Alian Collazo is not a wealthy guy. The Tampa transplant running for Florida House District 115 as a plantidate filed a financial disclosure where he reported earning $40,500 as a Florida State employee and said he had $1,354.91 in a checking account on June 12.
His only other assets were a $6,673.54 retirement account and a $528,465 house in Largo, which his mother gave him in 2021.
But suddenly, a month later, Collazo had $50,000 to “loan” his own campaign account, according to finance reports filed with the state. On July 2, Collazo loaned his campaign account $30,000. Less than two weeks later, Collazo loaned another $20K to his campaign on July 15.
Where did he get that windfall? Maybe he won the lottery. Maybe he got lucky at Magic City or the Miccosukee Casino.
Remember, however, that this is the Tampa transplant that Ladra suspects is planted in this race by disgraced former Sen. Frank Artiles, who specializes in sham or ghost candidates. Artiles has a trial in September for five felony election law charges related to the 2020 campaign for ghost candidate Alex Rodriguez, who “Thanks Frank” paid more than $45,000 to run against then Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez to ensure that Republican Ileana Garcia could steal the seat.
Is $50K the going rate for posing as a plantidate? Artiles’ social media is thick (and sick) with Alian Collazo fandom.
Read related: https://www.politicalcortadito.com/2024/07/12/frank-artiles-backs-ghost-candidate-hd115/
Collazo, who was in the student body government at Florida International University with Sen. Alexis Calatayud — and later worked on her campaign and in her state office — registered to vote in Miami-Dade’s HD 115 in February. At Calatayud’s house.
But he’s apparently couch-surfing, because he changed his official address to a 4-bedroom, 3-bath house in Palmetto Bay owned by Elizabeth Goitia. Ladra suspects she’s a friend of Artiles.
Anyway, there are too many questions about this candidate and this sudden injection of dollars just adds to the funny smell.
Attorney Lorenzo Palomares Starbuck, a onetime congressional candidate and also papi-in-law to Miami-Dade Fire Capt. Omar Blanco, the frontrunner for the seat — which was vacated when State Rep. Alina Garcia decided to run for Supervisor of Elections instead — has filed a complaint with the Florida Commission on Ethics. Thank goodness. Because this is shady AF.
“Based on his finances listed within his Form 6, it would have been impossible for Mr. Collazo to loan himself the total aforementioned sum of $50,000,” Palomares, a constitutional attorney, wrote in his complaint. “Either Mr. Collazo failed to disclose certain assets within his From 6 filing, in violation of Section 112.3144, Florida Statutes, or he has obtained these $30,000.00 and $20,000.00 ‘loans’ via improper means. Whichever, the Commission should investigate these financial irregularities.”
Palomares — who also threatened to sue Collazo’s political action committee for defamation after they distributed mailers with manipulated photo of Blanco — told Ladra that he checked the title on Collazo’s Largo house before filing the complaint, and it has not been sold. At the time, Palomares pointed out, Collazo got a $55,000 loan to his PAC from his Mami to list on the campaign finance report, but it was paid back days after the report was filed.
The “loans” account for the bulk of the contributions reported in the last two campaign finance reports, where he reported a total of $60,000. So, all but $10K came from a “loan” to himself.
Collazo did not return calls and texts to his cellphone, which still has a Clearwater area code, over the course of two days. His treasurer, Anthony Fiore, also did not return a call to his office.
Read related: https://www.politicalcortadito.com/2024/04/03/tampa-transplant-candidate-hd-115-senator-calatayud-home/
The plaztidate’s website offers no information about him in the “about me” section. Nothing about his time as Calatayud’s chief of staff or legislative aide or whatever. Nothing about his work as an “owner,” like it says on Facebook, of Horizons Adult Day Care Center in St. Petersburg. It’s very vague. But also very Miami style, using the words socialist or communist six times.
“Alian Collazo is a lifelong Republican and Conservative Warrior who is focused on tackling inflation, lowering the cost of living, cutting property insurance rates, and maintaining law and order to ensure our families are safe in their communities.
As our next State Representative Alian believes in fighting the socialist agenda that is taking over our great nation, cutting taxes and putting more of your hard-earned dollars back in your pocket.
As a graduate of Florida International University and Executive Director of the Cuban Freedom March, he is a staunch advocate for human rights, particularly anti-communist efforts. The organization aims to highlight the plight of Cubans under communist rule and push for democratic reforms on the Island, as well as the dangers that communism poses to our nation here in the United States.
A staunch advocate for conservative principles, Collazo stands resolute against an encroaching socialist agenda. He is a staunch supporter of President Donald J. Trump and vows to thwart the woke agenda while pushing back against the socialist-leaning policies of the current federal administration.”
Really? Is that why he vacationed in Cuba, according to social media posts that have since been scrubbed? Good thing Ladra has a save screen of the photo he posted on Instagram, drink in his hand at Varadero’s exclusive luxury Blau Marina Resort. “Enjoying some very much needed time off,” he wrote, adding #chilled and #relaxed.
Hypocrite much?
This is a dangerous plantidate. He’s not only a transplant who is clearly not from here, having been in a relationship with someone and part of the administration at an adult day care center 267 miles away. His house in Largo is 284 miles away, according to google. But he’s also a hypocrite and a liar who has gone on the attack (well, Artiles has) on a Miami-Dade firefighter who has been a public servant in this community for more than two decades.
Read related: https://www.politicalcortadito.com/2024/05/08/tampa-transplant-candidate-alian-collazo-not-act-republican/
Blanco has worked to help the community through hurricanes, tornados, protests, flooding emergencies, fires and the Champlain Towers collapse in Surfside. As a union leader her helped pass statewide legislation that enhanced cancer insurance coverage for firefighters
He’s a freaking superhero in a uniform. Carpetbagger Collazo is a fake Artiles drone.
Ladra hopes that the voters in House District 115 are not fooled and that the state Ethics Commission finds out where Collazo got the $50K he suddenly has to loan himself.
Florida Ethics Commission complaint on Alian Collazo financial disclosure by Political Cortadito on Scribd
Funny money? State house ‘plantidate’ ‘loans’ campaign $50K in last days added by Ladra on
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