She threatened to get involved in the county’s judicial races and now Absentee Ballot Queen Sasha Tirador has made good on that. But she is not the only piece of the Hialeah political machine driving the candidacy of former Hialeah cop John “Johnny” Rodriguez, who is Miami Lakes Vice Mayor Cesar Mestre‘s law partner. Standing […]
Roll the dice. Pick a card. Or a candidate. The race for Miami-Dade School Board in District 7 has already become a backdrop for the larger casino gambling issue that Ladra will bet — in fact, I’m all-in — becomes part and parcel of a bunch of campaigns this year, including what promises to be […]
I’m almost tempted not to go to the Miami-Dade’s Commission on Ethics and Public Trust’s campaign seminar tonight. Not because I don’t get a kick out of all those rules candidates and politicians love to bend and break. Not because it’s a long drive to Miami Gardens City Hall and gas costs are at an […]
While most of the post election talk in Hialeah has centered around the victims of Mayor Carlos Hernandez and his vengeful abuse of power, there are some (like the new police chief) who have benefited from their new boss. But nobody won the lotto like Arnie Alonso, photographed here nodding for the mayor during early […]
State Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera (Rep. District 112) just announced, minutes ago – drum roll, please — that he has launched his campaign to run for Miami-Dade Property Appraiser against incumbent Pedro Garcia. Yeah, I know. We all knew. It’s been the best unkept secret in local politics for a few weeks now. But what is […]
The first quarter campaign finance reports in the Miami-Dade mayoral race are in and they arguably show what some people have been saying quietly and not-so-quietly since Commission Chairman Joe Martinez formally filed to run in January. Too little, too late. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez is looking like he is still the golden boy, having […]
The first mayoral forum for the candidates in Doral Tuesday seemed to indicate an early frontrunner in what Ladra suspects will become one of the most hotly-contested (read: ugly and negative) races of this bloated year. Former School Board member Frank Bolaños — whose last bid for office was characterized by negative campaigning that backfired […]
Political Miami was abuzz Monday with news that local Dems had found their great hype hope to pit against U.S. Rep. David “9 Lives” Rivera, who Ladra has publicly called the Teflon Man and had considered, perhaps, the most unbeatable incumbent in our midst — until now. Maybe. Not because some unknown businesswoman (one headline […]
Maybe the third time is the charm. Candidate Paul Crespo, who has been running in the race for House seat in 102 for almost two years since losing to U.S. Rep. David Rivera in the 2010 primary, is testing the waters to see if he should move his campaign closer to home –to district 112. […]
Miami-Dade’s large delegation of incumbents in the state House are scrambling to keep their jobs post redistricting and that means a change of address for some who are suddenly facing an ally and friend inside newly-drawn boundaries. But it looks like Rep. Frank Artiles (Rep., District 119) will not be one of those who has […]