Crunch time: Big push for July fundraisers before Friday deadline

Candidates in our local county and state elections have only four more days to rake in as much race cash as they can before the July 16 reporting deadline. There are a few fundraisers planned for this crunch time and these are some of those, in case anybody wants to attend.

BTW, suggested contribs are just that: Suggested.

Brickell will see supporters for two democratic candidates for the state house tomorrow night. You can do both. A fundraiser for Millie Herrera (D), running for seat 114, begins at 6 p.m. at 1925 Brickell Ave. in Building C, according to the Dems of South Dade. In the lobby, you are supposed to ask for the event hosted by Marcelino Miyares, a Cuban-executive media and marketing executive and president of the Christian Democratic Party of Cuba. Co-hosts are Pepe Vazquez and Rene Hernandez, two of the three vice presidents of the exile organization (http://www.pdc-cuba.org). It goes 'til 8, but leave in the middle if you want to catch a reception for Katie Edwards, the farm bureau chief running for seat 119, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Epic Hotel, 270 Biscayne Blvd. Way. Be prepared to fork over $100 for complimentary drinks and "the ambience of the posh Epic hotel" at the event, according to the invite from a group calling itself "young professionals." While that host committee has more than 20 hosts -- including Kim Bokamper, State Rep. Evan Jenne, Andrew Korge, Cameron Sisser, Cedric McMinn and Laura Murray of the Miami-Dade Young Dems, Franco Ripple of Obama for America -- it was still "in formation" Sunday.

A bigger crowd is expected Thursday as the Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink llega a la pequeña habana. The local DEC hosts the 7 p.m. fundraiser at the Cuba Ocho Art and Research Center, 1465 SW 8th St., for $20 a head -- but $100 gets you on the host committee and $200 lists you as a sponsor.

One Sink supporter, Annette Taddeo, will likely skip the Little Havana fete -- unless the Miami-Dade Commission candidate, one of Sink's hosts at the Biltmore brunch in December is a little late to her own fundraiser in Pinecrest that evening hosted by founding Pinecrest Mayor Evelyn Greer and founding Pinecrest councilman Leslie Bowe, among others.

Republicans don't have to stay home, though. The Broward Women's Republican Club and a few other groups will host a lunch reception for Bill McCollum at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at YOLO Restaurant, 333 East Las Olas Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale. In addition to the BWRC, the hosts are the Coral Springs/Parkland Republican Club, the East Broward Federated Women’s Republican Club, the Greater Deerfield Beach Republican Club, the Lauderdale Beach Republican Club and the Republican Business Network. Cost is $15 and is considered a contribution.

Local Reps can support Ralph Rosado (R), a candidate for state house in district 117, at a "fundraiser cocktail" at Novecento, 121 Alhambra Plaza, in Coral Gables starting at 6 p.m. Hosts Gonzalo Acevedo, Ariana Fajardo, Jack Gonzalez, Carlos Hernandez and Jose Perez de Corcho call it "a night of conversation and good fun" on the facebook invite.

Attorney Lisa V. L'Esperance (D), is running in the same seat but has her next fundraiser next week, after the deadline, on July 22 in the Atrium at the Palmetto Bay Village Center, 18001 Old Cutler Road, a 300,000 square-foot office center that opened in 2004. No time yet on the notice from the Democrats of South Dade Club. But the visit could be a two-fer if you are looking for office space: There is more 20,0000 square foot available, according to the site plans on the website. (http://www.palmettobayvillagecenter.com; 6th Floor South (PDF)).

(Photo caption: Lisa V. L'Esperance, Sandra Ruiz and Millie Herrera are all running in different house districts. L'Esperance and Herrera have fundraisers planned this week).