Brito's attack apology lame

We need to get out of here for another hot scoop on a state rep race but must post this first:

After Ladra noted earlier today that Miami Voice PAC chair Vanessa Brito, who led the recall against former commissioner Natacha Seijas, had allegedly denied her involvement in another PAC's negative attack ad against Commissioner and mayoral candidate Carlos Gimenez, Brito has apparently made those denials public.

And she quit her post as "media director" of The Accountability Project, formed by political consultant Keith Donner and funded, in part, by yet another PAC supporting Hialeah Mayor and county mayoral candidate Julio Robaina.

Brito did not return several calls from Ladra, but we got her statement from the other blog:

"Sometimes, people like myself who are relatively new to the 'scene' do not realize the background or baggage that comes with a professional request. I believe in transparency and accountability, one of the reasons I agreed to serve as a media contact for the Accountability Project. I did not form the PAC and I apparently did not do my due diligence on their motive for bringing me on board," she said. But she does not say that she, indeed, knows Donner. They have talked about campaigns before. She also knew Donner was working with Dario Moreno on a Gables candidate campaign and had used the [Non]Accountability PAC to smear an opponent in that race. And she forgot to mention that Moreno, who was her boss at FIU's Metropolitan Center, was her mentor and friend.

"I never thought the attacks emanating from this PAC would be so out of line and targeted at one candidate. I never thought my quotes would be misconstrued to an attack on one candidate for mayor."

Really? Okay, Vanessa (she always says I misconstrue her quotes also, very convenient), please explain exactly how they misconstrued this quote or what in it is misconstrued: "Commissioner Gimenez just doesn't get it. He's simply ignoring the will of the people." Or this quote: "Commissioner Gimenez is a career politician and bureaucrat with a long record of voting to raise his pay and benefits at voters' expense. He's the poster child for what's wrong with county government." (She loves that poster child quote, it is classic Vanessa). Or this quote: "We hope that the radio spot and website will allow voters to learn more about Commissioner Gimenez so they can make an informed decision about the candidates running for Miami-Dade mayor."

These are all from the press release and indicate that she knew about the radio piece and the website and that she knew it was geared against Gimenez. So is she lying yet again? I am willing to hear her out, but she won't speak up. She won't call me back. She just issues this non-apology that takes no responsibility for her mistake but places the blame, yet again, on everybody else.

"Political Action Committees serve a purpose in a community," she said, because she knows this whole episode helped Ladra show just how dangerous PACs and EOCs can be. "I am sorry I got involved with this PAC as I feel my name was sullied by the actions of the PAC. At this time, I only wish to be associated with my own PAC - Miami Voice, where I have control of the message." Wait a minute... isn't it the "voice of the people." Yeah, riiiiiight.

"As stated several times before, Miami Voice PAC will not endorse in the Mayoral or District 13 Commission races, but will provide a voter guide to voters with relevant issues to help them decide who will be the best candidate - for them, the people." Can't wait to see these "voter guides" and just how transparent they are going to be. Yeah, riiiiiight.

"As always, my professional private work will remain as such," (which could be another way of saying she got caught and will be more careful next time, but don't worry, dear readers, Ladra is good at finding the trail). "This specific case, however, is one I wish to clarify and to apologize to County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez for any statements attributed to me released by Accountability Project."

Gimenez told me this morning that she had texted him apologizing for the comments just before we spoke around 9:30 a.m. "But if she doesn't make that apology public..." he didn't finish the thought, but he didn't have to. It would mean nothing if she did not doing it publicly. And this self-serving justification is not even close. Please, commissioner Gimenez, don't buy it.

And start separating yourself from these Bramanite spin doctors who might be sabotaging your race.

Gimenez stays; Moreno goes?

After another high-profile candidate threw himself into the mayoral race last week and speculation grew that other big names would follow -- notably former mayors Alex Penelas (Miami-Dade) and Raul Martinez (Hialeah) -- some observers whispered Commissioner Carlos Gimenez, a front runners in the special election next month, might drop out.

Gimenez told Ladra this morning that was not going to happen.

