People are still asking what really happened with the million dollar campaign to elect Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez as mayor? How could an up and coming, popular politico — son of Miami’s first Cuban mayor, who many considered the natural heir to the seat — just decide to throw in his towel? Did he jump? Or […]
The arrest last month of Sweetwater Mayor Manny “Maraña” Maroño on federal bribery and extortion charges left the city shocked (a little), embarrassed (a lot) and one commissioner short after Jose Diaz became acting mayor when the governor suspended Maroño. The decision was slated to be made Monday night, but because Commissioner Manuel Duasso was missing […]
There’s a crowded ballot in the race to replace suspended Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi, who was arrested last month on charges of bribery and extortion after a two-year FBI sting in which he allegedly accepted kickbacks for facilitating a bogus grants application. But only two of the hopefuls are experienced candidates with money to […]
Vice Mayor Lynda Bell did not answer several calls to her cellphone to see how she felt about her name being “pulled out of a hat” for recall by a group of activists who are angry about budget cuts. But late Friday, her office issued a statement that shows she will not back down from […]
Ladra was almost right. I had bet on Miami-Dade Commissioner Esteban Bovo being the chosen one. After all, rumored recalls have dogged him since last year’s primary when his district aide was caught collecting absentee ballots at his Hialeah office. But my second choice was Vice Chair Lynda Bell. That was the name pulled out […]
Pick a commissioner, any commissioner. A group of activists will go to County Hall this afternoon and pick a name out of the hat. The winner, if we can call the chosen that, will face a recall effort for their vote on keeping the tax rate flat and slashing county services. “We are on a […]
Ladra has to admit: This is not the Diaz I had hoped to see in the 2014 race against State Rep. Jose Javier Rodriguez (D-Little Havana). Republican wonderkid and Coral Gables attorney Daniel Diaz Leyva has filed paperwork to run against Rodriguez next year. Naturally, Ladra had hoped for a non-presidential year rematch between J-Rod […]
A couple of mailers in the lickety split Miami Lakes election are causing a little bit of tension among two one-time allies who are now running against each other in the crowded five-point race. David “Doc” Bennett has already sent out two mailers with photos of him and his family and him with two legislators […]
Despite all the fresh meat in the political corruption grinder, the long-suffered federal tax evasion and fraud case against former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina is still churning. Several sources told Ladra that subpoenas were served on several people involved in the case, including City Clerk Marbelys Fatjo and other city employees as well as Councilwoman […]
It’s been almost a month since he was arrested and charged with federal bribery and extortion charges, and suspended Miami Lakes Mayor Michael “Muscles” Pizzi has been more chatty than ever about being an innocent bystander in the FBI sting and questioning the motives behind the lobbyist-turned-informant he said poisoned him. He talked to New […]