Political Pics of the Week: Chairs, turkeys and holiday cheer

Political Pics of the Week: Chairs, turkeys and holiday cheer

It was a week marked by the installation or swearings and the choosing of electeds to lead governing bodies. But it was also a week marked by the first of what is surely to be multiple holiday bribes — you know, the frozen turkeys and bags of accompanying Thanksgiving feast items given away to grateful […]

Musical committee chairs is the power game at County Hall

Musical committee chairs is the power game at County Hall

The power at Miami-Dade County Hall is going to shift over the next few weeks as commissioners play musical chairs. Not only because they are expected on Monday to name the next chair, and all eyes are on Commissioner Jean Monestime for that. But also because in January, Monestime will dole out the committee leadership […]

Outgoing COS Lisa Martinez gets her very own Day

Outgoing COS Lisa Martinez gets her very own Day

Joining giants like Lebron James and Emilio Estefan and local heroes, the outgoing chief of staff to the county mayor got a the ultimate kiss up Thursday at the Miami-Dade Commission meeting, where her boss, Mayor Carlos “Mr. Giveaway” Gimenez proclaimed it Lisa M. Martinez Day. After just three years? What does she know? Gimenez […]

Re-elected by default: Sosa, Heyman have $500K to give away

Re-elected by default: Sosa, Heyman have $500K to give away

Now that they’ve been re-elected automatically, drawing no opposition — for the second term in a row — Miami-Dade Commission Chairwoman Rebeca Sosa and Commissioner Sally Heyman, who were also the only two incumbents to have no challenge in 2010, have almost half a million between them to distribute. And they have 90 days from […]

County incumbents rake up campaign cash, create economy

County incumbents rake up campaign cash, create economy

It has become common for mayoral campaigns to climb up into the millions, but the Miami-Dade Commission candidates are also raking up record amounts of cash this year — most for races that have no challengers so far. In between them, the six incumbents up for re-election have a total of $1.7 million collected in […]

Pet’s Trust campaign hits snags in Sweetwater, West Miami

Pet’s Trust campaign hits snags in Sweetwater, West Miami

In their drive to get the Miami-Dade Commission to pass a tax hike that was approved by voters in 2012 to fund the no-kill Pet’s Trust intiative, the organization that got the measure on the ballot — the measure since ignored by Mayor “By Poll” Carlos Gimenez and eight commissioners — is going around asking cities […]

Political Pics of the Weeks: Two weeks worth of politography

Political Pics of the Weeks: Two weeks worth of politography

The legislative session in Tallahassee opened almost two weeks ago and quickly became the center of universe. Several electeds from the 305 made the rounds with legislators, pressing their priorities and making their asks. Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner stopped in Tallly, where she met with Sen. Dwight Bullard (D-South Dade). Along for the ride, lobbyist Jose […]

Carlos Gimenez, Rebeca Sosa push county priorities in Tally

Carlos Gimenez, Rebeca Sosa push county priorities in Tally

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Chairwoman Rebeca Sosa have been hangin’ with our home boys in Tallahassee for two days to press for the county’s legislative priorities this session (there they are in this picture to the left with most of the Miami-Dade delegation). Priorities include the re-authorization of the Florida Enterprise Zone, which is […]

County commission incumbents raise big money to stay put

County commission incumbents raise big money to stay put

Five of the six Miami-Dade County commissioners up for re-election this year have raised more than $100,000 each — and half got close or surpassed $200,000 — to stay in office. Only Commissioner Javier Souto, who is seen as vulnerable and drew a second opponent last month, raised less than $100K. Much less, with $44,500 […]

Miami-Dade 5% compromise will compromise democracy

Miami-Dade 5% compromise will compromise democracy

It should be resolved today — the 5% deduction taken from county employees since 2009 will most likely be returned to them in a piecemeal way. It will likely be fashioned after the agreement reached with the two unions at Jackson Health System, which happened without Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who keeps saying it is […]