Miami is a fast paced community with a rapid fire news cycle. Our blog keeps you current on the most important issues affecting the tax payers of Miami-Dade county. Read, share, comment, and as always let us know what topics you want us to tackle.
Sentinel: UCF scandal gives Florida House fodder to cut university funding
Sentinel: UCF scandal gives Florida House fodder to cut university funding
Ralph Cabrera outraises opponents in 4-way Gables commission race
Former Coral Gables Commissioner Ralph Cabrera had his best two weeks of fundraising this cycle, with $46,275 collected over the last two weeks of February. According to the last campaign finance reports filed at City Hall this week, that accounts for more than half of Cabrera’s total of $83,545.
With a fundraiser hosted next week by former Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, Cabrera is well on his way to raise more than $100,000 for this race.
Read related: In Coral Gables, campaign cash goes out as quickly as it comes in
He is likely to surpass Jorge L. Fors, Jr., the newby flash out of nowhere who has been leading the money pack up to now. Fors had raised $92,700 as of Feb. 28, but his momentum has slowed way down, picking up only $8,350 in the last two weeks.
Cabrera raised more than five times as much during the same period.
Former Interim City Manager Carmen Olazabal — described as “timid” during the candidate forum Thursday, where she barely made eye contact with anyone — raised another $5,245 for a total of $32,916. She has spent about half of that already, so she is left with about $16,800 cash in hand.
And Jackson “Rip” Holmes — thanks for the many plugs, man — loaned himself another $515 to pay the qualifying fee. The total $1,800 he’s raised has all come out of his own pocket.
With little more than a month to go before Election Day, Cabrera has become the man to beat. He had a great night at the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce candidate forum Thursday, showing his knowledge of city issues is way beyond the others’, and is gaining momentum as absentee ballots arrive. Even the poll done by Dario Moreno, who is helping Olazabal, has Cabrera gaining while Fors slips and Carmen slips into oblivion.
Read related: Coral Gables candidate Jorge Fors had illegal Homestead exemption
Cabrera’s big bank this last period came with very little bundling: $3,000 from lobbyist Eric Zichella, another $3,000 from companies managed by Juan Carlos Mas and Michelle Zubizarreta, and another $3,000 from a commercial real estate firm at 2601 South Bayshore Drive.
Other notable contributions include $1,000 from Commissioner Xavier Suarez‘s political action committee and $500 from former Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas (the last two are potential 2020 county mayoral contestants), $1,000 from former State Rep. Manny Prieguez, a lobbyist, and $250 from Les Pantin.
The former commissioner spent $14,453 during the same two weeks, mostly on consulting services and a $3,270 mailer. His total expenses to date are $21,731, which means he still has more than $50,000 to spend this last month.
And contributions keep coming in.
Ledger: Senators not ready to overhaul university spending
Ledger: Senators not ready to overhaul university spending
Watchdog: Florida Senate, House insurance reform bills advance at DeSantis prodding
Watchdog: Florida Senate, House insurance reform bills advance at DeSantis prodding
Sun Sentinel: Don't give money to stadiums, says bill proposed by South Florida lawmaker
Sun Sentinel: Don’t give money to stadiums, says bill proposed by South Florida lawmaker
AP: Parkland shooting: Suspended sheriff sues Florida governor
AP: Parkland shooting: Suspended sheriff sues Florida governor
Herald: Speaker Oliva’s aggressive agenda on healthcare starts moving through Legislature
Herald: Speaker Oliva’s aggressive agenda on healthcare starts moving through Legislature
Sun Sentinel: Suspended Broward Sheriff Scott Israel files lawsuit to get his job back
Sun Sentinel: Suspended Broward Sheriff Scott Israel files lawsuit to get his job back
Sentinel: Bright Futures bill: Students might need higher SAT scores to earn scholarships
Sentinel: Bright Futures bill: Students might need higher SAT scores to earn scholarships
POLITICO: Power play: DeSantis challenged over suspensions
POLITICO: Power play: DeSantis challenged over suspensions
