload, too, according to his most recent reports, leaving him with less than $100K as of June 14. That includes more than $264,000 paid combined to his six different consultants, including Manzano, who billed the bulk of that, Alex Miranda, Daniel Bustamante and Nicole Arango doing senior outreach. A lot of that went to media outreach and phone banking.
Las malas lenguas say Sanchez is fundraising to run for mayor for Miami when he loses the sheriff’s race. “Are you out of your mind? I want nothing to do with that city,” Sanchez told Political Cortadito.
And he doesn’t want anyone to call him a career politician, either. “I haven’t held public office in 15 years,” he said.
The ABJ crowd would ask “Why end a good thing?”
‘Anyone but Joe’ is the mantra among Miami-Dade Sheriff GOP candidates added by Ladra on
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[…] “We have Joe Sanchez on the line, the candidate. Good morning, Joe ,” Rubio said, cutting off another caller to let the former commissioner comment. Alvarez posted a clip of it on his socials (address: https://www.instagram.com/ignacioalvarezforsheriff/). […]
[…] “We have Joe Sanchez on the line, the candidate. Good morning, Joe ,” Rubio said, cutting off another caller to let the former commissioner comment. Alvarez posted a clip of it on his socials (address: https://www.instagram.com/ignacioalvarezforsheriff/). […]
[…] Read related: ‘Anyone but Joe’ is the mantra among Miami-Dade Sheriff GOP candidates […]
[…] Read related: ‘Anyone but Joe’ is the mantra among Miami-Dade Sheriff GOP candidates […]
[…] Read related: ‘Anyone but Joe’ is the mantra among Miami-Dade Sheriff GOP candidates […]
[…] Read related: ‘Anyone but Joe’ is the mantra among Miami-Dade Sheriff GOP candidates […]
This article is fake news. Firstly, the poll that was shown in the article was done by one of the candidates, Ernesto Rodriguez. Notice how the candidates mentioned in the polls are current or former Metro Dade police officers. Was this poll taken at Versailles Restaurant? They are only mentioning Beanstalk Joe, as the only outsider of Metro Dade Police, but leaving out two other candidates from another police agency to make it seem as if they are not in the race. As for some comments from the peanut gallery, North Bay Village Manager, Frank Rollason, resigned saying he did not have the confidence from the village attorney or the commission. Reality is he resigned following extortionist and blackmail claims. And these are the type of people who back Joe Sanchez.
Over the 4th of July weekend we sent out 5 volunteers with 100 mock ballots to Aventura Mall. The ballots were as it will appear on the official ballot for sheriff. Giordano received 43 votes on the ballot, the second highest being Joe Martiez with 18 votes, and all the others being mixed. Could this be the positioning of the names on the ballot or are people tired of the Cuban Banana Republic? Maybe people are finally realizing that this county was safer when it was run by the Italians.
And for those who really believed Lara was told by other candidates who they would back if they weren’t elected are fools, admitting that would be like admitting their defeat. Don’t be fooled and vote for the candidate with the most experience, Jeffrey Giordano, punch number #55.
This is simple for a voter like me. We don’t need a current county person to be sheriff. The toilet needs to be flushed. Bringing an outsider is the way. Most friends that are voter think the same. No insiders.
Ladra,
The Truth of the Matter is that I know a fair share of the candidates running for sheriff. Joe is definitely the most qualified. He is not an insider, has the legislative background, a police officer, and has worked with major stakeholders at the State , County, and City level.
Now let’s get back to this hit piece. Are you going to write similar articles about the other candidates? I already know the answer. It is a no. You won’t go after any of the Democratic or Female candidate.
You should consider working for Christian Ulvert.
Here is the slogan being said by the malas lenguas.
“NOBODY BUT JOE”
If you can’t get your facts straight, then the truth is not being told.
Ivelisse, once again, there is no payment for this or any article. Why does everything have to be so transactional for you guys? Is that how you are? Why is it only the articles you disagree with that are paid for, hmm? If there were a Joe Sanchez ad, would that mean that I would write wonderful things about him? How dare you? You don’t know me.
Love, Ladra
This was not a professional article written by an independent journalist, this is a paid political advertisement paid obviously by one of the candidates opposing Mr. Sanchez. This article reinforces my belief that Joe Sanchez the only US Army veteran in the race is the right men for the job.
