When the Florida Supreme Court on Monday ruled that an abortion rights measure and a referendum on recreational marijuana use could legally be placed on the November ballot, it wasn’t just a defeat for Attorney General Ashley Moody, who fought both measures and tried to keep them off the ballot on behalf of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Because both questions are expected to ignite Democrat voters and turn them out more, the ruling could also be a blow to Sen. Rick Scott, whose challenge from former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell has suddenly become much more dangerous. And it’s a slap on the wrist for Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, whose once paltry challenge from former Key Biscayne Mayor Mike Davey just got some juice.

Read Full Story

Add Miami-Dade to the growing list of governments and politicians that recognize Juan Guaidó as interim president of Venezuela.
The county commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution sponsored by Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz to join the United States in recognizing the president of Venezuela’s congress as the new leader.  The commission also approved a separate Diaz resolution urging Congress to pass the proposed Venzuelan Humanitarian Relief, Reconstruction and Rule of Law Act to provide humanitarian aid to those fleeing Maduro’s government.
“It’s time to say enough is enough to Nicolas Maduro’s socialist dictatorship and to stand with the people of Venezuela to restore freedom and democracy to their country, which has suffered so much under the Chavez and Maduro regimes,” said Diaz, whose district includes Doral — also known as Doralzuela — home to the largest concentration of Venezuelans in the U.S.
This is not the first time local pols condemn Maduro or stand with the Venezuelan opposition. But it’s the first time they have so much company.
Read related: SOS Venezuela: A trendy 2014 Florida campaign theme
The U.S., Canada and most of the nations in South America and Europe have recognized Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president after he led nationwide protests on two weeks ago on Jan 23 in which he declared himself interim president. He and millions of Venezuelans have demanded the resignation of Nicolás Maduro, a dictator who was “re-elected” last May in what everybody knows was a sham election and celebrated a lavish inauguration on Jan. 10.
“Miami-Dade County is proud to stand with the people of Venezuela and their demands for a restoration of freedom and democracy after decades of dictatorship and misrule by Maduro and Chavez,” Diaz said.
Part of the Venezuelan community is also in Congressional District 26, where newly-elected U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell — possibly the first local pol to make a statement supporting Guaidó — has been proactive.
“I have always joined the millions of Venezuelans in recognizing the National Assembly as the only legitimate governing institution in Venezuela and calling for new elections,” Mucarsel-Powell said on the 23rd, the same day as the protests, in front of the Equestrian Simon Bolivar memorial in D.C. (photo, right).
“I am hopeful that this step of invoking the country’s constitution to declare Maduro an illegitimate president and have interim President Juan Guaidó legitimately fill the vacancy will bring Venezuela closer to restoring stability and democracy to their country,” she said. “The Venezuelan people – those who have remained in the country as well as those who have fled – have suffered tremendously, and Maduro can no longer lead the country. Estamos con ustedes.”’
One day earlier, Mucarsel-Powell had held a roundtable discussion with community leaders and immigration rights advocates to address the Venezuelan political and humanitarian crisis, as well as her efforts to extend TPS to Venezuelans and Nicaraguans currently residing in the United States. The participants were urged to share their experiences navigating our broken immigration system, so Mucarsel-Powell can share their stories in Washington.
Read related: Blue wave wipes out in Florida and 305, with two bright silver linings
Other electeds also released statements on on the 23rd:
“Today, 61 years after the overthrow of the dictatorship in Venezuela, Venezuelans take the streets to demand freedom and an end to the illegitimate regime of Nicolás Maduro,” said State Sen. José Javier Rodríguez. “I stand in support of the Venezuelan community in their efforts to defend democracy and denouncing Maduro’s dictatorship, and to ensure that we will continue looking for solutions to address the socio-economic crisis that continues to affect the lives of millions in Venezuelans.”
Said State Senator Annette Taddeo: “Today I stand in support with people in Venezuela marching for freedom from Maduro’s tyranny, denouncing the illegitimacy of the Maduro regime and recognizing Juan Guaidó as provisional president.”
Mucarsel-Powell and Congresswoman Donna Shalala — who probably represents the second largest concentration of Venezuelans in the U.S. — joined six other members of Congress to introduce the Humanitarian Assistance to the Venezuelan People Act of 2019. The legislation calls on the Trump Administration to form a long-term humanitarian aid strategy, provide up to $150 million in humanitarian aid directly to the Venezuelan people, and direct the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations to make humanitarian assistance a global priority.
“Maduro’s illegitimate regime plunged Venezuela into a deep political and humanitarian crisis that has spilled over into the rest of the region and the hemisphere,” said Mucarsel-Powell, the first South American born member of Congress to be elected. She led a round table discussion last week with Venezuelan community leaders at her district office.
“I support a quick restoration of Venezuela’s democracy, which means supporting interim President Juan Guaidó, and I strongly urge him to quickly hold free and fair elections,” Mucarsel-Powell said. “Providing increased humanitarian assistance – more than the $20 million that was announced by the Administration – directly to the Venezuelan people is imperative to their survival and will be a stabilizing force in the region and the hemisphere.”
“Under Maduro’s  gross mismanagement,” Shalala said, “Venezuela’s once thriving economy has collapsed and its people are sicker, poorer, and less free. This bill works to help reverse those heartbreaking trends. By providing humanitarian assistance, we stand united as a country in our commitment to the leadership of interim President Juan Guaidó and freedom for the Venezuelan people.”
The other Congress members are Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Lois Frankel and Darren Soto of Florida, Sylvia García of Texas, of New York and Jamie Raskin of Maryland.
“The despotic rot and corruption of the Maduro regime has inflicted unimaginable suffering on the Venezuelan people,” said Wasserman Shultz. “It threatens to infect the entire hemisphere.
“Supporting interim President Juan Guaidó, along with open and fair elections, will restore democracy there in the long term, but only swift and substantial increases in humanitarian aid can help ease the tragic suffering its people face right now,” she said.
Said Soto:  “Maduro’s dictatorship has caused famine in what once was the wealthiest country in South America. We continue to see images out of Venezuela of kids scavenging for food out of trash, hospitals with medicinal shortages overflowing with patients, and refugees surviving the immigration journey in precarious conditions.
“As Venezuela resolves its political unrest within the country, it is our duty and moral responsibility to provide humanitarian assistance for those in need,” Soto said.
From their mouth to God’s ears.

