Former South Miami Mayor Horace Feliu — who was taken out of office after he was arrested the eve of election day on some trumped up charges that were later dropped — may be ready for a political comeback.
But it won’t be as mayor.
Feliu has filed paperwork to run against South Miami Commissioner Walter Harris for the incumbent’s seat in the Feb. 11 election and told Ladra he was intentionally staying out of the fray expected to be whipped into a froth by the two candidates in the mayor’s race — incumbent Philip Stoddard and his nemesis on the dais, Commissioner Valerie Newman (more on that later).
Out of office for four years, Feliu said he has watched city government suffer without him and was encouraged by many friends and supporters to run for office again.
“A lot of people have noticed the difference, the downward spiral in terms of how the city is run, the lack of decorum at meetings, but also, more importantly, the increase of lawsuits,” Feliu told me., adding that the city had been sued at least 10 times in the past four years.
There’s also the fact that there have been four city managers in the span of five years, he said.
“People are looking for stability.”
Why didn’t he run for his old job? Isn’t this a step down? And was it a deal with Newman, as is widely rumored, so the two could collaborate and not split the Hispanic vote (which doesn’t traditionally show up much anyway)? Sure, the former mayor and the current commissioner were once at odds when she was a rabblerousing city activist during his administration. But Newman and Harris, a Stoddard solid ally, are more at odds on the dais. And you know what they say about the enemy of my enemy being my friend.
Feliu says there will be no slating (we’ll wait and see) and that he just didn’t want to get involved in the crossfire.
“Philip Stoddard has a record to slander people. He has been sued twice for slander,” Feliu said. “Between the two individuals there, there’s enough anger and animosity. I didn’t need to be involved in that mix.
“But I can still make a difference without being mayor,” he said. “I prefer to be on the commission. Whoever wins the mayor’s race, I’m not going to be a rubber stamper, which is what Walter Harris is.”
Harris didn’t trust Ladra enough Monday to talk to her much about the race. “I don’t know you,” he said, “and I don’t want to talk about it.”
He said he had “delivered on all the promises I made on the campaign” but would not tell me what those were. What I do know is that he is an environmentalist, like the mayor, who supported the legalized marijuana referendum.
Before he hung up, Harris also hinted that there were forces behind Feliu that were trying to switch out the mostly majority three-guy panel in place now, which would be himself, the mayor and Commissioner “Bicycle Bob” Welsh, who was elected in 2012.
“Let’s just say there’s another agenda at play here,” Harris said.
Mayor Horace Feliu comes back as commission hopeful added by Ladra on
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Comment on Horace’s comment on my comment – round 3.
Horace’s issue – instability due to changing managers. OK. Whether a manager is actually fired or is “running” for his life just thinking of the idea of working with you, the end result is the same, change of managers. Instability? Horace called it “cleansing” when he “gently” demanded that Maria Davis (manager) and Orlando Martinez De Castro (police chief) resign or be fired. All on the very first day of his job as mayor. How do i know? Horace told me so. And i was there. And i was not the only one who he told it to.
Let’s take a look at the 4 current Managers -gone. Roger Carlton was hired as a temporary – nobody even entertained the idea to have him on a permanent basis. So was Randy Witt, who was not actually fired, but simply not renewed. They were offered these positions while the city was looking for a permanent manager. That is called being responsible. Then was Hector Mirable. He WAS FIRED, thanks heavens for that. A book can be written about that, and it might even be more interesting than the fiction that Horace just published. Any lawsuits from these 3? NOPE. So, the only actual lawsuit was Ajibola Balogun’s. One lawsuit. Did it cost the taxpayers, as Horace seems to indicate? Nope, again. He got what was due to him even if he would have retired, moved to a better job, etc. Meaning, he got his sick days, his vacation days and so on – all was due to him anyway. The only money that was paid by the city extra was less than 50K – fees for his attorney.
And the last two issues –
a) Horace’s claim -“Crime is up”. The truth is: the number of crimes in the city remains consistent for the last 20 years. But crime resolution (solving of crimes)was down every time Orlando Martinez De Castro became chief of police, reaching a new low in year 2012 (the lowest in the state according to the FDLE). Horace was right “cleansing” the city from Orlando the first time – one browny point to Horace.
b)Next issue -taxes are up. REALLY? Now i am concerned about Horace, he must have been in “deep freeze” the last 4 years, and still thinks of the time when he was mayor and then the taxes were UP. Now they are down. Yes, Horace needs to check his numbers. One would think that a candidate would first check the facts, before putting them down on paper.
The millage rate was MUCH higher when he was in office. Now the tax millage rate is the lowest in the city’s records.
Life is not a fiction, and i intend to prove it.
Just to clarify Eda’s comments (she supported my comeback after the set-up and is Walter’s better half).. City Managers Scurr and Maria Davis were not fired…They resigned. No lawsuits no emabarrassment. I fully supported, as I do those that I have voted for… Ajibola Balogun and Yvonne McKinely. Roger Carlton was the first of four fired by the current administration in 3.5 years.
The problem with this do nothing commission is a lack of common sense & proven leadership skills. This is why crime is up, lawsuits are up and taxes are up.
….Numbers don’t lie!
Horace G. Feliu
[…] In addition to the political comeback of former Mayor Horace Feliu – off the release of his thriller alien sci-fi book that he read from at Books & Books earlier this month — we have what will likely develop as a down and dirty mayoral race. […]
A few corrections to what you wrote and Horace Feliu’s version of events:
1.The charges for his arrest were NOT trumped up -he did accept a donation IN THE CITY HALL (not allowed), after the deadline, from a city vendor Ron Stroney. Ron Stroney was wired at the time and that did not sit well with the jury (they agreed that Horace was set up. Which he was.) And he did not deposit his check yet, which allowed him to claim that the donation was actually for the democratic party, rather than his own campaign. Ron Stroney denied it. But the charges were not dropped, it went to court and I myself was there. As I said the jury found that he was set up and did not convict him. The person that set him up was none other than Valerie Newman(rumor has it). If you want to hear the whole story, I’d be glad to tell the most “colorful story”.
2. He was in office for 10 years, as a commissioner and then mayor. I do not know if you are aware, but there was a charter amendment on the ballot at the previous election establishing term limits for South Miami government. About 3/4 of the voters voted FOR it, clearly stating that they are against “recycled” mayors and commissioners.
After 10 years in office, HOrace should get the message- he’s clearly going against what the majority of South Miamians decided.
3.During his time in office, Horace went through not 4 managers, but 5. Oops! Here is the list: Scurr(not sure how to spell his name, it was long ago), Maria Davis,Yvonne Solar Mckinley, Balogun and Roger Carlton. By the way, when Horace was elected after his arrest, the first commission meeting he fired the manager (Maria Davis) and the Chief of Police, non other than Orlando Martinez De Castro.(who was also involved in his arrest, collaborating with his best friend Valerie Newman).
Another interesting detail, Walter Harris’s fall out with Valerie Newman stems from a completely different issue. As a matter of fact, he many times votes with Newman and opposes Stoddard. If you care, check the records, they are public records.
Thanks for your attention.
Are we worth a reality show?