Political Cortadito’s Politico Pics of the Week: Party!

Political Cortadito’s Politico Pics of the Week: Party!

From galas to stadiums to breakfasts to parks, Miami-Dade’s electeds were all over the place last week. This past couple of weekends seemed particularly busy. The always gorgeous Aventura Councilwoman Luz Weinberg glammed it up at the Voice for Children gala Saturday nigh at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and smiled for the camera with Judge […]

County restructuring: Start at the top and with vacancies

County restructuring: Start at the top and with vacancies

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez doesn’t only have his much-talked about five deputy mayors who, combined, make more than $1 million a year. He’s also got 12 aides, six secretaries, three assistants, three media people and one senior advisor who I think is now his chief of staff. Oh, and two student interns. No wonder Gimenez has […]

Dem Latino star Joaquin Castro stumps for Joe Garcia

Dem Latino star Joaquin Castro stumps for Joe Garcia

Miami-Dade School Board Member Carlos Curbelo may boast having former Education Secretary Bill Bennett — um, who? — and Miami Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart — um, yawn — at a fundraiser later this month for his Congressional bid. So what? Congressman Joe Garcia, whose seat Curbelo hopes to steal this year, has U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, […]

David Rivera: Don’t count me out of the race just yet

David Rivera: Don’t count me out of the race just yet

While three Republican hopefuls — okay, five, but really only three — are vying for the chance to run against U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia in November, the longtime Congressman that Garcia toppled in 2012 to get there is not necessarily completely out of the picture. Ladra don’t call him King David “Nine Lives” Rivera for […]

Soccer stadium finds champ in State Rep. Erik Fresen

Soccer stadium finds champ in State Rep. Erik Fresen

Well, soccer star David Beckham finally found a Tallahassee champion to drive the ball upfield for his Major League Soccer stadium in Miami — and it is State Rep. Erik Fresen (R-Coral Gables). Only a day or two ago, it looked like there was no appetite in the state capital for yet another stadium tax […]

GOP delegation, charter school folk back Carlos Curbelo

GOP delegation, charter school folk back Carlos Curbelo

A fundraiser later this month for Miami-Dade School Board Member Carlos Curbelo‘s bid for Congress reads like a Who’s Who of South Florida GOP politics. And, adding weight to arguments that the Republican Party has picked its primary candidate, it looks like practically the whole Miami-Dade Tallahassee red team is behind him. But, more interestingly, […]

Carlos Gimenez pals on track for millions in clean energy bid

Carlos Gimenez pals on track for millions in clean energy bid

The next big contract to watch at Miami-Dade could be the proposals the county is seeking to convert the heavy fleets of its departments — including Water and Sewer, Public Works, Transit and Waste Management — to clean energy or natural gas. And, like always, the mayor’s friends and family want a piece of the […]

County commission incumbents raise big money to stay put

County commission incumbents raise big money to stay put

Five of the six Miami-Dade County commissioners up for re-election this year have raised more than $100,000 each — and half got close or surpassed $200,000 — to stay in office. Only Commissioner Javier Souto, who is seen as vulnerable and drew a second opponent last month, raised less than $100K. Much less, with $44,500 […]

Daniella Levine raises tons of cash against Lynda Bell

Daniella Levine raises tons of cash against Lynda Bell

If people thought Miami-Dade Commissioner Lynda Bell was in trouble before, they are really hearing the bells toll now. Daniella Levine Cava, the longtime social worker and Democratic Party darling that was recruited to run against Bell, has raised almost $145,000 (counting in-kind) in the four short weeks since she started to raise campaign funds, […]

Ana Rivas Logan switches parties to back (up?) Charlie Crist

Ana Rivas Logan switches parties to back (up?) Charlie Crist

It’s no surprise that former Republican State Rep. Ana Rivas Logan is switching colors and registering as a Democrat today. What may be surprising is how the longtime GOP member is already campaigning for Democrat gubernatorial candidate and fellow turncoat Charlie Crist, for whom some suggest Rivas Logan makes a good potential lieutenant governor nominee. […]