Read Full Story

It started good at the top of the ticket. Then, ouch.
Was former Sen. Bill Nelson and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum actually winning with absentee ballots? Because early results had them just over 50.
Even Jeffrey “Doc” Solomon had 525 votes over newly-elected State Rep. Vance Aloupis, right, who ended up winning by 591 votes.
But that feeling of rising hope quickly turned to disbelief and dread when the blue wave turned into a wipeout after Gov. Elect Ron DeSantis and former Gov. and Senator elect Rick Scott turned it around.
We had a few bright spots where the wave did crash nicely.
Democrats gained two seats in Congress, with the election of Donna Shalala over Republican Maria Elvira Salazar (though not as solid as she should have) and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell‘s stunning victory over Carlos Curbelo. That’s a bright silver lining for Ladra that we will come back to.
And Ladra’s favorite new elected, mom gone mad Cindy Polo beat back former Miami Lakes Councilman Frank Mingo in District 103. That was a tremendous upset as Polo, right, was underfunded and losing in Miami-Dade, 56 to 44 percent. The voters in Broward — because the district also includes Miramar — saved us flipping those numbers so she won 53 to 47 percent.
But locally, Polo was it. Democrats failed everywhere else.
While Miami-Dade was overwhelmingly pro Gillum and pro Nelson — they won the 305 each with about 60% of the vote — and Democrats were able to defend Sen. Annette Taddeo from a challenge by Republican superwoman Marili Cancio (next time, Marili, don’t attack with lies about Taddeo and the NRA and talk about your own achievements), they let another Senate bid die and lost several opportunities to gain Florida House seats — even letting one flip red in District 118.
Former State Rep. Robert Asencio became a one-term legislator probably because he was too busy trying to help everybody else and didn’t campaign enough to keep his own seat. Granted, it was definitely an upset surprise for Anthony Rodriguez, who lost the primary two years ago to King David “Nine Lives” Rivera, to beat him ever so slightly, 51% to 49%.
The same narrow win gave Doral Councilwoman Ana Maria Rodriguez a seat in the House, replacing Ambassador Carlos Trujillo in District 105, beating Javier Estevez by a scant 560 votes. Democrats are used to voting for Ana Maria, right, that gap was expected to be even wider, but only because the party invested zero time and money in this flippable district.
The real pain comes with what happened up north, where special interest favorite State Rep. Manny Diaz Jr. beat firefighter hero David Perez for the Senate seat in 36 vacated by Rene Garcia (who will run for county commissioner in two years).
Now we heal and rest until next year when it’s time to gear up for 2020. Maybe Democrats will figure something out between now and then.

