Few surprises and four runoffs in Miami-Dade commission contests

Few surprises and four runoffs in Miami-Dade commission contests

The only unexpected thing about the results from Tuesday’s Miami-Dade commission races is, perhaps, that Keon Hardemon didn’t win outright, meaning we will have four runoffs in November, not three, while three other races have been decided. As of 11 p.m., and with only two precincts still out in District 3, Hardemon — a Miami […]

Miami-Dade District 5 poll spells runoff: Eileen Higgins vs Renier DLP

Miami-Dade District 5 poll spells runoff: Eileen Higgins vs Renier DLP

The smart money is on a November runoff in Miami-Dade District 5 between incumbent Commissioner Eileen Higgins and retread has-been Renier Diaz de la Portilla, thanks to Miguel Soliman. While Soliman filed before Diaz de la Portilla, the youngest brother of the political dynasty has enviable name recognition and is expected to beat Soliman handily, […]

Corrupt Carlos Gimenez is caught by ethics commission covering his tracks

Corrupt Carlos Gimenez is caught by ethics commission covering his tracks

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and other top county officials used burner cell phones — yes, the kind used by drug dealers and money launderers — during their 2018 China trip so we wouldn’t know they met with representatives from Genting, which later became part of a group with an “unsolicited proposal” to build a monorail to […]

Renier Diaz de la Portilla files to run against Eileen Higgins in Miami-Dade

Renier Diaz de la Portilla files to run against Eileen Higgins in Miami-Dade

Updated: Following in his brother’s footsteps — again — former Miami-Dade School Board Member and State Rep. Renier Diaz de la Portilla filed to run against Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins this week. If this isn’t another sign of the apocalypse, Ladra doesn’t know what is. Diaz de la Portilla is the youngest brother of the DLP […]

Commission could cut community councils out for Fisher Island developer

Commission could cut community councils out for Fisher Island developer

Miami-Dade County Commissioners could cut the power to community councils Wednesday and change the rules on how they govern local zoning change requests so that more applications come directly to the commission. And it looks like this amendment to the process, established in 1996 to bring zoning decisions closer to the people and neighborhoods affected, is […]

Eileen Higgins draws 1st challenge from failed Miami city candidate

Eileen Higgins draws 1st challenge from failed Miami city candidate

Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins has drawn her first challenger this week to her re-election next year: Miguel Soliman, a general contractor who ran for Miami City Commission in 2017. Soliman filed documents Monday indicating he opened a campaign account to run for county commissioner in District 5. You may not have noticed Soliman in the Miami […]