Lago leaves job for Hialeah seat

  • Sumo

Hialeah council candidate Frank Lago resigned from his job as chief of staff to Sweetwater Mayor Manny Maroño this week in order to concentrate on the campaign.

But the permanent exit — Lago took a leave of absence earlier this year to run for Miami-Dade Commissioner Esteban Bovo’s vacated state house seat (R/District 110) — could also signal a split in the longtime alliance between Maroño, who backs former State Sen. Rudy Garcia in the mayoral race, and Candidate Lago, who is likely to go with former Mayor Raul Martinez.

Did everybody hear that collective gasp from card-carrying Republicans? Yes, Lago is still a conservative GOP loyalist who campaigned for Gov. Rick Scott and tried, really tried, to be a good little elephant and stay true to the party (read: he still has Tallahassee on his mind). But acting alcaldito Carlos Hernandez and Council President Isis “GutterMouth Girl” Garcia Martinez are backing Paul Hernandez for that seat. And he might have been talking to both Martinez and Garcia in the past couple of weeks, but now that David Custin — who worked on State Rep. Jose Oliva‘s campaign while his “former partner” Sasha Tirador worked for Lago (more on that later) — is on Garcia’s team, Lago — spotted talking with former councilman and candidate Alex Morales last month at Maruch, may not want to play there, either. He also strikes Ladra as a pretty sharp guy who is really eager to be an elected already. He sees this Hialeah council contest as a golden opportunity to get in the door and may be Martinez-minded for more marketable motives: The Dark Prince — longtime friend of Lago’s wife, Hialeah Planning and Zoning Board member Liz Iglesias, and her family — leads all the credible polls (more on that later). Both he and Garcia had reported raising a little more than $100,000 so far (next reports are not due until Sept. 26), but the former Senator may be going through his checkbook faster with his name-embroidered Cubavera shirts in every color, the pricey postal pieces to come courtesy of his newest consultant, David Custin, who got Oliva elected against all odds, and the nicest candidate headquarters this watchdog has ever seen — the Taj Majal of campaign offices (more on that later). It’s even nicer than U.S. Congressman David Rivera’s 2010, er, I mean the “Republican Party Victory Office” that opened in West Dade, in the same shopping plaza as David’s district office, last summer. Martinez is being frugal, pulling out computers from his 2008 Congressional bid against Lincoln Diaz-Balart (more on that later) and clipping plastic tablecloths to his folding tables. He may end up with more money to spend in what has been widely reported as a tapped-out funding base, made broke by the Julio Robaina bust. And since campaign funding is what ultimately brought Lago — who originally said he may run independently in his seat — to Martinez’s camp. He told Ladra that he figured he would need between $100,000 and $150,000 to win the seat against an incumbent running on a slate. He plans on raising about $50,000 — because he knows the money ain’t flowing like it was in March. It’s about pooling resources and getting the most bang for your buck.

“My community is facing a difficult period and it is time for a new voice at City Hall,” he wrote in his resignation letter to Maroño. He is officially an ex city employee on qualifying day in Hialeah, Sept. 9, but is already gone, using what is left of his vacation time. “Having filed to run for the Hialeah council, I will not be able to dedicate the necessary time to continue advancing the interests of the citizens of Sweetwater.”

Neither Lago nor Martinez — who may not trust Lago because he had supported Robaina in the county mayoral race while Martinez campaigned for Carlos Gimenez — would say they were together. But they spoke on Thursday and are going to meet again next Friday after the qualifying deadline (read: when the reporters are all there), which is when Lago first told Ladra he would announce what side he was on. But Ladra smells it already. Garcia told me again today that he had not talked to Lago since shortly after the FIU grad did an independent poll (he said he paid for it himself to gauge his viability) weeks ago. But people close to his campaign and people who support Martinez all say Lago is with the Back to the Future slate.
So, as one might imagine, it may be difficult to work for Mayor Maroño and support and run on the slate with his pick’s party pooper. Nay, impossible. But Lago says that is not what motivated him to resign from his $70,000 a year job. “It’s just time to move in a different direction,” Lago said. “I was waiting to finish the annexation here, because annexation was my big thing, and now I want to do something else.”
Maroño told Ladra Thursday night the same thing — but his words were more, um, shall we say curt and indicative of a riff in the relationship? “It was time to move on. It doesn’t work to be working for a city as councilman and be the chief of staff of another city,” Maroño said. Does that mean he gives Lago the victory so far out in the game? “It’s a toss-up. Anyone can win.” Will he support his protege, who has backed him up for six years? “I’m not going to support Frank in this race. I don’t know why he’s doing it. I don’t know who he’s listening to. I haven’t been his advisor. I’m going to stay out of it. I am not going to support him,” said Maroño, who added that he will not back any of the council candidates and is only getting involved in the mayoral race. “I’m supporting Rudy Garcia because he has been a personal friend of mine for years and we’ve gone through many hurricanes together. I went to Rudy about a year ago and told him I would support him. Fortunately for Hialeah, they are all good candidates. I think Rudy has fresh ideas and when I give my word, I stick to it.”
He said Lago “was a friend, is a friend, and was a good chief of staff. I can almost attribute the annexation to his efforts.” But he admitted after Ladra asked that he thought Lago was siding with Martinez, and he was obviously not happy about it. “I don’t know who he is talking to, but I think it’s a mistake,” Maroño said. “He’s taking a risk, but he knows what he’s doing.”
Lago admits it is a risk to leave a $70,000 job for a $40,000 job that isn’t even yours for sure and won’t be for two months. He used up all his vacation time during the state house campaign. But he said it was his time. He got the annexation done and wanted to get out of government to get into politics, his real love.
“This is my best chance. I just ran for state representative,” Lago said. “I’ve tried to run before and someone always talks you out of it and tells you it’s not your time. Well, this is my time and if I lose, I’ll just get a job doing something else.”
Ladra will remind him to watch for job openings in Hialeah City Hall and its housing authority.