"I'm in the race," he said in a telephone interview this morning. "I think that's just wishful thinking on the part of one of my opponents."

Gimenez would not say who, but other sources told Ladra that the rumor started on Cuban AM radio and could be linked to Hialeah Mayor Julio Roaina, who is considered the commissioner's strongest opponent. Or was.

Because Ladra also knows that the people around the other Robaina, former State Rep. Julio Robaina (REP District 117), who is ready to run to replace Gimenez in district 7, might have gotten a little nervous after the announcement by new candidate Jose "Pepe" Cancio -- who is seen as someone who would draw votes from Gimenez -- and a poll released by pollster Dario Moreno that said the commissioner trailed both Penelas and Robaina in appeal.

But wait just one minute. Isn't Moreno working for Gimenez? Why, yes. And he releases that poll? Ladra was not in political consulting very long (or very adept at these nuances) but is pretty sure that releasing a poll where the guy paying you is not number one, or at least number two, a big no-no. It could look like he is undermining his own candidate. Why would Moreno -- who is another one of those professional campaign people much smarter about those things than I -- publish those results?

Ladra is making predictions in these days as elections gear up, and wants to make a campaign prediction: Moreno will switch campaigns if hasn't already. If not by his own accord, it will be because Gimenez or his campaign manager JC Flores fire him. I know I would. Because we found some context, shall we say, not included in the Miami Herald's front page story about the poll.

The survey was commissioned by the Center for Voter Advocacy, the PAC tied to Emerge USA, a group of activist who formed in 2006 to work with under represented Muslim, South Asian and Arab American communities "to create the leaders of tomorrow in those communities," according to the website "These and other similar situated communities need Emerge USA to channel community members into the existing political structure of America in order to create those leaders who can one day run for office, work on political campaigns and get involved in the political party structure." On facebook, it states: "The broad goal of Emerge USA is to take the Muslim community from being a voice for Muslims to becoming a voice for all Americans."

Now, I am all for representing under represented communities (that is why I am against Emperor Norman Braman's Master Plan to redistrict commission seats and lose representative voices). But Ladra would like to see where that under represented community is. Because in five years, the Margate-based CVA has spent 45 % of it's $6,619 in contributions investing in Miami-Dade candidates. The PAC gave $1,000 in two $500 gifts to State Rep. Oscar Branyon (DEM Dist. 103) for his election (even though he ran unopposed) and gave $500 to former Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn in the district 8 commission race in November. (Flinn's campaign manager at the time was Keith Donner, whose own PAC has funded negative attack ads against Gimenez). CVA maybe changed their mind about the commissioner, because they had given Gimenez's 2008 campaign, but it was only $250 (same thing they gave to Public Defender candidate Carlos Martinez). Same year, they gave former county mayor Carlos Alvarez $500. (Huh?) They also gave $500 to Anitere Flores in 2009. I hope she has been representing their communities well with her immigration policies.

Again, PACs can be good, but need to be transparent. Why is this PAC paying or asking Moreno (did he do it pro bono?) to do a poll in the mayoral race? I would like to know who their horse is. Is it Cancio? Moreno worked for Braman on the recall of the mayor and Cancio suddenly appears as the white knight Braman wished for publicly a few weeks ago when he said he hoped a non politician would come into the race with his own money (Cancio loaned himself $160,000) and serve only until the 2012 election (which Cancio said was his intent). Daughter Marili Cancio (who lost the primary in U.S. Senate District 25 to Paul Crespo), was very supportive of the recall and Braman.

Ladra has always liked the Cancio crew (his family and my family were not necessarily close but were cordial co-members of the Vedado Tennis Club in Cuba). And, like Gimenez, I believe he is a good man with good intentions. But I'm skeptical of this last minute entry and potential Braman ties and I don't want him to be manipulated or used to dilute the vote.

Can we please have some transparency here about who is running who and behind who?

Political Cortadito will have some predictions in coming days and wants to make a campaign prediction now: Moreno will switch campaigns if hasn't already. If not by his own accord, it will be because Gimenez or his campaign manager JC Flores fire him. I know I would.

