How pervasive are campaign shenanigans in South Florida? A former Miami mayoral candidate who we never heard of before and who never stood a chance of being elected pled guilty Thursday to three counts of violating state campaign finance laws. Jeffrey Benjamin, who lost big to Mayor Tomás Regalado in 2013, was sentenced to a […]
Call it the year of the Missus. Following Hillary Clinton‘s ambitions for presidency and, at the local level, Teresa Sarnoff‘s desire to replace her hubby on the Miami city commission, Coral Gables realtor and former first lady Jeannett Slesnick has filed to run for the commission seat vacated by Vice Mayor Billy Kerdyk. Slesnick filed […]
Another tell tale sign that Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine is looking to run for statewide office: He hired noted Tallahassee lobbyist Fátima Perez — who represents the city of Miami Beach — as his new chief of staff. Alex Miranda, who has been by Levine’s side since the 2013 mayoral campaign and then was […]
Two of the original G-Men are together again: Jesse Manzano-Plaza, who ran the immediate 2012 re-election campaign for Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, has joined the consulting firm headed by Alex Heckler and former State Rep. Marcelo Llorente, who came in third in the 2011 recall mayoral race and then endorsed Gimenez. Manzano and Ben Pollara, […]
Influential lobbyist Jorge Luis Lopez — who everyone says ought to have his own desk on the 29th floor at County Hall — seems to be trying to increase his influence and take it national. Why else would he be having a fundraiser Friday for newly-minted Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-Kendall). Lopez sent out an invitation […]
Florida Rick Scott has appointed Lubby Navarro, a Miami-Dade School Board lobbyist, to the school board’s governing body in the seat vacated by former School Board Member Carlos Curbelo, who was elected to Congress in November. Navarro’s appointment is about to be announced any minute now (Friday afternoon). She was picked from a group of […]
A lot of speculation has been made about whether Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine is exploring higher office, perhaps a senate seat or a run for Florida governor in 2018. But, for now, he’s simply running for mayor of Miami Beach again. Political consultant Christian Ulvert, a key Levine campaign man in 2013, told Ladra […]
Way more than a little early in the game, State Rep. David Richardson has announced a “key endorsement” this week in his bid to become a state senator: Miami-Dade Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava. Say what? Levine Cava is the newest county commissioner and, as such, probably wields the least power on the dais. She is […]
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Mr. Giveaway” Gimenez has apparently never met a billionaire he didn’t like — or didn’t want to give public money and assets to. The latest mayoral mancrush in his stream of bromances with billionaires is with Donald Trump. Hope Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and soccer star David Beckham aren’t too jealous. […]
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Cry Wolf” Gimenez collected more than $500,000 over the course of 16 days in January, according to the first campaign report filed for his re-election bid in 2016, which is already headed to history as the most expensive mayoral election in county history. His little group of followers and apologists — which […]