35 Responses to "Lago leaves job for Hialeah seat"

  1. Johnson,
    Those are some good points you brought up. I agree with you, but your attack on Robaina during the election were way overboard. Some were not accurate and very unfair. Maybe when this election is over we can meet and I can express my difference with you so maybe you can see another point of view.
    I accept your tone on expressing yourself on your last comment. I am good people. Just have a problem when the truth is not stated correctly . It really upsets me how journalist write stories at times that are totally false.
    Again thank you for some good points and please stay openminded and always hearvthe truth not what people want you to believe is the truth.

  2. Payback,
    That could be great. More time to find a solution to the problems we are facing in the city. Definately more time to generate more revenue producing ideas. Take for example roof replacements on City owned buildings. Why on earth are we so quick to replace a 10 year old flat roof for a cost of 50,000 Why do we not apply and qualify for FPL incentive roof coverings (not elsatomeric)that could extend that same roof for 15 years. How about CFL's rather than a single incandescant lamp in any building. How about motion detector switches placed in every city building as to lower costs. Common sense really aint so common after all. Lets re-examine our fleet of all vehicles and determine which is penny wise and dollar foolish.. Do certain take home cars have to be GIANT SUV'S? HEll no. Get em a ford fiesta.. 48 MPG. Lets be honest Payback, I am going to bust my ass for this city NO MATTER where I am. I am very gratefull for all the city has provided my family and will do whatever it takes to make sure it stays afloat. Again though, Do not appreciate the threats or the down talk. If you know me, than you know my work ethics. Wish you a wonderful night..

  3. Johnson,
    Starting in December you will work day shifts, Monday – Friday . No more 24 on 48 off. Now that if funny!

  4. Wow, it seems some common sense is creeping on to this blog. First, Lickerpoet commenting for some fair and balanced (not Fox News style) reporting. Now, some new posters (before the regulars make accusations, I've only commented once) are bring up what anyone outside of the Martinez camp already knows. 

    It's truly amazing how Hobbes was right, well, that is if you believe some of the anonymous posters. How quick some people will go back to a dictator to escape the presumed state of nature (which Hialeah does not really even resemble). 

    On Lago, I haven't mentioned the carpetbagger angle, because I really don't have an issue with him, other than what I posted above. The term although is certainly appropriate but then again that is a all too familiar occurrence these day…

  5. All very credible coming from a guy called “chino”… from Hialeah. You wouldn’t happen to own a tow truck, smoke Cuban cigars and be related to Pansy? Are you?

  6. A couple of thoughts……..

    1- I love all these RLM supports that couch their words by saying Raul sucks or is a crook, but…… Its like he is all we got from a bad crop of candidates. Look Raul sucks……period. He governed during a period of time when money poured into the city in buckets. The only times he "saved" the city was by raising taxes…..when he first got elected and when he replaced Julio Martinez……Raul is a tax raiser and will blame prior administrations for doing so. Notice how he never address the issue.

    2- Lago "your" city is in trouble……oye pretty boy, this is not your city, your just looking for a place to run. Doesn't matter who side you Raul, Rudy and Hernandez……people see you as an carpet bagger.

    3-Ladra, its clear someone is paying you, but at least fake it girl. Pretend you have some professionalism. I bet you will not post one thing that could be considered productive to the political processes. But again this stuff is only meant for the insiders in politics.

    Chino

  7. Kum bay ya, my Lord, kum bay ya;
    Kum bay ya, the Lord, kum bay ya;
    Kum bay ya, my Lord, kum bay ya,
    O Lord, kum bay ya.

    Someone's laughing, Lord, kum bay ya;
    Someone's laughing, Lord, kum bay ya;
    Someone's laughing, Lord, kum bay ya,
    O Lord, kum bay ya.

    Someone's crying, Lord, kum bay ya;
    Someone's crying, Lord, kum bay ya;
    Someone's crying, Lord, kum bay ya,
    O Lord, kum bay ya.

    Someone's praying, Lord, kum bay ya;
    Someone's praying, Lord, kum bay ya;
    Someone's praying, Lord, kum bay ya,
    O Lord, kum bay ya.

    Someone's singing, Lord, kum bay ya;
    Someone's singing, Lord, kum bay ya;
    Someone's singing, Lord, kum bay ya,
    O Lord, kum bay ya.

  8. Your Welcome, but it is unfortunate that our elderly do not access to the internet as much as our younger generation and those are the individuals that will make their decisions based on the past. I hope that we can get a good debate for all candidates so that we can make a sound decision and not continue to have Hialeah in the radar for its dirty politics and rather because it is a place where huge industries want to set camp.

  9. Yes I'm sure we can do better, but the way politics has gotten unless you already have money or are connected you don't stand a chance. It's sad but true. And I don't approve of any stealing by any one, but realistically, Miami Dade County and politics = some level of corruption in any and all places. It's a sad state of affairs when we select our elected officials by the standard of " the lesser evil" but that's how it is today; just look at our Governor. Need I say more?
    We may disagree about Martinez but I believe we can both agree that it's not a pretty picture.

    By the way, thank you for the debate. It was nice to find some one that discussed the conversation without personal or vitriol remarks.

  10. So what your saying is that as long as you do all that he did before while in office he can continue stealing out the back door and thats ok. Wow that was a good educated response. So what your saying is that his store front will be mayor and he his actually in control of all the money him and his buddies are making. It sounds like you are getting some of that cash. Oh and Im not saying that Mr.Prestige was our best ever, but we can get better.

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