Brito's love/hate with Gimenez

Miami-Dade Commissioner and mayoral candidate Carlos Gimenez has learned the hard way, like Ladra did, that you just can't trust Vanessa Brito, chair of the Miami Voice PAC that led the recall effort against former commissioner Natacha Seijas.

Less than two weeks ago, Brito (photographed here at a 2009 event picking names for a door prize out of a bucket, much like Ladra supposes she picks names of who to support next) lauded Gimenez publicly. She was either working or volunteering for the Gimenez campaign along with pollster/consultant Dario Moreno, who worked at FIU and is Brito's mentor and political father. "Not anymore," said a campaign insider, confirmed by another Gimenez supporter.

That's because Brito seems to have switched sides and gone on attack.

Brito, who told Ladra Monday that she was doing voter data research for Norman Braman through an Arizona company called Silver Bullet that Braman has paid thousands to through his three PACs (more on that later), is named in an April 5 press release as the head of The Accountability Project, another PAC ("electioneering organization is a different way to say PAC) formed by political junkmail guru-turned-consultant Keith Donner. Both have said they are not working for any mayoral candidate, but the [Non]Accountability Project has received $10,000 from another PAC (it's a plague) chaired by Julio Ponce, director of the Hialeah Housing Authority (which is always good for a few thousand votes) and a close ally of the Mayor Julio Robaina, also running for county mayor. Donner, who also used the PAC to smear a Coral Gables commission candidate, formed several PACs in Miami Beach while he worked a candidate's campaign there and Brito dreamt up the TaxPayer Coalition PAC when she ran Mimi Planas commission bid in district 10 and was helping Johnny Farias in a state house race, so they share this strategy.

Ladra was not terribly surprised to find Brito -- who earlier said that Gimenez was on the ball -- switch sides and call him "the poster child for what is wrong with Miami-Dade" in a press release from the PAC announcing a "public education campaign aimed at exposing the truth about" Gimenez. Truth? Brito's truth depends on who is writing her check. In addition to the 60-second radio spot aired on Cuban AM radio, the campaign also has a website, www.gimenez-truth.com, with the possibly PBA-funded jingles poking fun at the commissioner and a tabloid like graphic similar to other smear mailers from Donner's templates with exclamation points, quotes taken out of context, and criticism on his pension and 25 years as a public employee. The release notes that Gimenez has two pensions, but fails to say that he contributed to them for over 25 years and says that "Brito also noted" Gimenez voted against term limits but failed to mention he voted against 12-year term limits because he favored 8-year limits. That's just disingenuous, Vanessa. You were there at the meeting. Gimenez also wanted to put the $95,000 salary and no outside employment provisions to be as separate measures. (Ladra is voting against limits with a salary and the language currently written, which we think was intentional sabotage).

Brito, who has been seen with charter committee chairman and Bramanite Victor Diaz, did not mention that Gimenez put all the 2008 charter review reform recommendations on the agenda and has brought up term limits four times in six years on the dais.

Truth? How can we tell when Vanessa Brito is telling the truth?

Is it when she thanks Gimenez on his profile page a day after the vote for [non]reform? Or when she posts this on her page later on March 25? "Thank you Commissioner Rebeca Sosa and Carlos Gimenez for recognizing what the people of Miami-Dade really want."

Now, 11 days later: "Commissioner Gimenez just doesn't get it. He's simply ignoring the will of the people."

Well, first he recognized what the people want. Now he ignores those people. What is going to be the "truth" tomorrow?

"We hope that the radio spot and website will allow voters to learn more about Commissioner Gimenez so they can make an informed decision about the candidates running for Miami-Dade mayor," Brito said to end the press release she probably wrote herself.

Informed? Don't you mean manipulated? Why don't you inform the voters that your PAC is being funded by Robaina?

Ladra also learned the hard way that Brito will say what is convenient to her and has not two but three sides to her mouth. And we are sure that, like Gimenez and his people, others Vanessicans will see Brito's true colors and begin to jump ship.

