With three of his Seguro Que Yes Council members leaving the dais due to term limits, Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernández has devised a plan to keep his iron fist rule on the city: He’s running a slate of new pocket votes.
This year, the mayor loses Councilmembers Isis García Martínez, Vivian Casáls-Munoz and José Caragol — who have been on 
the dais for 28, 13 and 14 years, respectively.
Councilwoman Lourdes Lozano is the only incumbent on the ballot. Hernandez must ensure her re-election, as well as those of former Councilman Luis González — back after he was termed out two years ago — and two newcomers, Jackie García-Roves and Oscar de la Rosa, both Hernandez appointments to the city’s personnel board.
De la Rosa is also the stepson of Miami-Dade Commissioner Estéban Bovo.
Read related: All in the family: Steve Bovo’s stepson runs for Hialeah Council
Bovo and Hernández led a slew of political hosts for a slate fundraiser last 
month at Hialeah Park and Casino. In the host committee was García-Martínez and almost every other council member — except, as usual, Casáls-Munoz — former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina (who still has political pull after all these years in hiding), former State Rep. and now lobbyist Eddy González, County Commissioner José “Pepe” Díaz, Hialeah Gardens Mayor Yioset de la Cruz, charter school executive Andreina Figueroa and Arnie Alonso, the mayor’s former taxpayer paid lackey as if Arnie Alonso is really someone to put on a host committee now that he’s a lobbyist.
Against the slate (read: the candidates Ladra is most likely to support) are Monica Pérez, an elementary school teacher running against Lozano; Fernando Godos, former local spokesman for the Ted Cruz campaign, and Julian Cazanas Jr., former executive at Miami-Dade School Board against Garcia-Roves; and Michael Anthony Horgan, a teacher at Henry Filer Middle, and Jesús Tundidor, former assistant to termed out Sen. René García, against de la Rosa.
Those match-ups could change, however, as qualifying doesn’t end until July 29 and often, in Hialeah anyway, there is some last minute shuffling of groups/seats. And hopefully someone in one of the three-way races will move against González in what could be a game changing election: If all four of the mayor’s slate mates lose, Hernández could lose his Seguro Que Yes power.
Hernández has raised more than a quarter million for his political action committee, which we previously thought would be used to push a referendum to end term limits. But it could take the new charter committee months to close on. And those funds could also be used to promote these candidates or attack opponents in the meantime.
Read related: Hialeah’s Carlos Hernández raises quarter mil to end term limits
Horgan and Pérez, both teachers, say they are running because the city and 
council does not listen to residents on issues of upzoning and, particularly, diminishing park programs. And they both realize they are really running against Carlos Hernández.
“Everyone says ‘Are you ready for this? Are you ready for what they’re going to do to you?’ As if I’m going to get into a fight,” Pérez said. “I won’t be intimidated. This is still the United States of America and I can run.”
Horgan says the tactic is working for him as he knocks on doors, some of which already have door hangers with the mayor’s mug and slate on them.
“I have yet to meet someone who is for the mayor,” Horgan said. “He always comes up.”
Hialeah’s Carlos Hernandez aims to stack a new Seguro Que Yes slate added by Ladra on
View all posts by Ladra →
