This will be the year for Jeffrey “Doc” Solomon, a Pinecrest chiropractor who’s run for state House three times in District 115 and is finally on track to a win.
The evidence is not just in the internal poll that has him practically tied with the better-financed Republican transfer Vance Aloupis in the race to replace termed out State Rep. Michael Bileca. Or the fact that Hillary Clinton won this district by 10 points two years ago. It’s also in the barrage of negative mailers that have called Solomon a lobbyist and a tax dodger  saying he “isn’t trustworthy.”
Like in the state races in Hialeah, these negative attacks — really huge reaches in the dark — stink of last minute desperation. Ironically, or as expected, the attacks are what’s not very trustworthy.
He never registered as a lobbyist because he was not paid to lobby. Solomon, a chiropractor who has worked on TV sets, served as president of the Florida Chiropractic Association and advocated in Tallahassee on the organization’s behalf. He was an industry advocate in his role as the group’s spokesperson.
And after his business manager was found guilty embezzling $180,000 from his mobile practice, Solomon found that his business had failed to pay taxes from 2002 to 2004 and he immediately corrected it.
He did the same thing with the campaign documents that the Republican Party says he withheld. He was a first time candidate then, his own treasurer, and submitted the paperwork as soon as he learned it was missing. That is why he was never fined for the unintentional violation.
These details don’t matter to Aloupis, a time-groomed GOP poster boy who engaged in the same type of scare tactics against Jose Fernandez in the four-way primary but has since run from his Republican roots in an attempt to get the make-or-break NPAs in this race.
Read related: Vance Aloupis fails to mention GOP as required, courting NPAs in the general
Independent voters had a significant impact on the poll, done by the Solomon-connected Kitchens Group. While voters are pretty much split 45-45 on whether they want to keep the seat red or turn it blue more NPAs are siding with Solomon, 46-30 percent.
That might be because part of his platform is having Florida become an open primary state. He is the only candidate who openly talks about it on a regular basis and it makes this old NPA at heart feel warm and fuzzy inside. Certainly it is making many NPAs feel like they could have a friend in Tallahasee with Solomon.
When the choice was head to head between the two candidates, Solomon came out on top with 47% to 42% for Aloupis, with 11% undecided. The numbers are pretty close and well within the 5.5% margin of error, but represent a victory already for Solomon, who has been outspent by more than 5 to 1.
Aloupis raised $415,500 and spent $357,163 through October 12, according to campaign finance reports. Meanwhile, Solomon spent $65,434 of $87,757 raised.
“I’m running like I’m behind,” said Solomon, who lost to Bileca twice — first in 2012 and then again two years ago, losing 54-46. That gives him more name recognition: Only 37 percent of the voters polled said they didn’t know who Solomon was, while almost half of them don’t know Aloupis.
That could also be because Aloupis — an attorney and the $175,000-a-year CEO of The Children’s Movement of Florida — just moved to the area from Aventura, specifically to run in a seat he and the GOP believed he could more easily win.
The poll also showed a five-point lead in the district for gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum — and unfavorable numbers for Donald Trump.
Maybe Aloupis ought to stay away from the Trump-like attacks on his opponents.

