Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine used to call Leonor Hernandez the 
mother of Miami Beach.
Today, we can all call her a clerk in the building department after Hernandez (seen in this photo standing next to Levine with a sign in North Beach) was fired from the mayor’s office last week and Commissioner Jonah Wolfson — in one of his last acts before leaving his seat Monday — saved her with a position in another city office.
I guess she didn’t drum up enough absentee ballots.
That’s how she got her cushy job at the mayor’s office in the first place. She had been working in Wolfson’s office until she took a leave of absence to work on the 2013 race. Her performance delivering the ABs was rewarded with a position that came with perks: She came and went as she pleased, took two hour lunches and did pretty much whatever she wanted.
Read related story: A tale of two aides — fired and hired
Because everybody who knows Miami Beach politics knows that Leonor Hernandez 
really had one job and one job only: Deliver those absentee votes when the time comes.
And while she may have done her job with the mayor — who got more than double the absentees as his opponent — she let his slate down. Only Ricky Arriola got a good lead on ABs, with almost 700 more than Mark Weithorn.
But in the Group 6 race, John Elizabeth Aleman, who eventually won, got only 205 more ABs and those were almost a moot point after early voting and Election Day results, both of which Mark Samuelian won. But in the end, the ABs saved Aleman (and Levine) by 77 votes — so you might think Leonor would get a medal.
Enter Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, who will be sworn in as commissioner Monday, and who won the election on Election Day and in absentees, where she got more than 200 over Levine’s handpicked candidate, Betsy Perez. Ditto on the runoff.
But while some might speculate that she was moved as punishment for not getting the ABs, Ladra thinks there might be something else afoot. After all, the elections are over.
Maybe she was moved to building so she could help Levine and Wofson get their way with Rebecca Towers — which the mayor’s consultant/lobbyist was on the payroll to redevelop — and who knows what else?
Levine owns multiple Beach properties and Wolfson sure has amassed a bunch of properties while sitting as commissioner. And he was the one who reportedly found her that landing spot.
So, the moral of the story here is that Leonor may have left the mayor’s office, but she is still worth watching.
Miami Beach mayor lets AB aide go after election added by Ladra on
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There is another alternative to having Leonor watching over the real estate holdings of Wolfson and Levine. (And it doesn’t include trying to make Sandor Scher feel better after the failed Ocean Terrace upzoning.) It may be more a sign that Levine will not be running for a third mayoral term in 2017. His sticking to Bill Clinton like a remora during a recent trip to Israel is a sign that he may want an appointment in the Hillary Clinton Administration — one that could catapult him to loftier office. (Think Mel Martinez’s stint in the Bush Administration.) The ironic thing is that Phil will find that the Clintons, like a lot of politicians, have a way of tossing aside those who can no longer do them any good.)
any time laws and legal consequences are alluded to i get excited and blow a hole in the person’s position…but that’s my nature.
Jim Deland doesnt know about Sleaze ball Wolfson’s years in New Jersey as a self-hating low class third rate college student ignored by anyone of note. He failed in Miami then slimmed over to Miami Beach faking a relationship with the Wolfsons who were good enough to get into Manhattan Clubs that wont let these Wolfsons in thru the kitchen door. After winning votes from ill-informed Jews he ran around St Patricks using innocent Matti Bower until she n Jorge Gonzalez realized he was a faker n he and zaftik Ed Tobin (lead down the path of Cuban bashing by AC Weinstein) managed to drive the local Cubans who cared about honest government the working class n preservation out of City Hall. Matti n Jorge Gonzalez were innocent pawns as apparently was Tobin Gongora Weithorn (Deede not Mark) and the Jews over at the Chamber of Commerce were cowed by Wolfsons use of Philip Levins money. Jimmie Morales hires not only put of towners but people from South Florida in political deals Wolfson n Levine seem to be tied to including one asst cty mgr hired after being forced out elsewhere for an affair with the persons married assistant. Having been in banking over 50 years from a colonial family with businesses on the Beach since my cousin married John Collins’ cousin in the 1920s n having a place in New Jersey since the 19th century n still director of two inestment trusts I smell a rat if a third rate lawyer with no family money n a minor Judge from a family with no money end up owning expensive real estate holdings if the statement on thia blog is true. Remember what that rat Scott Robins once said when I said in the late 90s he had lots of real estate holdings – “but Count you probably know more about my holdings than I do”. He was RIGHT! I did in those days. Jim Deland is the fake name of what sleazoid – randy hilliard? What looney toone – Frank Del Moron? Miami Beach is the most expensive sewer on Earth n the people there have only the prayer of Kristen Rosen Gonzalez n Dona Elaine unless someone gives Victor Diaz a kick in the tuckus to run for Mayor!
Ms. Elaine Del Valle a.k.a. Ladra synonymous with “Disgraceful”, “deplorable”, “despicable”, “unworthy”, “dishonorable”, “ignoble”, etc…
Although Leonor Hernandez is able to defend herself, as her husband I cannot help but to intervene in commenting on your deplorable inaccurate Blog posting(s).
I recently informed you that you are posting inaccurate defamatory statements, which are in violation of Florida Statute 836.04 yet you continue.
Your statement that Leonor Hernandez was fired is completely inaccurate and deplorable. It is a direct attack not only on her integrity but also on her reputation. She has worked arduously in helping the community always putting the citizens of Miami Beach before anything else.
I have heard many bad things about you and your blog and I never imagined to what extent you are cable of reaching to find readership in your blog but there appears to be some evil want of trying to ruin Leonor’s reputation on your part.
In my opinion you are a disgrace to the media and to the community!!!
Antonio Hernandez, Sr.
I think you crossed the line the moment you brought up Florida law. You’re pretty much a worthless piece of scum if you’re going to use government’s police power to silence a journalist.
Don’t worry, Pierre, I do know the law very well. I know what I can and cannot say and Mr. Hernandez is stung and rightfully so. El pobre.
But thanks for coming to the rescue. Muah!
Love, Ladra
Que casualidad… Yo estaba en el elevador cuando Leonor salía de la Cámara de los Comisionados y llamaba a alguien a decirles que no tenía acceso a su oficina porque estaba cerrada y le habían cambiado la cerradura… No podía sacar sus cosas personales… Qué pasa Mufasa?!
What do you mean Wolfson acquired properities on the Beach? He doesnt have a major law practice n his wife is a Judge with a modest salary. How could they have money to buy expensive Miami Beach properties? Sweetheart real estate loans from banks doing business with the City?
Count LF Chodkiewicz Chudzikiewicz knows nothing about Jonah Wolfson.