On a short but heated exchange on Miami AM radio Wednesday morning, Trooper Joe Sanchez, a candidate for Miami-Dade sheriff, defended his record and rejected a one-on-one debate with attorney Ignacio “Iggy” Alvarez, a former Miami-Dade Police major and another candidate in the crowded GOP primary.
Sanchez, a former City of Miami commissioner who has been the Florida Highway Patrol’s pubic information officer for 15 years, called into Nelson Rubio’s En Directo show on America Radio WSUA to take issue with the characterization of his experience as mostly ticket-writing and protection of dignitaries, as he enjoys a hefty pension from the city.
“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.
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“When you invite me, I will go on and talk about my merits and not attack candidates with lies, as Mr. Alvarez is doing,” Sanchez, who said he was a daily listener of the show (yeah, right), told Rubio.
“The years I have worked on the streets, I can guarantee I made enough arrests. Not just traffic arrests. Drug arrests, domestic violence…I made more arrests than him as commander of the police department,” Sanchez said, adding, strangely enough, that MDPD officers don’t want to work.
“Joe lets talk about the truth,” Alvarez started but got interrupted. “Joe doesn’t give me the opportunity to respond because he knows the truth will come out.”
Then Alvarez challenged Sanchez to a debate on the same radio show the next morning. “Why fight on the telephone? Because he doesn’t want to hear the truth. I will be here at 8 a.m.”
Rubio quickly agreed to host it. “I don’t have a problem with that,” he said.
Um, er, uh.
Read related: ‘Anyone but Joe’ is the mantra among Miami-Dade Sheriff GOP candidates
“Nelson, I appreciate the opportunity,” Sanchez said, quickly trying to come up with an excuse. “I am in campaign mode. I am on the street.”
But early voting this week starts at 11 a.m., Alvarez pointed out. “Why doesn’t he come here at 8 a.m. Because he can’t. Because he knows he’s going to lose.”
Alvarez and Sanchez are two of the leading 11 Republican candidates for the sheriff’s seat, which has not existed since 1957 and was reinstated by state voters in 2018.
Sanchez did not return calls and texts to his cellphone.
But he was very macho on the radio show.
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“Mr. Alvarez, I am not fighting with you,” he said, adding that he was calling to set the record straight.
“When I go on the radio I will talk about my own merits. I am not going to say lies about another candidate,” Sanchez said. “If you are going to say something, say it like a man, like I do, at the debates.”
What debates? Does he mean the forums where he’s exaggerated about his experience? And it’s quite something to say he is a man when he won’t debate Alvarez one-on-one.
Heck, he won’t even return Ladra’s phone calls. What a man!
Joe Sanchez turns down debate with Iggy Alvarez on Miami-Dade sheriff added by Ladra on
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Joe, you do realize the recording is posted so why do you continue to lie?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-sdeFgOpXZ/?igsh=eHZoZmQxNno2M2Rv
Talking about Freddy’s attempted suicide like you guys saved the day? That’s your literal job! You have zero class bringing this into light.
Making fun of Iggy’s teleprompter reading…might’ve not been the best but remember this.
While you spent your life in front of the camera, he was in command. You’re not the same.
Oh wait, you even said that on Iggy’s radio show you called into for attention.
Desperate to win aren’t you?
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Dear Trooper Joe. That’s exactly what it says in the story: You called to set the record straight. And in that call, you said that MDPD officers “don’t like to work.” I heard it. You said it.
Alvarez is a top quality candidate. You know, as a politician who lost a mayoral race, that the best man does not always win (although in that case, he did). Also, I have display ads — as does the newspaper and the TV channels — because those people want to support Political Cortadito, not because I support them. There are also ads from two other candidates in the Republican primary for sheriff and from James Reyes, who I have also been critical of.
I hope you don’t win on Tuesday because your skin is way too thin and you make shit up.
Also, if you win on Tuesday, Joe, you pretty much have guaranteed that Reyes wins in November, that’s all. Hope you are proud of yourself.
Love, Ladra
where is the Orange Bowl????
I called to set the record straight. I never disrespected or offended the brave men and women of the Miami Dade police department. Mr. Alvarez was diminishing the relevance and importance of the Florida Highway Patrol. Who does the governor call to action in a crisis? How many drugs are found in vehicles? Chases? Shootings? On the roads! Where did the former Director of the Miami Dade Police Department shoot himself in the head in the middle of a dispute with his wife? I-75! I was addressing Alvarez’s comments and his experience, and he is misconstruing my words on a post on Instagram reading from a Teleprompter making it look like I was offending the entire MDPD. The video is an embarrassment. After the results on Tuesday, we will see if he is a top candidates. I do see he is the candidate advertising on top of your page with a constant banner. I am organizing an entire campaign team, many volunteers and have many more important things to do than to debate a candidate such as Mr. Alvarez when we are already well into the election. Since Ladra apparently does not understand the value of my varied experience, there is not much to talk about there either. Have a blessed Sunday everyone!
I Will NOT Vote for The One That ‘Collect Must MONEY $$” Simplly Because there is A great chance That Those Donations/Bribes has to be paid back ? In reference to the Orange Bowl ,Our Politicians (ALL) in Miami has been lining Their Retirements W/ #OURPARKS ? Bay Front , Watson Island ,Mell Resse on real Bad deals for The City and tax payers ? Next VIRGINIA BEACH and Miami Marine Stadium *?
Joe Sanchez is a creep. Someone should ask Joe why he voted to steal over $3 Billion from taxpayers to give to the then owner of the Marlins baseball team. Yup. Joe voted to force the taxpayers to spend over $50 Million to renovate the Orange Bowl then he VOTED TO DEMOLISH THE ORANGE BOWL. What a moron.