Jose Pepe Diaz to turn to city of Sweetwater to prolong political power

Jose Pepe Diaz to turn to city of Sweetwater to prolong political power

Former Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz, who was termed out and was replaced with former Doral Mayor JC Bermudez last week, hinted on NBC6 with Jackie Nespral that he could run for mayor of Sweetwater next. But who does he think he’s kidding? Everybody knows this has been his plan all along. What? Was […]

Sweetwater’s Sophia Lacayo charged with perjury for living outside city

Sweetwater’s Sophia Lacayo charged with perjury for living outside city

In another example of selective enforcement, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced Tuesday that it had charged Sweetwater Commissioner Sophia Lacayo with perjury for swearing that she lived inside the city — where she was elected in May of 2019 — when she really lives in unincorporated Miami-Dade. Lacayo was forced to resign as […]

Sweetwater mayor touts fake endorsements he doesn’t have

Sweetwater mayor touts fake endorsements he doesn’t have

Sweetwater Mayor Orlando Lopez must be feeling the heat as the days get closer and closer to the runoff for his seat against former mayor and longtime nemesis Jose M. Diaz — and, perhaps, his ouster from City Hall. Because on Monday and Tuesday, a week before the runoff, a mailer landed in some voters’ […]

Sweetwater mayoral runoff is a ‘shoot-out’ between arch enemies

Sweetwater mayoral runoff is a ‘shoot-out’ between arch enemies

Attack campaign jingles, scantily clad women at polls and the alleged attempted murder of a campaign worker whose car was reportedly shot at Monday morning as he drove around with a loudspeaker urging voters to support one of the mayoral runoff candidates. It may be one of Miami-Dade’s tiniest cities, but elections in Sweetwater always promise […]

Five mayors back Jose “Pepe” Diaz — but not homeboy Orlando Lopez

Five mayors back Jose “Pepe” Diaz — but not homeboy Orlando Lopez

Miami-Dade Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz will launch his re-election campaign in Doral Thursday with the mayors of five cities in his district who are supporting his bid. Doral Mayor Juan Carlos “JC” Bermudez, Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez, Hialeah Gardens Mayor Yioset De La Cruz, Virginia Gardens Mayor Spencer Deno and Medley Mayor Roberto Martell will host […]

Sweetwater election fallout creates anti mayor majority

Sweetwater election fallout creates anti mayor majority

Who is really in charge in Sweetwater? Some might think it’s the newly elected mayor, Orlando Lopez, who won Tuesday with 55%  of the vote after he booted his main opponent, defacto incumbent acting mayor Jose Diaz, off the ballot when a court agreed with his lawsuit that said Diaz should have resigned his commission […]

Sweetwater election ends today, but war is just starting

Sweetwater election ends today, but war is just starting

Sweetwater Commissioner Orlando Lopez is expected to become the new mayor of Sweetwater after today’s elections. Not just because his allies, including Commissioner Isolina Maroño, are adept at the collection of absentee ballots. And not just because Deborah Centeno, a Nicaraguan activist who should win because she is the only really clean one, couldn’t muster enough of […]

Absentee ballots watched, delayed in Sweetwater election

Absentee ballots watched, delayed in Sweetwater election

Absentee ballots for Sweetwater’s May 12 election were supposed to land in mailboxes this week. But they will be delayed at least a week after a judge ruled Monday that Sweetwater Mayor Jose Diaz cannot be on the ballot. An appeal has been filed and the court has granted an emergency stay of the ABs […]

Sweetwater’s mayor ordered off ballot, would go back on dais

Sweetwater’s mayor ordered off ballot, would go back on dais

A judge ruled on Monday that Sweetwater Mayor Jose Diaz cannot run for mayor because he did not officially resign from his commission seat, as required by Florida’s “resign to run” law. Miami-Dade Civicl Court Judge Barbara Areces said Diaz — who was appointed mayor after former Mayor Manny Marana Marono was arrested on bribery […]