Maybe then they'll recall her.

Put amendments first, commission

Who would have thought the recall could have brought this, but now we have a real opportunity within the next couple of months to make some real, lasting changes at the county about the way our leaders are elected and, maybe, even how our public money is spent.

We can (it can be done) have charter amendments included in this next special election to replace the recalled Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Commissioner Natacha Seijas. That might make the $5 million cost of he election more palatable, and a better investment.

Will the commission snatch it away from us? Don't let them. Here's the deal:

The Miami-Dade commission has apparently agreed to meet Thursday to set a date for a special election to for the recall replacements (they don't dare appoint someone). Commission Chairman Joe Martinez said in a memo to his colleagues that they might also discuss charter amendments at that meeting. But I hope they talk about the latter first. Because they may have to table the mayoral and commission election, due to a timing conflict. Once commissioners decide to have a special election, they have to set a date within 45 days. But the law requires at least 60 days before they can put charter amendments on the ballot. That's a lousy 15-day gap.

And, maybe he forgot, but Commissioner Martinez (who wants to run for mayor in 2012) knows this. He said so himself at the Latin American Business Association meeting Wednesday in Coral Gables, that "because of the time limits" they could not include charter amendments in the certain election.

But wait just one second, Joe. There is one way that the commission could indeed include charter change requests and put the horse before the cart (what a concept!). When you meet next week, rather than set a date for the mayoral meeting, set a date for a referendum on charter changes like the term limits and district wide seats the public has been clamoring for. And you can add something about limiting public spending to $xx million unless the voters say so (that's my own). Then, later, at least 45 days or less before the charter amendments ballot date, you can set the date for the mayoral and commission races on that same ballot. Bingo!

Admittedly, it's not Ladra's idea. Wish we could have thought of it first. But Ladra got a memo forwarded to her that was sent to Martinez, who is running for mayor in 2012, from Commissioner Carlos Gimenez, who is running for mayor now and is willing to wait to set the date for that race. Gimenez did the math and suggested that the commission choose May 24, which is the soonest they can set the election for the charter amendments, at Thursday's meeting. Then, he wrote, the commission should meet a second time April 11 to discuss the process to replace the mayor and District 13 commissioner, and then put it on the May 24 ballot with the charter amendments.

Yes, we realize this leaves less than two months to write ballot language and get it approved. But the language should be easy to copy and customize from other municipalities. We think it is an opportunity we can't afford to lose if we are going to spend $5 million on a post-recall election. Let's get our money's worth. What a bang for our buck!

Will special meeting be announced?

Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Joe Martinez announced just moments ago that he was going to have a press conference Monday afternoon "to address concerns that have arisen due to the outcome of the recall election and the direction the county will take moving forward."

He is likely going to announce a date for a special meeting where the commission can decide whether to appoint replacements for the recalled mayor and commissioner until the next countywide election (in early 2010) or have a special election within the next couple of months. But most people know they are going to go for the latter. Most of the commissioners have been publicly reported to favor an election. And Martinez himself said at Wednesday's Latin American Business Association meeting (photographed here at the Westin Colonnade on Miracle Mile in downtown Coral Gables) that there was going to be an election. Not may be. Not could be. Going to be.

"We will have an election, folks," he said in his casual, emcee style, and brought the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan into the perspective. "It's going to cost us a lot of money... but if people are fighting over there for democracy and shedding their blood, a couple of million dollars is nothing. It's really nothing."

Ladra heard that he spent some of his time Friday finding out what dates the other commissioners would have available to meet for this short agenda. But he will also use the opportunity to assure residents that there is no interruption of government business or services while the position is unfilled, one of his staffers told us. And he will answer questions from anyone who is concerned about county operations.

Pop tunes make mayor's race

Already, the campaign for Miami-Dade Mayor has become entertaining.

The recall had not even been confirmed by the canvassing board Friday when someone released and distributed via email on Thursday four jingles that jeer at one of the front-running candidates, Miami-Dade Commissioner Carlos Gimenez.

