As Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo is termed out of office and mulls a ridiculous run for mayor — everyone knows he can’t win citywide — it is looking like his old opponent, Alfonso “Alfie” Leon, may run for the open seat again next November.
“I am planning on running again. Will be making an announcement soon,” Leon texted Ladra after she called and texted him to confirm his intent to run. The personal injury attorney was in court Friday and said he would call Political Cortadito next week. But we couldn’t wait to share the news.
Leon forced Carollo into a runoff in 2017 and then sued after he lost by 252 votes, claiming that Crazy Joe did not live in the district but rather in his Coconut Grove mansion. He lost the lawsuit. And Carollo went after his supporters in Little Havana by weaponizing the city’s police, legal and code enforcement departments to retaliate against them. A jury awarded the two men $63.5 million last year after finding Carollo guilty of violating their First Amendment rights.
Read related: How can Miami’s Joe Carollo pay $63.5 million damages in federal jury award?
Will folks think twice before supporting Leon this time around? Whether or not he is running against Carollo, Leon — whose law partner is former Miami Beach Commissioner Jonah Wolfson — is running against Carollo. Because Crazy Joe will support someone else, even if he has to find someone else to run.
There’s nobody officially filed for the District 3 seat yet for next year’s race, according to the list of candidates so far on the city’s website.
Only Marion Brown, who lost a bid for Miami-Dade District 3 in the August primary, has indicated that he will run in the city’s District 5, which is occupied by Commission Chairwoman Christine King, who is likely to run for re-election. Wonder how the whole “mean and miserable” people thing will do on the campaign.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez is also termed out and so far, only Max Martinez, who ran against him in 2021 and came in second place with 11.5% of the vote, has opened a bank account. He has also loaned himself all but $1,500 of the $124,000 he has put into that account.
But Commissioner Manolo Reyes has made known his intention to run. And there is a rumor that Carollo wants to make it a challenge.
If you want more independent government watchdog coverage in the city of Miami, consider making a contribution to Political Cortadito. Thank you for your support.
Alonso “Alfie” Leon could run again for Miami D3 commission seat next year added by Ladra on
View all posts by Ladra →