Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez has responded quickly and openly to the revelation Thursday that one of his mayoral campaign workers had illegally requested 20 or so absentee ballots for voters who had asked for them at an event.
And good for him. That’s what innocent people do.
Not only did he come out of the commission meeting at least once and likely a few times to meet reporters head on, but he also posted a new video to his supporters on his YouTube channel the next day. The short clip doesn’t actually mention the criminal investigation and seizure of Juan Pablio Baggini‘s computer, but wink-wink refers to it instead.
“Friends, I want to thank you so much for your offers of support. I’m more excited than ever to focus on the future of our great city and to make sure that this campaign is about that and only on that,” says a carefully less cocky and somewhat deferential Suarez, and maybe he’s also referring to complaints from incumbent opponent Mayor Tomas Regalado that someone is stealing his yard signs.
“Oour time is now. This is not the time for petty politics. This is the time to focus on the real problems of the city of Miami and offer real solutions,” he says in the message that is less than 30 seconds long.
This video is slightly less slick and cool than the others, but it was done on the fly, and there’s no catchy tune, naturally.
“Thank you for joining me on this ride, and I look forward to the journey with you.”
He also tweeted very optimistically Friday. “I have a feeling that this Saturday’s campaign walk is going to be the best one yet. Bring your energy & enthusiasm,” he said.
Regalado has been quick to jump on the political opportunity, er, news with calls for a full investigation and gratitude that this came out before the election. But who can fault him? Wouldn’t anyone facing a real challenge from a candidate who is slicker, younger and richer? Remember, Suarez has about twice as much in his campaign coffers as Regalado. Expect the mayor to use this in mailers soon and robocalls or radio pieces. No matter how it turns out in the end, which may be that there was absolutely no intent to break the law.
Because while I am all for a full investigation, I also think we need to be rational, also. Despite attempts by some to connect this to the investigation into Congressman Joe Garcia‘s campaign, there are stark differences.
To summarize: Whereas Garcia’s longtime consultant, uber experienced Jeffrey Garcia (no relation), admitted to a scheme in which a computer program or virus generated hundreds of absentee ballot requests without the permission or even knowledge of the voters, these 20 or so AB requests were generated manually by Baggini, who is a political neophyte, from forms filled out and signed willingly by real voters themselves who also may have thought they were giving the campaign permission to ask on their behalf.
Is Baggini possibly guilty of first degree felony by requesting ballots for someone other than a relative and using personal information online? Probably. El pobre.
Is the campaign guilty of conspiracy? Not that I can see. Still, I’m anxious to see a quick follow up report from law enforcement investigating the matter, who have apparently already found that most if not all of the voters are legitimate and asked for the ballots at the Suarez campaign Cinco de Mayo event.
Maybe that is why Suarez has not asked JP to resign, like Garcia asked his consultant-turned-chief of staff to do when he learned of the scam. There is no scam here. Just a stupid mistake. Okay, a really stupid mistake that is going to cost Baby X a lot of time to mitigate, some gray hairs probably and perhaps a few votes anyway. It is a distraction they did not need. And knowing the commissioner candidate’s family history with AB issues, everyone should have been eggshell carefully by-the-book on any AB issue.
In fact, if those campaign t-shirts in the news that say “Don’t be Absent on Election Day,” were Baggini’s idea, it’s the second stupid mistake.
New Francis Suarez video on heels of AB raid added by Ladra on
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