At least they split the jeers equally, two in English and two in Spanish.

One parody uses the Black Eyed Peas Tonight's Gonna be a Good Night: "He's on a yacht, in a Mercedes. That's what he's got, to impress the ladies." Ladra loves the rhyme. Said Gimenez: "I guess the baby seat in the back [of he car] is real sexy." Well, in some circles. But we know what you mean. The other English-language song is set to the music of Michael Buble's hit, Haven't Met You Yet, which is not as catchy but pokes fun at him for playing golf "every day."

One of the Spanish-language tunes uses seconds of the Ricky Martin Maria song. "One, two, three, four retirements for Carlos Gimenez. One, two, three...not one retirement more." It's going to be a theme from his opponents, but Gimenez said he only has one pension -- the one from the city of Miami is for both positions as city manager and fire chief. He would get a county pension only when he leaves, but with his $6,000 salary, that comes out to less than $300 a month right now.

"It appears that this is the type of campaign it is going to be," Gimenez told Ladra over the telephone, comparing the mayoral bid to the bitter 2006 campaign where Miami Sen. Alex Villalobos was elected despite heavy negative advertising linked to opponent Frank Bolaños.

Ladra wants to know who did them, not just for the typical transparency I seek. I also happen to think they are very smartly written and the writer is extremely talented. She or he needs to send these little clips to Sony or someone and see if they can get some songwriting gig. The singer is not bad either. They sound like parodies you hear on Spanish language radio and, in fact, Ladra would not be surprised to hear them on the Enrique Santos show this week.

Another blogger links the songs to the Dade PBA, which had opposed and campaigned against the recall of the mayor. Ladra called PBA Prez John Rivera to see if we could be the manager, er, I mean get some answers.

"We have received a copy. We will neither deny nor affirm that we did it," Rivera said on the phone, which sounds like a wink, wink, nod, nod to me. "We would love to take credit for it. I think its funny and we want to do whatever we can to propel it."

Rivera said that he was not sure the PBA would endorse one of the mayoral candidates, and though Gimenez will likely not get it anyhow, he spoke favorably about two other candidates: Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina and former State Rep. Marcelo Llorente.

Gimenez, Rivera said, "likes to talk more than listen" and though the PBA has had issues with Robaina, "at least he gives you the time of day. He listens. He may not agree, but he listens to you. And Marcelo is a hell of a gentleman," Rivera continued. "As a state representative, he was unlike other representatives. He was hands on. And I don't think he has any baggage. Problem is, he might not have the name recognition."

There is no official word if the PBA board is even going to interview the candidates. "We haven't had a chance to sit down and discuss it. I don't know. Historically, we are a group that we don't mind going for the gusto and we don't like to sit on the sidelines. I believe as an organization we will get involved. How we will do it, I don't know," he said, adding that he doubted Alvarez would join the fray after being ousted with an overwhelming 88 percent vote.

"I would love for him to [run]. I mentioned it to him, but I can't speak for him. If you are truly an honest person of integrity this system can wear on you very quickly and it can devestate your mental and psychological and physical being. It plays havoc on you."

We don't think the mayor would be so bold or wasteful with his time as to take a stab in this anti-Alvarez climate. And we don't think he would like the songs that might be written for him.

Speaking of which, here are the lyrics for the jingles that were not (wink, wink) produced by the PBA, but are funny nonetheless. But Ladra and I love parodies. You should come hear me do Ke$ha or Enrique Iglesias' Tonight I'm Drinking Juice on Karaoke night.


