Exposito would make Doral politics a trifecta

Exposito would make Doral politics a trifecta

Doral may another surprise on its roster, after having hired former Miami Mayor Crazy Joe Carollo as its city manager. Former Miami Police Chief Miguel Exposito, another strong personality to add to the mix of Carollo and Mayor Luigi Boria, could be named Doral Police Chief. Talk about a political trifecta. Exposito, as some of you may […]

County commissioners get payback from Chair Sosa

County commissioners get payback from Chair Sosa

The payback is plain as day: Miami-Dade County Commissioners who voted against the installment of Chairwoman Rebecca Sosa were not given important seats — neither on committees nor on the dais. I’m talking figurative seats on committees and actual seats, for their butts, people. Not only does Sosa decide who serves on what committee — leaving […]

“Crazy Joe’s” campaign help in Doral = $144,000 a year

“Crazy Joe’s” campaign help in Doral = $144,000 a year

When former Miami Mayor Joe Carollo was taking newly elected Doral Mayor Luigi Boria, then a candidate, around during the campaign and helping him, he told Ladra he wasn’t being paid one cent. Looks like Joe Carollo knew he had something to be happy about way back at the swearing in of the county mayor […]

Future Florida Gov Adam Putnam gets little local love

Future Florida Gov Adam Putnam gets little local love

The future governor of this state came to town Wednesday, and none of usual suspects came to see him. In fact, the only elected at the meet-and-greet opening of the new Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs office in Doral with Ag Commissioner Adam Putnam was new Doral Councilwoman Christi Fraga. Well,for the whole […]

Arrested: Two-time Gables candidate Richard Martin

Arrested: Two-time Gables candidate Richard Martin

Richard W. Martin II, a self-described real estate entrepreneur who ran for Coral Gables City Commission and lost twice, was arrested Monday on an outstanding warrant from New Jersey. Martin turned himself in Monday morning and is sitting in the Miami-Dade jail right now awaiting extradition, according to Miami-Dade County Corrections. But it gets way […]

Hialeah’s Castro shows ugly face again — against free speech

Hialeah’s Castro shows ugly face again — against free speech

You would think that in somewhere like Hialeah, where Cubans have flocked after fleeing the repressive regime on their island, the elected officials would be careful not to step on someone’s freedom of speech. But Mayor Carlos “Castro” Hernandez has proved yet again that he deserves his nickname by acting like the dictator despot that […]

Ceremonial delegation posts split NOT along party lines

Ceremonial delegation posts split NOT along party lines

Two weeks after Nov. 6 and the Republican bloodletting, legislators in the 305 chose new leaders for the Miami-Dade Delegation this week — and the cards continue to fall from the divisive election. State Rep. Eddy Gonzalez (R-Hialeah) and State Rep. Jose Felix “One More Pepe” Diaz (R-Kendall) defeated State Sen. Oscar Braynon II (D-Miami Gardens) and […]

Good news — and many races — for election withdrawal blues

Good news — and many races — for election withdrawal blues

Got the shakes yet? The sweaty palms? Yes, Ladra knows what election withdrawal is all about. I’ve got it bad. Now that we have been weaned off with the lingering Palmetto Bay and Doral run-offs, what is there left for campaign junkies like me? Well, while we may have to wait two years for county […]

Rich man Luigi Boria buys, er, wins Doral election

Rich man Luigi Boria buys, er, wins Doral election

As expected, Doral Councilman Luigi Boria was promoted to mayor Tuesday in a less-than-heated runoff race against former School Board Member Frank Bolaños — a letdown campaign in which the former spent more than half a million dollars (four fifths of it his own) for a $50,000-a-year job. Is Ladra the only one who wonders […]

In race to be Doral’s second mayor there is no No. 1

In race to be Doral’s second mayor there is no No. 1

The second mayor in the city of Doral will be elected today. And the race, decided in an off election rather than a high turnout presidential ballot, is turning out to be a choice between two supporting male roles. Neither Councilman Luigi Boria nor former School Board Member Frank Bolaños have the charisma nor apparent […]