Read Full Story

Congressman Carlos Curbelo has made a big deal of the contributions collected by his first viable challenge since he beat former Congressman Joe Garcia in 2014. But his own money ain’t so clean.
Curbelo has taken at least $5,400 — $2,700 in 2016 and $2,700 again this past June — from billionaire conspiracy theorist Rex Sinquefield, who once said public schools were the product of the KKK while he worked to support private school vouchers, champion charter schools, and to bring an end to teacher tenure.
“A long time ago, decades ago, the Ku Klux Klan got together and said: ‘How can we really hurt the African American children permanently? How can we ruin their lives?’ And what they designed was the public school system,” Sinquefield said in a 2012 speech at a university in Missouri, where he is actively working to undermine the public school system.
It became quite a controversy and drew outrage from most if not all public officials and educators. Sinquefield is known as the equivalent of the Koch Brothers in Missouri, personally contributing more than $10 million to state and federal legislators that support his agenda.
Read related: Carlos Curbelo legacy in first term: Nod to cruise industry
Curbelo got money from another foe of public schools: Donald Trump’s Education Secretary Betsy DeVos contributed $1,000 to Curbelo when he ran for the Miami-Dade School Board.
This begs the question: Does Carlos Curbelo share the same disdain for public schools that they have?
Probably.
In 2014, when he was running against former Garcia in the primary, Curbelo bragged in a debate about cutting 1,000 jobs from our school district. In 2011, as a school board member, he voted on a budget that cut 280 jobs, including guidance counselors and college advisors.
Read related: Attack on Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is Carlos Curbelo being a hypocrite
There is a reason why the United Teachers of Dade have endorsed Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in the race for congressional district 26.
“We believe Debbie will make a difference in Congress by fully funding our public schools, supporting educational policies that put our students first and working to improve the lives of working people,” said UTD president Karla Hernandez-Mats.
“Every day, our teachers are working to improve the lives of over 350,000 children in Miami-Dade County. They deserve a representative who will fight for better schools and to ensure every student has a chance to fulfill their potential.”
That ain’t Carlos Curbelo.

Read Full Story

A new radio and TV ad in the highly contested race for congressional district 26 attacks Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell by tying her husband to a Ukranian oligarch accused of bribery, embezzlement and even contract murders.
But the ad, which started airing last week, really only proves two things: One is that Carlos Curbelo and those who support him — like the Paul Ryan super PAC, the Congressional Leadership Fund, that paid for the attack ads — are very worried about losing this seat in one of the most closely-watched and turnable contests in the nation.
The second is that Curbelo et al are hypocrites.
Read related: Primary elections bring few local surprises, leaving general on the hook
The ad bashes Debbie because her husband did legal work for Igor Kolomoisky, a billionaire banking magnate once called the Ukraine’s “secret weapon” because of a privately-funded army to fight off separatist forces.
“Mucarsel-Powell’s family got rich working off Kolomoisky’s businesses, and Mucarsel-Powell’s campaign has received thousands of contributions from Kolomoisky’s associates,” the narrator warns us in the 30-second spot. “Shady money from a shady foreign syndicate.”
But the ad doesn’t tell you how they know this. It’s because Mucarsel-Powell put it on her financial disclosure that her hubby got paid $700,000 in 2016 and 2017 from a Miami metals business whose parent company is partly owned by Kolomoisky. Her campaign has since said that any implication there was any actual connection or contact with Kolomoisky is an “enormous stretch” and Powell said in a statement that he never “worked for, represented, answered to, or received any payment from Mr. Kolomoisky at any time.”
But the point here is she disclosed it. Carlitos Curbelo could actually learn a lesson from that.
Read related: Carlos Curbelo hides lobbying client list under wife’s skirt
If you all will remember, Curbelo intentionally put his federal lobbying firm in his wife’s name before running for office precisely so he wouldn’t have to tell us who his clients were. He purposefully and very meticulously went through a process to hide his client list from us. Even after it was brought to his attention, he continued to hide his list of clients.
He had to admit to Jim DeFede that he represented Roberto Isaias, a convicted embezzler in Ecuador who is living as a fugitive in South Florida. And las malas lenguas say he also represented at some point Juan Carlos Tovar, the son of a Venezuelan government insider.
And that’s who we know about. What don’t we know?
Curbelo’s tendency to hide under his wife’s skirt and his reluctance to tell us who his “wife’s firm” represented was far more alarming and dangerous than Debbie Mucarsel-Powell’s husband’s six-degrees-of-Kevin-Bacon separation to the Russian mafia.
In fact, her transparency is a breath of fresh air.
 
