Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Outsiders outraise incumbents

While the mayor's race in Hialeah seems to be attracting the big bucks -- former mayor Raul Martinez and former State Sen. Rudy Garcia (REP, District 40) have more than $240,000 between them -- the money is not trickling in as much for council candidates.

Not all the campaign finance reports for the upcoming Hialeah elections are in, but those that are indicated new candidates running for Jose Yedra's open seat or challenging the sitting members of the council are out-raising the incumbents.

Only two incumbents had filed reports that were due Monday. Vivian Cassals-Muñoz raised $600 and Jose Caragol, $800. Combine that with the $1,000 interim Mayor Carlos Hernandez gave himself, and it looks like the First Hialeah Bank of Julito has run dry, or at least it's political campaign division.

The reports can also be mailed in and they are on time as long as they were postmarked Monday. And that means we should have them by tomorrow, for sure. But already, from the ones the city clerk does have, the outsiders are drumming up more campaign contributions.

Leading the list of candidate contenders is Danny Bolaños, the former police chief's son and ex-cop himself who resigned in 2003 after a police shooting that was reviewed more than most in what seemed like a politically-charged atmosphere (he had years earlier been accused of using excessive force and acquitted of simple battery for the same incident). He now works in at the Hialeah Housing Authority (which is always good for a few thousand absentee ballots). Bolanos, who lost a bid for the council in 2009 but has deep support among Hialeah's hierarchy, has raised $10,550 for his run and has not declared which seat he will go after. His report also shows he stopped fundraising on June 8, around the time he started helping Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez win votes in Hialeah. Strange then, that among his donations are two $500 maximum contributions from the Cayon family, who donated tens of thousands to the Bolanos nemesis, former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina, who lost to Gimenez in the runoff.

Number 2 in the money race on council seats is Ramiro Sicre, who has declared to run in Group I for Yedra's open seat and has raised almost $9,000. Only $845 was in the last period, however, and much of that from outside Hialeah or even Miami-Dade as he apparently hits up friends in Winter Springs, Orlando, Davie and Sunrise, as well as Tucker, Georgia. In the same group, Fernando Alvarez -- the first guy to put signs up everywhere -- -- raised $1,440 in the last period (all from Hialeah or Miami Lakes) for $3,550 total.

Ladra still needs to chew on these reports, compare them to each other -- to see who is helping who -- and look for more Robaina (and Gimenez) money to see how these candidates are aligned. But that takes a little more time and you, dear readers, were chopping at the bit for whatever information there is, since Hialeah does not put the campaign reports online.

And maybe there will be more reports to consider tomorrow. Ladra is particularly interested in the one from State Rep. Eddy Gonzalez (REP, District 102), who had already reportedly raised more than $100,000 for his mayoral bid but has not been heard from and is rumored to be dropping out and dropping into a council race. He has likely spoken to both Martinez and Garcia because Gonzalez is now the prize.

Since council members are elected at large in Hialeah, not by district, and often run on slates that combine their expenses, both Garcia and Martinez would do wise to get him on their "teams" and get some of that money.

Especially since it looks like nobody else has any.

15 comments:

  1. Thank's Ladra that hit the spot for now, sure hope Eddy comes back to Hialeah's council and runs against the gavel banger. Eddy Gonzalez does not need to be placed on a slate any longer. Everyone in Hialeah knows Eddy and he is accesible,he should run for a council seat and not the mayors position for this upcomming election. Eddy for Council sounds great. Eddy running for Garcia-Martinez seat sounds even better.

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  2. Looking good! Would like to see a total change in City hall!

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  3. A complete make over for all the women is a great idea.

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  4. Well, as another five-letter word for woman, Ladra would not like to see an all-testosterone board. Hope Cindy Miel decides to jump into the ring. And I heard that she was going to open a bank account in the last few days so that's something. But an entirely new council -- even if some of them are recycled -- would be a breath of fresh air.

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  5. Cindy should run for Yedra's seat or Vivian's it's a simple win. Alex or Danny for Caragol's should also be an easy take. Let Eddy go for Isis seat that one would be really fun to watch. Everyone likes Eddy no one likes Isis.

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  6. Julios Hialeah bank will never run dry fool.Just staying in the sidelines so shut up and stop pissing us off before we go and get 80 percent of the Hialeah voters. So shut up you stupid want to be reporter.

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  7. Why were you fired? For trying to take someone's husband that was your boss? Want to play ? We play now!!! Martinez kiss ass.

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  8. Incredible that the above anon. thinks Julito will be around to take 80 percent of anything from Hialeah voters. FYI the cat's out of the bag. Show us the money. The tax payers have a right to know. Get over the bitterness of his Loss and move on. If you have not been paying attention Hialeah is in trouble and the council assisted in it's final destination.

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  9. Staying on the sidelines? More like he was put on the bench by the voters across Miami-Dade. Get your head out of the hole.

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  10. 32 million in bank account with 19 million committed in Raul committed jobs assholes. Real truth of miami will show you how wrong Raul is with all these bull shit accusation. Robaina lost election because that bull shit poll the herald paid big dollars .
    Read to see Robaina 80 percent of hialeah voters in this past election asshole.
    You talk shit on Robaina and are now supporting Raul that was convicted of a crime and is running for all the wrong reasons fool.
    Robaina is disappointed with the loss but is moving forward. Is sporting a great sun tan lately because you probably did him a favor.

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  11. Garcia is going to kick rauls ass in the upcoming election.

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  12. Second to last anon. Seems like your really upset over Robainas loss. Real truth of Miami, what is that? Or did you mean The truth for our community? Isn't that the group that wanted to illiminate term limits in Hialeah? Real sharp idea that was, seems Robaina (according to your 80 percent) can only get elected in Hialeah though he ditched it fast enough when he saw the financial hardship he had put the City in (along with the YES council. If the residents along with the factual reporting did him a favor by getting him that mighty needed tan then shouldn't you say Thank You? Also please note that the stage is filled with suntanned actors that put on a happy face for the perception of the public.

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  13. No financial hardship, that is what the press is trying to manipulate. The real truth of miami. Com will have those numbers. Stay posted

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  14. Wow. Enraged Anonymous and Will provide the comedic relief on this comment string!

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  15. It's been announced that the finances will be discussed (which is different than disclosed so I am not sure what will truly be known) tomorrow at 3 p.m. Ladra was off by an hour. (See next post). But if realuntruth has the figures, then that may prove the blog is someone within the administration or at least planted by them. Shouldn't everybody get them? Can't wait to see what is said tomorrow.

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