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If you live in Senate District 40, where incumbent Sen. Annette Taddeo is facing a challenge from Republican superwoman Marili Cancio, then you also probably live in either House District 115 or House District 118.
This Wednesday, you have a chance to see the candidates in both your senate and house race at the first of three candidate forums brought to us by the Kendall Federation of Homeowner Associations, which has been hosting some well-attended candidate forums since at least 2011.
Beginning at 7 p.m., residents can hear from Democrat Jeffrey Solomon and Republican Vance Aloupis in the 115 race and State Rep. Robert Asencio and his Republican challenger Anthony Rodriguez in 118, as well as Taddeo and Cancio.
Read related: Vance Aloupis fails to mention GOP as required, courting NPAs in general
A week later, they will host Democrat Javier Estevez and Republican Doral Councilwoman Ana Maria Rodriguez, who are running to replace former State Rep. turned Ambassador Carlos Trujillo in District 105, Democrat James Harden and Republican State Rep. Daniel Perez from District 116 and Democrat Heath Rassner, who is running to replace termed-out State Rep. Jeanette Nuñez, who was tapped as LG for Ron Desantis, in District 119.
Juan Fernandez Barquin, the Republican in 119 who beat Analeen “Annie” Martinez, Commissioner Joe Martinez‘s better funded daughter, said he might be out of town, said KFHA President Mike Rosenberg.
KFHA wants to host the congressional candidates from District 26 and 27 on the 25th, but apparently only the incumbent, U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, has confirmed.
Read related: Carlos Curbelo is bad for public education; teachers back Debbie
“We’re still trying to confirm Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Maria Elvira Salazar, but we’re having a difficult time reaching them,” an email blast said.
Rosenberg told Ladra that Donna Shalala, the Dem running against Salazar to replace Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in #CD27, is willing and ready to come out any time, but that he has tried multiple times to reach Salazar to no avail.
“Sometimes I have to be beyond the ‘normal’ persistent in reaching out to candidates,” Rosenberg wrote in an email to Salazar he shared with Ladra. “For some reason there are candidates that don’t want to debate their opponents. I truly don’t understand that, but our forums are not debates, but rather questions. We want to know who you are and what kind of leader you would make. We simply want to ask you questions.
“I will continue to reach out to you as I believe our audience is very engaged and eager to learn.  As President of the Kendall Federation, I must try and make sure all the candidates appear. So, forgive my persistence, but I have always believed, if we can’t get you to meet with our community before an election, we’ll never be able to get you afterwards.”
Rosenberg, who said he hasn’t given up on Mucarsel-Powell either, is right about that.
The KFHA meetings are always in the Kendall Village pavilion at that shopping center, 8625 SW 124th Ave.

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Before the primary election, many households in State House District 115 were besieged by mailers, mostly from Republican hopeful Vance Aloupis, who won Aug. 28 by touting himself as the most conservative and Republican of the four candidates.
Now, suddenly, he’s not so GOP for the genenral.
A handout being left at homes by canvassers over the weekend is violating campaign law because it fails to disclose that Aloupis is a Republican. And Ladra doesn’t believe for a minute that it’s an honest mistake.
All his mailers have the right and legally required disclaimer, which the state says “must prominently state ‘political advertisement paid for and approved by (name of candidate), (party affiliation) for (office sought)’ or ‘paid by (name of candidate), (party affiliation) for (office sought).”
Notice that in both cases, party affiliation is a must-fill field.
This handout has a photo of his pretty family one one side and a hard working Aloupis on the other with the headlines “A new generation of local leadership” and “A lifetime dedicated to serving our community.” No mention of the GOP.
Some might think this is another sign that Donald Trump has stained the Republican Party and that Aloupis is trying to distance himself from the president. It does, at the very least, seem an attempt to appeal to NPA voters, where this race could be won.
“He is trying to deceive voters at the door,” said Jeffrey “Doc” Solomon, the Democrat running in House 115.
Aloupis was accused of trying to deceive voters during the primary, when he wore a guayabera and played dominos in a Spanish-language TV ad. His main opponent, Jose Fernandez, immediately said Aloupis was trying to pander to Hispanic votes by making himself look Hispanic when he is not.
He is, however, a Republican and the GOP’s handpicked replacement for Michael Bileca, who is termed out. Even if his materials don’t say so.

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Everyone is concentrated on the special elections this summer and there’s more than a year to go before the primaries for the state legislative races next year. But a few open seats have hopefuls planning early — none more than in House District 115, the seat vacated by termed-out State Rep. Michael Bileca, which happens to be where Ladra lives and votes.

There are now six candidates — including Jeffrey “Doc” Solomon, por supuesto — with opened accounts, according to the Florida Division of Elections.

