Francis Suarez here, Francis there. Baby X is everywhere

Francis Suarez here, Francis there. Baby X is everywhere

We keep running into Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez, who has cast his hat in the ring for mayor now against the incumbent, Tomas Regalado in that city’s November election. Saw him earlier this month at a Coral Gables debate, there to support his friend, newly-elected Gables Commissioner Vince Lago. Then saw him Tuesday night at the Lago […]

In the Gables: Hoping for a new checks and balances

In the Gables: Hoping for a new checks and balances

Well, the results in Coral Gables tonight were not surprising for many. While I don’t know how voters could tell the difference between the two, longtime activist Pat Keon, who lost her first bid for office in 1997, beat out longtime activist Mary Young to replace the termed-out Commissioner Maria Anderson. Oddly enough, that sleeper […]

Commissioner-to-be Vince Lago lives in the Gables

Commissioner-to-be Vince Lago lives in the Gables

Voters are still casting ballots and what Ladra calls the electoral Happy Hour — 5 to 7 p.m. — is still in full swing. Everyone is counting on a photo finish between Pat Keon and Mary Young in one of the commission races, but the other one is pretty much a done deal already, despite […]

Top 10 reasons to vote for Ralph Cabrera today in Gables

Top 10 reasons to vote for Ralph Cabrera today in Gables

Because I am not yet rich or lucky enough to live in the beautiful, tree-lined Coral Gables, Ladra wants to ask her friends and supporters there to vote for us and cast their ballots for Ralph Cabrera for mayor. Yeah, I know. Everybody tells me this is a losing battle. That is why I thought […]

Gimenez ‘Hail Mary’ stadium pass is part of planned offense

Gimenez ‘Hail Mary’ stadium pass is part of planned offense

Now we all know why Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Not So Golden Boy” Gimenez missed Dade Days in Tallahassee: He was hammering out the “framework” for the Dolphins Stadium deal that three quarters of his constituents do not want. Ladra and a bunch of Miami-Dade electeds — including Miami-Dade Commission Chairwoman Rebeca Sosa, Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz, […]

For Gables Mayor, Cabrera’s allies should not surprise

For Gables Mayor, Cabrera’s allies should not surprise

While Ladra has not always supported Coral Gables Commissioner Ralph Cabrera’s political allies and that has led some to question my support for his run for mayor in this Tuesday’s election, I am not the only one who thinks that despite any past disagreements, he is the right man for the job. Commissioner Maria Anderson, […]

Ladra goes to Tallahassee for drinks, er, Dade Days

Ladra goes to Tallahassee for drinks, er, Dade Days

Ladra’s walk is taking a little longer than usual — that’s because we are Tallahassee-bound for Dade Days to see what all the hoopla is about. The annual municipal melee is the week in which Miami-Dade legislators and elected officials from the county and its 34 cities, towns and villages get together to eat, drink, dance, […]

Congresswoman “La Reina” IRL runs her own show

Congresswoman “La Reina” IRL runs her own show

You gotta love how Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen takes charge. Ladra is going to call her La Reina from now on. Not only because, as the first Hispanic woman elected to the U.S. House, she is political royalty. Not only because it gives me a quick fix at my alliteration addiction. But also because she rules like […]

Cason’s Gables campaign lacks track record and context

Cason’s Gables campaign lacks track record and context

Coral Gables Mayor James Cason lied again. Cason really doesn’t have much of a track record to campaign on or anything substantial he’s brought to the city — all his alleged accomplishments would have likely happened without him. Like he really single-handedly brought back the Fourth of July fireworks. Ooooh. Ahhhh. So his tack is to tear down […]