Miami-Dade Commissioner Bruno Barreiro was facing a sorta soft recall movement — but that was before 
Thursday, when a Daily Business Review story sort of put a flame under that kindling.
According to the DBR, Barreiro’s district office in Little Havana — suite 130 at 1454 SW 1st Street — is in a building owned by his parents, who would be collecting rent payments from the county for just over $40,000 a year. According to property records, it shows that Bruno and Alicia Barreiro bought the property in 1982 for $325,000.
The story in the review by Eleazar David Meléndez also mentioned that Barreiro failed to include information on his financial disclosure forms that he cosigned a $300,000 mortgage for Javier Cruz, a regular Republican campaign contributor.
Barreiro poo-pooed the newspaper’s findings and said that he has nothing to hide. He told Meléndez that the relationship with his parents and the office space situation is well known — even having been made a campaign issue — though Ladra doesn’t remember hearing about it.
But several ethics experts quoted in the story said that there may be a problem here.
“These findings suggest that the commissioner may be improperly exploiting his public office for his own private benefit and that of his family,” said Anthony Alfieri, a University of Miami law professor who founded and directs the university’s Center for Ethics and Public Service. “The conduct deserves scrutiny by the Miami-Dade County Ethics Commission at a minimum.”
Ethics Commission Executive Director “Let ‘Em Go” Joe Centorino said in the story that Barreiro never sought an opinion. Barreiro told the reporter that he would now.
Too late, commissioner. It seems that at least one activist who read the story may be filing a complaint. And you better believe the the people behind the recall will capitalize on it.
Read the rest of the story here.
And stay tuned. We are sure there will be more to come on this.
Bruno Barreiro’s district digs, mortgage draw questions added by Ladra on
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Speaking of Marono, guess who just got named Vice President at the League of cities ? Yup Mr Francis Suarez. But hey his wife was pregnant and he didn’t have time to be Mayor.,laughable. Giving seminars, commissioner, vp league of cities, etc…the joke is on the voters who keep these people in office.
Could not agree more with Angelo. By that logic Marono of Sweetwater should teach an ethics seminar!
Katy. I realize your are trying to do right by our community. However the many guest speakers you invite to many of your offerings are the VERY same people who have pillaged our county over the years. Mr Suarez is a classic example of someone who has TWICE taken monies from every special interests and the rest of the usual mafia in both of his elections. Everyone complains about the lobbyists and their influence right? It’s about time we look ourselves in the mirror and quit pretending that these people are good candidates and can teach other residents how to run a campaign. Maybe you should start inviting candidates who don’t take special interest money when they run for office. But that would be too much to ask. I don’t mean to be aggressive towards you personally, but this County needs to start throwing out the trash so to speak. I am sure Mr Suarez is sincere and a nice person at heart, but highlighting him to head your workshop less than 3 months after his campaign debacle is like asking Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks to lead a discussion on proper sportsmanship. You certainly can do better than that. And for the record I think you were a VERY good commissioner. Just please don’t lose sight of reality in our County. It needs a “limpieza”.
To respond to Angelo, here are the facts: as a result of Francis Suarez’s mayoral campaign fiasco, and his wanting to make sure that campaign workers get some training, he approached me to put together a program called “Campaigns Done Right.” It is open to candidates, campaign workers and volunteers. He will be one of the many speakers. Commissioner Suarez was a member of the inaugural class of the Leaders of Excellence program of the Good Government Initiative. I got to know Francis, and I believe he is sincere, dedicated and willing to learn from his mistakes — and to help prevent them as well. The workshop is being held March 1 from 8:30 am to 3 pm. The cost is $45 and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. It is being hosted by Akerman Law Firm and will be held at their offices. To register, go to http://www.goodgov.net/events.
Maybe Bruno can line up,a gig with Katy Sorenson at the good government initiative. She presently has Francis Suarez giving a class on how to run a campaign? Only in Miami!
Family shenanigans galore, a still-proud supporter of Marlins stadium, and hardly the sharpest tool in the shed. Yet he keeps getting re-elected. Those pastelitos he doles out must be pretty yummy.
UM teaches ethics? Too funny. Too bad they don’t practice what they teach.