State campaign report totals reveal no big surprises — yet

State campaign report totals reveal no big surprises — yet

Whose idea was it to have the deadline for campaign finance reports at midnight on a Friday? A quick glance at the totals in some of the more interesting state primary races is all Ladra could do for now. Let’s just dig in with no particular order in mind. But let’s start with the Senate, […]

Money in mayoral race is incumbent’s 3-1 plus

Money in mayoral race is incumbent’s 3-1 plus

As if we needed another reason (and justification) to say that Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez is going to wipe the floor with Commission Chairman Joe Martinez, we get a glimpse of the latest campaign finance reports in the wee hours this morning and find our Golden Boy Gimenez practically at the million dollar mark. Less […]

Outing non-Cubans in Miami politics

Outing non-Cubans in Miami politics

First, it was State Rep. Michael Bileca, who some people assume is Cuban like his wife, that was outed as a non-Spanish speaker in a robocall. Now, State Rep. Ana Rivas-Logan is outed as Nicaraguan-American in a mailer. In Miami politics, where being a Cuban Republican has been all you need to get elected for […]

Ring, ring, ring! Robocalls are in season

Ring, ring, ring! Robocalls are in season

Sick of the robocalls yet? You’re not the only one. Phones are ringing off the hook and will only ring more this week as two big days up ahead. Monday is the deadline to register to vote in the Aug. 14 primary. And Tuesday is when the ABs drop, which means the first batch of […]

School Board members decry Obama campaign stop

School Board members decry Obama campaign stop

First Lady Michelle Obama is scheduled to speak Tuesday morning at a campaign stop at Barbara Goleman High School in Miami Lakes. But not if Miami-Dade School Board Member Renier Diaz de la Portilla can help it. “The use of public schools whose only focus should be to educate our children for political gain is […]

Trailing Sen. Marco Rubio like he was Jerry Garcia

Trailing Sen. Marco Rubio like he was Jerry Garcia

Ladra was only half joking about the tailgate party. Because I did spend Saturday following the Marco Rubio magical tour bus on two-thirds of his opening day. And what a trip it was! First, I saw U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio — whose rising star is so bright he has a tour bus like a rock […]

County mayoral bout begins in earnest — and in jest

County mayoral bout begins in earnest — and in jest

With 45 days left before the Aug. 14 primary, the Miami-Dade mayoral election — a sleeper compared to last year’s epic post-recall battle — is ratcheting up a little. There are going to be quite a few debates in July, starting with the Kendall Federation of Homeowners Association on the 16th and followed by the […]

Zapata has lead, Aniteres Flores in District 11 race

Zapata has lead, Aniteres Flores in District 11 race

Maybe he lost a little steam while he coordinated the successful national Latino political convention, as the NALEO conference in Orlando last week is called. And it was a big todo, so take a bow, former Sate Rep. Juan Zapata (R-119), who serves as chair of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officers […]

Martinez Hialeah robocall is Sasha’s grudge match

Martinez Hialeah robocall is Sasha’s grudge match

If Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Joe Martinez still has any tiny hope left of being elected county mayor, he better dump his campaign manager Sasha Tirador, and fast, before she does any more damage to his already minimal chance. Maybe Tirador is sabotaging his campaign on purpose. Wouldn’t be the first time that is said. Does […]

Partisan Latino leadership strips our political power

Partisan Latino leadership strips our political power

With all the impact that the NALEO conference this past week in Orlando could have on not just the Latino vote but on Hispanic leadership and the media’s – heck, the world’s – perception of our political community, it’s sad that they sorta blew it. The comments and opinions coming out of what is known […]