No election date yet, but mailers started in eventual special election for HD 113

Just because there’s isn’t a date called yet for the special election in House District 113, the seat vacated by former State Rep. Vicki Lopez — who left when she was appointed to the county commission — doesn’t mean there isn’t any campaign mail.
Tony J. Diaz, a small business owner, dropped the first USPS missive this week and actually coined a name that Ladra will likely use forever: “Fishy” Frank Lago.
Fishy Frank is also running for the seat. He’s run for state house before — in Hialeah, where he also ran for a council seat once. That’s why it’s hard to believe him when he says on an Instagram video, from a Brickell balcony, that he’s lived in Miami all his life — unless he means Greater Miami.
Read related: Two more jump in: Bruno Barreiro, Gloria Romero Roses join HD 113 race
There is another Republican circling the drain on this one. Former Miami-Dade Commissioner Bruno Barreiro, who was also once a state rep, who resigned in 2018 to run for Congress (he lost). Just because Diaz hasn’t hit him yet, doesn’t mean he won’t. There’s just too much information available But Lago is seen as the establishment choice and has already been endorsed by Lopez.
“I know and trust Frank Lago to carry the torch forward. Frank will bring the dedication, character, and work ethic that this district demands and deserves. He has a true servant’s heart and I’m proud to give him my full support as he launches his campaign,” Lopez is quoted as saying in Florida Politics.
Like it was planned. Wink, wink.
“Florida is NOT FOR SALE,” starts the mailer, quite likely the first in the race that’s not a race yet.”Don’t let my opponent sell Florida. Wherever Fishy Frank goes, bad news is right behind.”
Under the “naughty list,” Fishy Frank — depicted as a vampire — is remembered as chief of staff to former Sweetwater Mayor Manny “Maraña” Maroño, who was convicted on corruption charges and served 40 months in prison. Diaz’s mailer also mentions Lago lying in a sworn affidavit about his family’s benefits from a park annexation (more on that later).
It ends, “send him packing to one of his other houses,” a reference to carpetbagger allegations because Lago’s whole world has been in Hialeah. And Diaz — who also flirted with running for Miami commission and applied for the county D5 appointment that went to Lopez — asks voters to “text me your political wishlist.” Providing a phone number: 786-774-2125. And yeah, it’s his personal cellphone, not a campaign flack.
The front side of the mailer has a holiday message from the candidate: “Dear Neighbor, I’ve been really good this year,” he starts. “All I want for Christmas is your vote!” It also lists some of his priorities: Stopping corruption and developers influence, increasing the homestead exemption to $500,000, build climate resilient infrastructure and mandate special elections for every vacancy.

That’s una indirecta. Gov. Ron DeSantis still hasn’t called a special election and the district is likely to go unrepresented in next year’s legislative session. The Florida statute that gives him that authority does not seem to put a clock on it.
Diaz and others have been calling his office daily to urge him to make the call. But if the guv fears that the seat, like so many around the country, might turn blue (read: “¡comunista“) — and there are also two Democrats waiting in the wings to run for HD 113 — he might drag his feet for as long as he can. He already has a well-documented habit of sitting on vacancies until it suits him.
Read related: Ron DeSantis leaves HD 113 without a voice because he can — as always
But let’s refocus on the gold nugget here, “Fishy Frank.” Diaz has promised a rough and tumble campaign if the establishment pushes Lago. On the platform formerly known as Twitter, Diaz posted yet another message to the GOP: He could go so negative that the Republicans could lose the district.
“In my primary for FL House Dist 113, I am the only candidate without baggage,” Diaz posted, about 2 a.m., calling on the Florida GOP and Chairman Evan Power, specifically, “to get these jokers out of my way. “I will bring up everything they’ve ever voted on, every ally, every connection, and drag them through the mud. We will lose the seat.”
He followed up with a second post: “I will not let special interests get another puppet. Republicans need better cleaner nominees that call it how it is and Floridians need the same. You have been warned.”
Ladra got chills. The good kind. Smart campaign people will say he’s blowing cash too early on. But maybe that’s the point. He’s obviously trying to scare the competition in the Republican primary away.
But it doesn’t seem like an empty threat. It sounds honest. Bold. No holds barred.
And it might just be the kind of real talk Tallahassee needs.
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