” One thing Joe Sanchez doesn’t have or would want is the endorsement of a felon convicted of 34 counts! An endorsement from a convicted felon for the position of Sheriff – isn’t that an oxymoron?”
Not in Miami where white collar crime is no big deal in fact might be a plus .
Politicos here caught stealing from voters are reelected by those same voters .
Frank R says: One thing Joe Sanchez doesn’t have or would want is the endorsement of a felon convicted of 34 counts! An endorsement from a convicted felon for the position of Sheriff – isn’t that an oxymoron? Give me a break – yes, Joe voted for the stadium deal, but it took two others to make it happen! Let’s stick with the issues – Joe has the experience – we don’t need a street cop to run the Sheriff’s Office – we need an experienced administrator with political and legislative experience so that Miami-Dade gets its fair share from the State and not run by the County Mayor! Joe is not a vindictive individual – this is a political race and none of those running from the Miami-Dade Police Department should be afraid of losing their jobs over their political campaign – there’s always mudslinging in a political race and Joe above all the contestants is aware of that. Speaking of police experience exactly how much policing experience does the Miami-Dade Chief of Public Safety Jaime Reyes have? What does his current position entail – oversight of the Fire Department and the Police Department which still has a very capable Director calling the shots (no pun intended!) Maybe your next hit piece should be taking a look at his qualifications and experience?
This article is full of #%{€+ (CRAP). Joe Sanchez is the perfect person to be our next Sheriff for Miami-Dade County. He is the ONLY candidate who has taken a leave of absence from his current employment to run for this position. Apparently he is the ONLY candidate that has values. All of the other candidates are still being paid by us, Miami-Dade County tax payers. Joe Sanchez has served his country, he has served the City of Miami as Commissioner, he has served The State of Florida as a Florida State Trooper. Joe Sanchez is the best candidate for Miami-Dade Sheriff, and he will do what is necessary to do the right thing. He has my vote, my families vote, and he should have your vote as well!
This article just emphasizes how well-rounded of a candidate Joe Sanchez is. The man has spent his entire career helping the people in his community, and this is the garbage that gets spewed out about him.This isn’t journalism; this paid propaganda. Funny how Joe Sanchez doesn’t pay for his banner on this blog. I wonder if he pays for advertisement if you’ll speak highly of him.
Enrique, I have met Joe. I have talked to him many times. As a Miami Commissioner and as an FHP spokesman. That does not mean he is qualified. And, frankly, his dishonesty about his experience should worry everybody. My pockets are not lined with cash. Nobody paid for this or any article.
Arlene, is it? The vlog is a blog, no video here (get your insults straight) and no, the posts have nothing to do with who advertises. There are two sheriff candidates running ads. I can’t stop them. It would be wrong. There are two more considering it. It’s because of people like you who read Political Cortadito. They want the eyes. Not the content.
Don’t believe me? Remember when Vince Lago advertised on Political Cortadito? And Alex Bucelo? Means nothing. I appreciate the support, but they are just supporting the independent watchdog journalism, not buying any special treatment. They know this. You do, too.
Love, Ladra
What a crap piece. Seems like your pockets are getting lined with cash. This article is absolute garbage and completely false.
If you ever had the honor and privilege to meet Joe, you’d know he’s not only more than qualified for the job but also the best and only candidate for sheriff.
The voters want to hear about the real issues affecting the voters of miami dade……the voters elected for a sheriff because the voters are sick and tire of the lack of services, they want more police services, reduction of the crime we see on TV everyday and accountability for the high taxes we pay everyday. I mean it is safer to live in New York and Los Angeles than in Miami…its pathetic…..we dont want to hear these politician talk about their positions, degrees experience or who they know but talk about how they are going to tranform this department into a sheriff and render the services the citizens deserve.
[…] Story continues […]
This article is excellent in solidifying what we’ve all assumed, Joe Sanchez es tremendo político corrupto! Those donors say a lot about who will be pulling strings behind-the-scenes. Anyone but Joe is right.
Are all of those leave of absences verified? Why hasn’t Cava put out a memo that the chief of public safety is out for an extended period of time?