 

Read Full Story

Sorry Ladra has had to take a week to recover from the primaries and, yes, I am talking mostly about congressional district 27, where I was part of the campaign. My candidate came in third and, even though she was always the underdog and most expected her to do worse, it still hurts a bit.
But not as much as the dread of November, where I have to choose between Republican Fidel fawner Maria Elvira Salazar and former UM queen bitch Donna Shalala.
I just threw up a little bit in my mouth.
The rest of the primary was oh so blah — Andrew Gillum‘s upset win being the only real bright light — that there was just no urgency to report or analyze the results or local impact or winners and losers. Even though former Miami Beach mayor Phillip Levine sure lost — even in hometown Miami-Dade — but I’ll get to gloat another day.
To be fair, on election night I was also watching two House races in real time: District 115, where I live and where Republican nominee Vance Aloupis rode his attack ads and establishment money to a short-lived victory — Jeffrey Solomon is poised to take this seat blue in November — and District 103, where Cindy Polo beat the plantidate and is well on her way to becoming a state rep. Former Miami Lakes Councilman Frank “Fat Chance” Mingo just got a new nickname.
Read related: Possible plantidate forces Democrat primary in House 103 for the GOP
True, there was that empty gut feeling after every county commission incumbent — even former Sen. Javier Souto, who is really going to embarrass himself now — won re-election. The problem is that nobody is getting serious about putting up real candidates and then giving them the support they need to win.
Ladra was surprised as anyone that Analeen “Annie” Martinez, the commissioner’s daughter, was unable to win the Republican primary, even though she was better financed than anyone by far — and than Juan Fernandez-Barquin by at least $100,000 not counting any PACs — and, one would think, have the more experienced campaign team. But Martinez came in 23 points behind Fernandez-Barquin, who got 44% of the vote.
There were some happy results, including David Perez for the Democratic nominee in the Senate race against Manny Diaz Jr. (more on that later), Jason Pizzo and Dotie Joseph over incumbents Daphne Campbell and Roy Hardemon, respectively, and former Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Grieco over the other two duds in that race. Grieco (photographed right) becomes the defacto state rep because that district is just bluer than the sky and will go Dem in Novem. I like Mike. I hope he is basking in this, which is a double whammy for Levine.
Now we move on to the general, which has to live up to all the 2018 election hype all by itself because he primary fizzled. Which races become important to Ladra now?
Read related: Michael Grieco best choice in House 113 race
Well, the governor’s race. I am Team Andrew and want to start looking into that election and those issues. Because almost anyone is better than Ron De Santis anyway. And, while I have to watch FL27 as a reluctant voter, I am more interested now in FL26 as a blogger and political junkie. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell has a real chance to take this seat away from incumbent Republican Carlos Curbelo, if she does it right. Part of that will be to expose him for the sniveling, lying opportunist that he is. Call me, Debbie.
We are also looking forward to the contest between Sen. Annette Taddeo and Republican superwoman Marili Cancio. Ladra sure hopes Annette is not taking her for granted. People tend to like Marili. Lots of people. Purple people, too. Even I like Marili.
Read related: GOP’s Marili Cancio vs Dem Sen. Annette Taddeo in ‘year of the woman’
But at the state level, Ladra is, as promised months ago, a single issue voter. Parkland is still fresh in my mind. Maybe it’s because my daughter was at a very similar high school in South Florida that day. Maybe its from the way I saw young people get woke. Maybe it was from watching Republican after Republican deny legitimate and worthy amendments and turn what could have been a national model for gun reform into a way to put guns in schools.
The real test of the impact the school shooting will have on elections is not in the primary, after all. It is in November. And it will be difficult for many of us to support any Republican this year because of their behavior after Parkland.
But it will be fun to watch them try.

Read Full Story