While the incumbent’s missus makes up her mind on a run, her hubby has been amassing a PAC fund totaling a quarter million dollars — for someone.
A third hopeful has announced plans to run for the 
Miami Commission seat vacated this year by termed-out Commissioner Marc Sarnoff — and no, it’s still not his wife, the presumed candidate many have been waiting for word from.
Rumors have been rampant for months that Teresa Sarnoff would run to keep the seat her husband has held for nine years (two terms plus the last year vacated by former Commissioner Johnny Winton, after he was suspended following that MIA incident) in the family. She told the Miami Herald in August that she was seriously considering her first bid for public office as her husband is termed out of his. But nothing has materialized since. From her.
Then again, she wouldn’t have to announce or raise money if someone else was doing it for her, would she? And Commissioner Sarnoff, on the other hand, has been fundraising like crazy for his PAC, or rather, an electioneering communications organization named Truth is the Daughter of Time. Yes, he wins the prize for the most confusing, yet, endearing name. It comes from a saying by Sir Francis Bacon: “Truth is the daughter of time, not of authority.” And, yes, he is right. Because authority does not always tell the truth, as Ladra well knows, but it eventually comes out, given enough time.
Anyway, the Truth Daughter’s bank account topped at just over $245,000 as of Nov. 30 — almost half of which (or $121,750) was raised just in the one month of November. Sarnoff’s been squirreling away funds since May of 2013. Soooo, he’s getting ready for something. Or someone, rather.
Either he is looking for a new candidate for his old seat or he is looking for a new seat for his own can. Unless you are one of those who thinks he’s just raising the money to help his colleagues. Commissioner Willy Gort, who hasn’t drawn an opponent yet? Nah. More likely Commissioner Francis “Back to the Future” Suarez, who hasn’t filed any re-election paperwork but is expected to, if only because the mayor’s seat he really wants isn’t open again until 2017.
Read related story: Beleaguered Francis Suarez drops out of Miami mayoral race
Some malas lenguas say Sarnoff will, indeed, back Baby X, not just so that he can continue to represent his special interests through Suarez in the mayor’s seat, but also so that Miami-Dade Commissioner Xavier “Mayor Sir” Suarez helps him if Sarnoff wants to run for that commission seat when the senior Suarez leaves for a Sarnoff-supported county mayoral race — or a Harvard professorship or the looney bin, whichever comes first.
But it’s possible that Sarnoff is preparing to fund his wife’s campaign — or whoever else decides to be his proxy. So let’s vote for anyone else, shall we? I bet we have plenty of choices.
There have been three people so far declaring their intent to run for the open seat, the most recent is Rosa Maria Palomino.
And while Palomino might be a political puppy, she might not be a political pushover: A public school teacher at Citrus Grove elementary by day, she is also a contributing producer on the Miami After Dark radio show by night and has served since 2012 as vice president of the Golden Pines Neighborhood Association.
All that adds up to potential votes.
But she’s not the only contender. One of the two other wannabes already listed as candidates on the city’s website is Graciela “Grace” Solares of the Roads neighborhood. A longtime and well-known activist with real grassroots chops, Solares is the current president of the Urban Environment League and former chief of the homeowners umbrella group Miami Neighborhoods United. She filed a campaign account and declared a treasurer in November.
The other hopeful is Mike Roger Simpson of Coconut Grove. He filed a campaign account and treasurer’s name in December, but I don’t know anything about him. Yet.
Palomino’s documents were not posted online yet, but here is the full statement she made Monday on her website and in a press release distributed, at least in part, by Community Councilwoman Mimi Planas, who ran unsuccessfully for county commission in 2010 and now serves as president of the Log Cabin Republicans of Miami.
“Today, as we step into what is sure to be an exciting and important year for City of Miami residents, I would like to take a moment to humbly announce my candidacy for City of Miami Commissioner, District 2.
I am excited at the opportunity to serve this great city.
Having grown up here, no one knows better than I what a unique, exciting and booming city we have the honor of living in. Although we have come a long way in making ourselves known through-out the world, the residents of Miami know all too well there is still much work to be done right here in our own backyard. With all of the victories of the past several years, we have also experienced many set-backs to our local community. The time is now to raise the bar! From city services to ensuring open government and community participation, the time has come for our City Government to reach higher – side by side to the residents it serves. As Commissioner, I will see to it that YOUR voice is heard, not the “politics as usual” rhetoric.
I feel privileged to have served my community for many years. As an educator, I know what it takes to lead. Whether it is leading a classroom, a community or a District, one thing is certain – the most important element in leadership are those we serve. I will not lose sight of that once elected.
The time has come. New Year, New Commissioner. Today I challenge politics as usual. Join me in letting the City of Miami know that we, the constituents, matter and will be heard.
New Commissioner, New Year.”
But, really, Ladra hardly expects this to be the last hopeful announcing for this open seat.
District 2 is arguably the heart of the city. It includes the waterfront and urban downtown core and the neighborhoods (going South to North) of Coconut Grove, Golden Pines, Vizcaya/Roads, Brickell, Downtown, Midtown, Edgewater, Baypoint and Morningside. It’s only missing Little Havana. This is the fastest growing district and represents the majority of the city’s tax base. It is also Miami’s international banking, investment and cultural center.
District 2 is what folks elsewhere think of when they think of the city of Miami — and that is why this race will likely get a lot more attention. And a few more candidates.
Especially if the field is this light and Mrs. Sarnoff remains MIA. It’s almost like an invitation.
3 hope to replace Marc Sarnoff don’t include wife — so far added by Ladra on
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