Braman Bunch big losers in Tuesday’s battle

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Auto magnate Norman Braman and his sidekick gypsy conartist Vanessa Brito are two for two in their quest to control the county commission. But that’s okay because that means they don’t have a majority vote — even if they win the two runoffs in November, which is highly unlikely.

This should be a loud and clear message that the self-proclaimed billionaire benefactor should butt out already.

It is one thing to recall someone based on what you characterize as repeated acts of disrespect and disregard for his or her constituency. It is entirely another to try to replace four elected officials so that you can control a majority on a local governing body. And that is exactly what Braman wanted to do with his Braman Bunch.

Miami-Dade Commissioners Bruno Barreiro and Audrey Edmonson were not able to hold onto his seat forthright and will have to go into a second round with former State Rep. Luis Garcia and public defender Keon Hardemon, respectively, in November. Edmonson got 43 percent over Keon Hardemon’s 20 percent and should easily take him Nov. 6. Barreiro — who was almost recalled with Natacha Seijas last year but was left out so the effort would not seem anti-Cuban — almost got over the hump with a 49.94 % of the vote to Garcia’s 33%. Two other nobodies in the race divied up the rest. Barreiro, who was accused of ballot collecting by Brito, did have a much better ratio with ABs, but also won in early voting and Election Day ballots. And this despite the fact that he was reportedly hurt by the negative attacks by former State Sen. and soon-to-be State Rep. Again Alex Diaz de la Portilla against the commissioner’s half brother with the same name, former State Rep. Gus Barreiro, in house district 112, which overlaps.

The other two incumbent Miami-Dade commissioners were able to hold onto to their seats — deservedly or not. District 9’s Dennis Moss got 59 percent against Alice Pena, who got 23 percent. And District 1’s Barbara Jordan — considered the most vulnerably after Barreiro because her challenger is the popular Miami Gardens Mayor Shirley Gibson — won with a 59-35% margin.

This is Braman’s showing despite spending at least $800,000 to defeat the four commissioners, according to the tallies so far in the campaign reports for the four PACs Ladra immediately found of his. There could be a dozen more. Who knows? I’m sure it will top $1 million by the time reporting is done. Among the uncomfortable things found are payments to two consultants on the campaign to re-elect Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez: pollster and FIU political science Professor Dario Moreno and fundraising guru Bryan Goldmeier both worked for Braman. Ladra is always uncomfortable by that political incest.

A lot of that went to Hispanic media — which shows that Barreiro was a specific target, still.

I’m going to watch these races but the Braman Bunch leftovers are going to be at a disadvantage as Ladra does not like the well from which they sprung.