Solomon is a popular chiropractor “to the stars” that has run unsuccessfully twice already as a Democrat challenger to Bileca. But he won both primaries against Ross Hanckock and then losing to Bileca. Last November, it was 46 to the Bileca’s 54 percent. But it was a 2-point slide from how he did in 2012, when he lost to 47-53.

Nevertheless, these are respectable numbers against a much better financed incumbent. Bileca spent a little more than $200K last year, compared to Solomon’s $62,800. Since he filed in June, Solomon hasn’t reported any campaign contributions for this race yet.

And in an open seat with no incumbent, Solomon might benefit just enough from much higher name recognition. That is, if he gets through another primary. So far, he is one of only two Democrats in the race. The other is James Linwood Shulman, who raised $2,852 in his first month, May.

But there might be a surprise before qualifying. Because while this is considered a Republican stronghold, it’s really just barely that. Former President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney were separated by just a few hundred votes in 2012. Our neighborhoods are split pretty evenly down the middle with a lot of NPAs, like Ladra, that could make the difference. It’s not completely unimaginable that this seat turns blue in 2018. Especially if the Trump trainwreck continues to unfold.

Read related story: Republicans start lining up for 2018 state primaries, challenges

Who knows, the Dems might wanna back Solomon. At least this perennial candidate has been consistent. After a brief and also unsuccessful run for Pinecrest city council, this is Solomon’s third attempt at this state seat. Maybe the third time is the charm. There’s something to be said about persistence. Gee, what a concept. Unlike a lot of 305 politicos, it hasn’t ocurred to him to move his residence in order to chase a more winnable seat because no esta pa’ eso.

And again, he’s got that coveted name recognition that Mr. Shulman, nice as he may be, ain’t got.

Are you paying attention Mr. Stephen Bittel? Or are you too busy eating crow after calling black legislators “childish” and licking your wounds fom the residency violation perpetrated by your protege, State Rep. Daisy Baez? Well, you wanted so bad to be chairman of the Florida Democratic Party, now get over your clumsy intro. There are bigger fish to fry.

Because there are four, count ’em, four Republicans already raising funds to run for the seat. That includes Vance Arthur Aloupis, CEO of the Children’s Movement and the heir apparent, who has already raised $150,900 — including an impressive $103K picked up in the first month (March) from many of the usual suspects, including some lobbyists, signaling that he is, indeed, the handpicked GOP choice. His political consultant is lobbyist Michaeld Cantens, who is also the son of former State Rep. Gaston Cantens.

The other Republicans are: Carlos Daniel Gobel who filed in March and has raised $1,975; Carmen Sotomayor, who filed in January and has reported raising $250; and Rhonda Rebman-Lopez, who filed earlier this month — so she’ll submit her first campaign financial report in July — and who has been way too excited about it on twitter.

None of them, so far anyway, stand a snowball’s chance in Little Havana. If this 115 primary were this summer, Ladra would predict a general match between Aloupis and Solomon.

But there’s more than a year to go before the candidates have to qualify. And who knows? Maybe if Annette Taddeo loses the District 40 special election this year, she’ll move back into Pinecrest in time for next. 


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Both the Democrats in the primary race for the seat in State House district 115 rossjeffare similar in that both are well-liked gringos, perennial candidates who have run before and who are running wholly positive campaigns. In fact, some people who know them both are having a hard time making a choice.

But if the end game is to take out Republican State Rep. Michael Bileca and flipping the seat to blue, then Ross Hancock presents the better odds.

First, let’s look at just the numbers.

Both Hancock and Pinecrest chiropractor Jeffrey Solomon have run against GOP incumbents, but in 2012, Hancock came closer to beating Erik Fresen (lost 51 to 49%) than Solomon got to beating Bileca (lost 53 to 47%). And, even more importantly, he did it with far less money. Hancock had $8,230 to Fresen’s $265,800. Solomon spent $75,000 to Bileca’s $523,000.

Read related story: Perennial candidates may face off in House 115 Dem primary

Also, if Bileca beat Solomon in a year when Obama topped the ticket, there is no reason to think he can’t beat him again when Hillary is expected to cause less excitement among Democrats.