The BEPs Tonight parody tune:
Carlos Gimenez
Is so very condescending
Has an ego that's never-ending
He should not be our mayor
No, no way
He's on a yacht... and a Mercedes
Thats what he's got to impress the ladies
Carlos Gimenez, should just go away
We raise our voices, that's what we say
Sung to Buble's Haven't Met You Yet:
Carlos Gimenez wants nothing but praise
Cuts every salary, but gives himself a raise
He's power hunger, wants things his way
Relaxes a lot and plays golf every day
And now our buddy wants to be mayor
So he can get another pension later
With Carlos Gimenez in office, a mess is what you get
cuz we just cant trust him yet

Sung to the tune of Maria, by Ricky Martin:
Ya no mas Gimenez, ya tu no convienes,
Y la gente paga por ese lujo que tu mantienes
Un, dos, tres... cuatro retiros pa Carlos Gimenez
un, dos, tres... ya ni un retiro mas
Carlos Gimeneeeeez... anda buscando otro retiro
Mientras tu y yo... damos otro pasito pa' 'tras
(Voice in the back, purportedly Gimenez': "Me voy a jugar golf. Epa!")

Sung to the tune of Guantanamera:
Carlos Gimenez,
Guajiro Carlo Gimenez
No es un hombre sincero
De donde saca tanto dinero'
Carlos Gimenez
Ese guajiro Carlos Gimenez
Alcalde no eerreeesss
Ya basta Carlos Gimenez

Gimenez says he'd cut his pay

Kudos to Miami-Dade Commissioner Carlos Gimenez -- and not just because he reads my blog. And not just because he said he would cut his own salary as mayor (we are going to hold you to that, Commish). And not just because he got Brian Goldmeier, a team leader for gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink's South Florida campaign, as his finance manager (read: fundraiser).

Okay, Ladra admits her tail wagged Wednesday when she learned Gimenez -- whose actions and words in his quest to become the next county mayor have drawn our public growls -- was up on Political Cortadito. But my cheer is not because he likes smart writing. It is because he candidly welcomed scrutiny into his own office budget spending and pointed out a difference between them and discretionary funds (in line item and semantics, because those funds can still be used with little oversight). It is because he invited me to his office and said I had carte blanche to look over his documents. It is because he was polite and amicable when he agreed to disagree on the definition of discretionary funds. (I use the word as an adjective. Not as an administrative label.)

Gimenez gave us more one-on-one time than we expected moments before he spoke to a group of more than 100 people in Coral Gables at the Latin American Business Association's monthly meeting (here he is photographed at the Westin Colonnade Rotunda). Ladra salutes the group for giving their members and the public an opportunity to ask hear from candidates or activists and ask questions themselves (and for having Morton's bring those awesome tiny steak sandwiches!). LABA does not endorse any candidates, though some members do support campaigns from time to time. But in a group like this, with a number of movers and shakers in the business and legal communities, that is bound to happen. So they are transparent about it.

Gimenez also acknowledged that he could not take back any of the three main things that he said drove the recall. (1) There will still be a stadium. "But I can hold their feet to the fire to make sure they are abiding by their deadlines," he told me. (2) Nobody can roll back this year's taxes, no matter what anybody else claims. And (3) he likely can't go retroactive on the outrageous salary increases made by the mayor. But he said he would cut the number of departments and salaries for top administrators, including himself."

"I would cut my salary as mayor. I would eliminate some of the perks, like the car allowance. You have to lead by example," Gimenez said, noting it would give the administration a better position to negotiate with the labor unions, whose contracts expire at the end of this year.

And, yes, he drives around in a taxpayer-paid 2009 Mercedes Benz ML 350 W4 SUV. But as mayor, he says, he would drive his own car. Commissioners, who each make a salary of $6,000, get an $800 a month car allowance and Gimenez pays $805 for his Mercedes. And as mayor, he told Ladra, he would cut his salary to under $200,000, drive his own car, and reduce his monthly expenses ($3,500 now) to be more in line with that of other commissioners ($2,000).

Gimenez told the crowd he has opposed most if not all of the unpopular measures that made Alvarez a target for the recall and that as mayor he would sell Miami to Latin American businesses and increase commercial use of Miami International Airport and the Port of Miami.

But it was what he didn't tell them that also makes him a candidate worth considering. He didn't make promises to quick fixes. He said he was going to count on his experience and his ability to hit the ground running to sell his candidacy.

"I don't like to over promise and under deliver," he told me earlier. "I like to under promise and over deliver."

Okay, Commissioner. Let's see how you deliver Monday when I stop by to look at those records.