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A story posted in the Miami New Times today reports that Curbelo has taken more than a dozen contributions from people who he voted to award School Board contracts. Trevor Bach reports the donations came from law firms, construction companies and a vending machine operator as well as MCM, the construction company owned by Jorge Munilla, who gave at least $12,000 in contributions and got millions of dollars in business from the School Board.
Is MCM a client of Capitol Gains also? They often donate to the same political campaigns.
“Frankly, it’s none of your business,” Curbelo told me when I asked him, point blank, who his clients were.
“I am not required to tell you,” said Curbelo, who has been endorsed in the Congressional primary by every important Republican from former Gov. Jeb Bush to, Tuesday’s announcement, House Speaker Will Weatherford.
“Lots of people have their companies in the names of relatives,” he told me. Yeah, but lots of people aren’t elected officials who would have to report their clients on public documents, basically declaring to all who you do business with.
Or is he trying to be like Former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina and Gov. Rick Scott?
Robaina also “trusted” his wife and routed his shady business through companies he opened in her name. The couple escaped
conviction on tax evasion charges last month, but there is no question that some of the unreported income — like an $800,000 check for doubling the value of a $30 million property in Hialeah Gardens sold to the School Board and a $300,000 check that nobody can remember what it is for. Robaina didn’t have to disclose those earnings or clients because they were smuggled through his wife’s company.
Similarly, Gov. Scott put Solantic, his health care company, in his wife’s name and creating a blind trust so that nobody can see how much money he has and where it comes from. The issue has become a legal challenge that aims to block the qualification of any candidate that places his or her finances in a blind trust. Because nobody believes that the First Lady of Florida, a very nice lady who wrote a cookbook, is running that empire. And nobody believes that Curbelo’s wife, as nice a lady and doting mom as I’m sure she is, runs Capitol Gains.
It’s all about avoiding disclosure. These reporting requirements exist for a purpose, people. Because how can we know, for example, how many times Curbelo has voted on School Board matters that benefit people or firms that are clients or are connected to clients? We can’t.
But it most certainly is our business. State law requires candidates and elected officers to disclose any clients that provide more than 10% of any business of which said politico owns at least 5%. You don’t have to say how much money they paid you — 
and Ladra might argue that you should — but you have to at least say who they are.
Or you would anyway — if you weren’t skirting reporting laws in your wife’s name.
Curbelo may not be doing anything illegal. But he is certainly violating the spirit of the law. You are an elected official who found a legal way to skirt reporting requirements on your financial disclosure forms for the last four years by “trusting your wife.” You found a way to shield the names of your clients, which the law would require you to disclose if the business were owned by you. On paper.
There’s more. Please press this “continue reading” button to “turn the page.”
Carlos Curbelo hides lobbying client list under wife’s skirt added by Ladra on
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[…] As reported by the South Florida watchdog website Political Cortadito, Curbelo signed over his public relations firm Capital Gains to his wife Cecelia Curbelo in 2009. This means if any Ukrainian oligarchs are paying large sums to Curbelo via his company, the public will never know. As Curbelo himself is no longer (at least on paper) the owner of the company, he is exempt from declaring its interests. […]
[…] Read related story: Carlos Curbelo hides lobbying client list under wife’s skirt […]
Carlito Curbelo la marioneta está ocultando algo. Es un hombre poco viscoso y solapado con grandes esperanzas y ambiciones que no ha hecho nada, pero su campaña y utilizar el sistema escolar como una escalera. Es una mala elección para Distrito 26.
[…] Curbelo is also political consultant whose firm is not required to disclose its clients, as the Political Cortadito blog recently noted. […]
Ladra criticas a Curbelo pero no te veo decir que Rivera violo todas las normas, cometio ilegalidades y ademas violo “el espiritu” de la ley que tanto defiende. Fair and balance PLEASE.
Are you an elected official, Erick? Because if you are, you may be hiding something, too.
Ladra said it’s not illegal. But it certainly violates the spirit of the law. He is supposed to disclose his clients. How can he get out of it? Putting his business in his wife’s name.
You don’t think it’s a big deal? Just watch. I am certain this is not the last we have heard about it.
Love, Ladra
Ladra you usually do an excellent job reporting, however, this story has no substance as his “worst” lobbying employment is already in the open. Don’t scream scandal please, you’re much better than that. Employment is not a scandal, people transfer things to others names all the time, my company has been in my wife’s name for a a long time, her never having worked there either.
Yes, those are the lawyers of which i speak. Joe asked for their opinion.
Some make be shocked to learn Bob “fig leaf” Meyers rulings were often see is nothing more than transparent political cover for incumbent politicians. Unfortunately even though the ethics commission commands one of the highest employees salary budgets in the county today (a budget controlled by the BCC) the department to continues to be perceived by many as the BCC’s lapdog. I wonder why?
Nat a Fan,
Perhaps your reading of the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics & Public Trust investigation into this matter may be of interest to you…as they say, “the truth will set you free”. Then come back and post a more accurate accounting of what transpired.
I can’t Wait for the debate on June 23rd in FIU, Joe’s going to take it, and Carlos will not be able to hide behind Mario nor Lincoln.
I concur with Truth-O-meter. It is obvious that Martinez has substance,experience and integrity. Money can’t buy any of those. It’s going to be a grand slam. Can’t wait. This was a great article.
Curbelo is a worm, He lied to the members of his school district when he supported the name change of Kendale Elemetary to Lincoln Diaz Balart and told the audience that he did not know who had proposed the name change. He’s a F$*@en corrupt rat liar. You’re way over your head little man; Joe Martinez has your number.
Joe’s no angel either. Ask him about the time when he was the chairman of the BCC his buddy developer gave him a sweetheart deal on the construction of his home. The lawyers told him he was only obligated to abstain from voting on that developers zoneing variances during construction. As soon as the house was finished he was free to vote on anything the guy wanted.
Legal? Sure. Ethical? Not a chance.
all along,Joe Martinez has and will win District 26.