Hancock, meanwhile, may have additional appeal:

  • He put his money where his mouth is this time, loaning himself $100,000 to get his message out. He was able to afford a giant billboard on U.S. 1 at 104th Street right on top of the Keg South in Pinecrest which he has hancocksignsecured through the general election (two million sets of eyes a day!) and still has more than $80,000 left. Solomon has loaned himself $5,300 and raised $18,500, but he has spent almost $18,000 so he only has $6,000 left.
  • Hancock speaks Spanish, almost fluently. Hancock has been taking Spanish lessons for almost a year now. He wanted to be able to speak to the Hispanic voters in their language. He was on Buenos Dias Miami, Tomas Garcia Fuste’s Mira TV show, Saturday morning.
  • He was once a registered independent. One of his yard signs — Hancock has two versions — states “declare your independence,” and he plans to appeal directly to these voters in the general. This could also attract Republican voters who may not be happy with their presidential nominee.
  • He has a lot of influential endorsements. And that can translate into a lot of votes. The United Teachers of Dade endorsement pulls teachers and their families and people who think education is important. Ditto for the United Faculty of Miami-Dade. The SAVE endorsement pulls the gay vote and their families. The AFL-CIO endorsement pulls public employees and their families.

But don’t take my word for it. Go to the website for each candidate. If you look at even just the about page, you will see a huge difference. Solomon’s entire page is dedicated to how he has developed his professional career as a sports medicine celebrity. One almost gets the feeling this election presents another professional opportunity. Hancock’s is more about his dedication to environmental causes and his family.

Ladra also saw Hancock turn a Republican voter right in front of my eyes in the parking lot at the Coral Reef Library over the weekend. Well, actually, the Palmetto Bay voter was uncommitted — until Hancock told her about Bileca’s hancocksignsvotes on open campus carry and fracking laws. Now, she’s voting for him. She even took a yard sign home!

And those signs! In all her years covering campaigns and elections, Ladra has never seen such a great sign, which is basically a photo of Hancock, paddling through the Everglades in a kayak he built out of mahogany marine plywood.

He built his own kayak! If that doesn’t scream Tallahassee I don’t know what does.

hancocksign3


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Perennial candidate Ross Hancock is running against another Democrat for the opportunity to RossTrumpface State Rep. Michael Bileca in November.

But it might also look like he’s running against Donald Trump.

Hancock has a mailer going out this week to Hispanic Democrats that plays on their alleged distaste for the brash millionaire GOP presidential nominee. It’s also entirely in Spanish.

Existe Trump porque no hay respeto hacia ustedes, porque él no los escucha,” it says, or “Trump exists because there is no respect for you, because he doesn’t listen to you.”

Read related story: Perennial candidates may face off in House 115 primary

“I respect you and understand you,” it says on the other side of the 6X11 postcard, explaining how he’s taken Spanish classes — “despite being 60 years old” — to better communicate with the Latino voting bloc.rossspanmail

“My Spanish is not perfect, but I continue to study, as my task will be to represent the members of my community, and language proficiency, without doubt, will be a great tool value for this purpose,” he writes.

“English speaking by birth. Spanish speaking by choice. Democrat by heart.”

The piece, timed for the week before absentee ballots are mailed to voters, shows how much local pols think the top of the ballot will affect voters here. Some observers say 305 Republican incumbents could be in trouble because, in a blue county where Hillary Clinton leads the polls, even many voters are still #NeverTrump. A recent Bendixen Amandi poll for Univision and the Miami Herald showed that one out of five Miami-Dade Republicans would vote Hillary.

But a Democrat using it in a primary is still interesting. Ross faces another perennial candidate, Jeffrey Solomon, on Aug. 30.

Mostly, Ross is using his new Spanish-speaking skills to woo Hispanic Democrats now, and Latino independents in the general, to show that he will be a better listener and representative because, well, he speaks their language.

Ladra wonders if Sr. Solomon habla español.


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