Cordero stutz has made the worst decision of her entire career- doesn’t matter who is in office, she is out. Maybeeeee Reyes would let her survive (probably not) but no Republican certainly will. Instead of uniting the party, it’s created more division.
If Mario Knapp doesn’t win, Palmer is going to run this place- it will be Reyes as the figure head and Palmer calling all the shots and movements, and this department is F*CKED. If you don’t believe it inquire about the kiss the ring sessions held at your local eatery in Doral.
MARIO KNAPP 2024, tell your friends, your family, and your loved ones- hell, tell the people you hate – if you care anything at all about your future.
My vote is going to Joe Sanchez. He is the only one with the experience and has what it takes for the job. I speak to people all over Miami-Dade and they too will vote for Joe Sanchez. This article is ludicrous. Apparently, Ladra’s articles to polls are very limited. Rosie Cordero-Stutz campaign is being ran by the Gimenez family. How convenient that after Carlos Gimenez’s wishy washy RINO stint in Congress has an eye to return to local politics as Miami-Dade Mayor. He should focus on retirement, and he needs to see a dentist as soon as possible. Instead, conveniently he wants to strategically place a candidate that will do his bidding. Ladra, I noticed that the paid banners on your vlog are feeding garbage and lies that you publish in your articles. This is very sad. Are you receiving compensation from Rosie Cordero-Stutz to keep your website afloat? A good reporter keeps news fair and impartial to keep the status quo
I hadn’t given too much through to the Sheriff race until I read this obvious “hit piece” on Joe Sanchez. It’s obvious that the others are afraid of Sanchez and the integrity and independence that he will bring to the Sheriff’s Office in Miami-Dade. It’s time to move on from the Miami-Dade Police Department so the usual old cronies should be the last to become Sheriff. I believe that Sanchez is the only one to bring experience as an elected official, and one who actually had some oversight of an entire police department from when he was a City of Miami commissioner. I will keep an open mind but so far Sanchez is the only one with credulity
This article is filled with so many inconsistencies only to build momentum against Joe Sanchez. If anyone here educated themselves regarding the Marlins Stadium, the Miami Orange Bowl was deemed an unsafe structure and it was falling apart. How beloved it was people have to admit it was a hunk of junk. The Marlins did not have a proper stadium to play. Mind you people in Miami only go to games when they are winning because that is how it is. But the stadium has been used for multi-purpose events and has hosted many international tournaments since it was built. Making Miami an international gateway for sports. The cost of the Stadium has been paid off and the city and county have been enumerated twice-fold. I have personally know Joe for many years. I have seen his work before knowing him personally. These attacks are bogus. Yes, he has served the Citizens of the State of Florida since 1987. Yes, he is the only Army Veteran in the race. He has Always lived in Miami-Dade County. He has voted amongst us.People’s dislike towards him stems from envy. He has that ‘ja ne sais quoi” that his opponents lack. I have noticed articles on this platform are not right. Joe Sanchez is not running for Mayor. Why would he? He already did that. Joe Sanchez has the Support of the residents of Miami-Dade County. This is why his opponents are at wits end. Joe Sanchez is the only candidate that has the legislative and law enforcement experience to run a Police Department. FHP and Miami-Dade police policy manuals are very similar in how they handle incidents with the Public. Joe Sanchez is the best Candidate for Sheriff and it is exactly what Miami-Dade County needs.
Joe Sanchez is a creep. He stole over $3 Billion from the taxpayers. As a Miami Commissioner he was a chief water boy for corrupt ex-mayor Manny Diaz. Joe Sanchez voted to demolish the Orange Bowl that had just undergone $60 Million in renovations. Then Joe Sanchez demanded other commissioners approve the No Bid contract for Brian May’s client that forced taxpayers to pay over $3 Billion, including debt service, for the new Marlin’s Stadium.
Ozzy Perez is a good guy and a proud veteran.
Why are 10 Republicans running for Sheriff, but none for State’s Attorney? Why not Iggy Alvarez, a lawyer?
Sounds better “anyone but Sanchez” maybe even “anyone but Miami Sanchez” aside from being extremely arrogant. He’s a liar. He once said he would drop out if Joe jump in but he also did confirm he’s considering Miami Mayor. Guess that lost still stings.