In HD103, Cindy Polo threatens GOP’s hand-picked Frank Mingo

In HD103, Cindy Polo threatens GOP’s hand-picked Frank Mingo

The race in House District 103 may prove once and for all that money alone doesn’t win campaigns. Cindy Polo, the Democrat mom and anti-blasting activist who decided to run for office after the Parkland shooting, may have less campaign spending power than that of former Miami Lakes Councilman Frank Mingo: About $54,000, mostly in small donations […]

Dumb Dems invite pro-Cuba pols to stump for them in Miami-Dade

Dumb Dems invite pro-Cuba pols to stump for them in Miami-Dade

Days after an angry mob swarmed Donna Shalala‘s campaign office where Congresswoman and known Castro apologists Barbara Lee and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi , Democrats have invited another pro-Cuba legislator to stump for them in Miami-Dade. Really? Are they really that dumb? New York Congressman Adriano Espaillat, a big advocate of opening relations with Cuba who has invited pro-Cuba lobby […]

Add another son to Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s lobbying clan

Add another son to Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s lobbying clan

The Gimenez clan grip on Miami-Dade tightens. A second son of Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez has registered to lobby the county: Julio Gimenez — better known as the bad boy arrested in 2006 for drug possession and 2009 for disorderly intoxication after a bar brawl — registered this summer to lobby for Miami-Dade Steel, LLC, which wants […]

Ladra’s guide to state amendments

Ladra’s guide to state amendments

This mid-term ballot we’re getting for the Nov. 6 election is so long it almost feels like an SAT test. Seven pages or more will ask us not only to choose between federal, state and local candidates for office but also to set structure and policy for the state and county and cities like Miami […]

Kendall forum features candidates from three state House races

Kendall forum features candidates from three state House races

The Kendall Federation of Homeowners Associations has yet another candidate forum, the second of three this month, Wednesday night. This one features the head-to-head contests in three House districts. In House District 105, Democrat Javier Estevez is going up against Doral Councilwoman Ana Maria Rodriguez for the seat vacated by State Rep. turned Ambassador Carlos […]

Joe Carollo pays Carlos Gimenez clan more than $175K in total

Joe Carollo pays Carlos Gimenez clan more than $175K in total

A mailer landed in Miami mailboxes this week from Joe Carollo‘s electioneering communications organization, Miami First, telling voters that Mayor Francis Suarez is being dishonest about the strong mayor referendum and asking them to say no and punch 383. Ladra wasn’t surprised that it broke election law. ECOs, similar to a political action committees but with different rules, […]

Joe Carollo sued for violating free speech of Little Havana businesses

Joe Carollo sued for violating free speech of Little Havana businesses

Miami City Commissioner Joe Carollo is likened to Cuba’s Castro brothers and Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro in a lawsuit filed Thursday that claims he uses his office to exact revenge on his political enemies and seeks at least $2.5 million in punitive damages. Bill Fuller and Martin Pinilla, who own the very popular Ball & Chain lounge […]

Miami taxpayers could be on hook for Joe Carollo’s frivolous lawsuit

Miami taxpayers could be on hook for Joe Carollo’s frivolous lawsuit

Miami taxpayers could be on the hook for City Commissioner Joe Carollo‘s frivolous and ridiculous lawsuit against the mayor, city clerk and others to take the strong mayor referendum off the ballot. They could be billed for his political stunt. The lawsuit was dismissed — practically laughed out of court — in an 18-page ruling Saturday […]

Coral Gables may purchase Old Cutler home at $4 mil for new fire station

Coral Gables may purchase Old Cutler home at $4 mil for new fire station

The purchase of a home on Old Cutler Road, to convert it into a fire station outpost, and regulations for motorized scooters are among the agenda items at the Coral Gables commission meeting Tuesday, the first since City Manager Peter Iglesias was given the permanent job. Some people are unhappy about the way that Iglesias […]

KFHA candidate forum features Kendall Senate and two state races

KFHA candidate forum features Kendall Senate and two state races

If you live in Senate District 40, where incumbent Sen. Annette Taddeo is facing a challenge from Republican superwoman Marili Cancio, then you also probably live in either House District 115 or House District 118. This Wednesday, you have a chance to see the candidates in both your senate and house race at the first […]