Trump Latina Denise Galvez runs for Miami city commission

Trump Latina Denise Galvez runs for Miami city commission
  • Sumo

After having been part of the 2016 presidential campaign, Latinas For Trump co-founder Denise Galvez, a Miami mom with a boutique marketing shop, wants to run for Miami city commission.

Galvez filed paperwork earlier this month indicating she intends to run as Denise Galvez Turros in District 4, which is the seat Commissioner Francis Suarez will have to resign from when he qualifies for the mayor’s race this summer.

You might recognize her from TV. Galvez did a lot of television and radio interviews last year as a Latina Trump supporter. And while that may be a liability in some 2017 and 2018 electiions, this city district — which includes Shenandoah, Silver Bluff, Coral Gate and Flagami — might not be one of those. Trumpistas might do well here among the Cuban super Republicans.

Read related story: Local Latinas come out for Trump with Brickell event

“I was being asked to consider other positions in state office by people in the party,” Galvez said. “But I wasn’t going to do that to my kids and my family.”

Meanwhile, she was attending local events and hearing from local candidates.

“There was nobody I could see myself backing,” she said.

Someone suggested she stop looking for somebody else and throw her own hat into the ring. The timing made sense for her, to start campaigning over the summer. “I started to make calls and talk to people and the more excited they got, the more exicted I got. ‘This is your backyard,’ they would tell me.”

It’s a rare opportunity as an open seat, even though Galvez will face at least three other hopefuls so far: perennial candidates Ralph Rosado and Manolo Reyes as well as wannabe political consultant Tony Diaz. The one that concerned her the most was Rosado. The two are friendly. She has supported his causes and both went to City Hall to protest conditions at Douglas Park.

“I’ve known Ralph for a long time and have been a friend. I’ve helped him with other things,” Galvez said. But she feels he is out of touch with the district’s needs, campaigning on economic development and The Underline project. She says crime is the number one issue of concern to the people in her Shenandoah neighborhood. Her car has been broken into. Her husband, reknown musician and popular Miami High School Band Director Juan Turros, had his stolen.

Read related story: Patient Ralph Rosado re-launches Miami Commission bid

Rosado and Reyes (Diaz hasn’t raised a dime) may have had a head start with fundraising and canvassing, but let Ladra warn you know, Denise is a force to be reckoned with. She is a workaholic with boundless energy who is not afraid to say what she means and mean what she says, even when she is dead wrong, which she is often on the Trump stuff. And I suspect she will be able to raise money from some party people who may feel like they owe her one. Because they do.

She doesn’t need much. She is a marketing guru who will do a lot of her own media and has the name recognition that a year of TV appearances gets ya. But it will be important to have some.

Rosado has raised a whopping $436,790, according to the last finance report filed this month and counting through April 30. But he’s been fundraising for exactly four years, since April of 2013. he has also spent $165,998 of that so he has about $270,790 left, according to the last report as of April 30. Reyes has raised $140,940 and spent $82,900, leaving less than $60K in hand. But he’s got more momentum this time around.

Ladra can see where a smart, well-spoken woman might find an opportunity among these three Hispanic men.

Normally, this would be a good thing. It would be nice to have some estrogen up on that dais. And she will definitely use that sole female candidate thing to her advantage.

But Denise’s blind defense of everything Trump does causes me to worry about a future with “alternative facts” in Miami city government.

31 Responses to "Trump Latina Denise Galvez runs for Miami city commission"

  1. Why the extra last name? I thought women did that to cater to other ethnicities? It looks like they are both Spanish? Turros kinda makes me think of Churros? Will she be giving out free Churros? That might help make things interesting….

  2. Laura, isn’t she your sister or sister in law? I can’t remember, but I thought you had some type of connection there?

    • No, Victor. My connection is we are sort of friends, but not very close. I do like her work and have worked with her on a project (an architectural firm’s website). I am also a big fan or her husband’s, who has played in local bands (Suenalo, I think, most recently).

      But I also disagree with her and fight with her a lot on Facebook about politics (both national and local). We do not think alike at all on many things. That said, I will defend her right to run for office despite her ridiculous admiration for Trump, who in her eyes can do no wrong. LOL. I haven’t fully decided yet, because I want to give her the benefit of the doubt and hear her out on local issues, but it may be difficult for me to support my “friend” Denise because of her ideological allegiance to Trump. We shall see. I like Manolo anyway.

      Love, Ladra

  3. The older ”Calle Ocho’s” will in lock step vote for her and UNLIKE the MAJORITY of Hispanic voters in Miami, they do not ignore ”small” elections .

    It will be up to us Cubans whether she gets elected or not because the political apathy from the other Hispanic ”tribes” is obscene .

    I wont vote for her . I’ll vote against her but again the older ”Calle Ocho” junta will and that is still a lot of votes here in Miami

  4. The minute you said Trump supporter, I shutout. Anyone who supports and defends this Liar in chief (soon to be impeached) does not deserve my vote.

    • She is Cuban and has the letter ‘R’ in front of her name and that is the ONLY 2 things the ”Calle ohco” junta look for and I say this as a Cuban with lots of ”Calle ocho’s” in my family .

  5. Denise Halves is a goose-stepping, Trump loving idiot. Such a long story about someone who’s only claim to fame is mindless cheering for an author and there’s not a single actual political issue facing Miami mentioned. Traffic? Housing? That crazy 395 bridge problem.

    Please refrain from giving more attention to Trump’s flack. She’s just as empty a vessel as her idol, and even less qualified for office, if that is even possible. But it is.

  6. .I have know Denise Galvez for years. She is an intelligent, hard working women. She has been successful in every endeavor she has undertaken. Denise always wants to do the right thing and truly wants to make Miami better. She will make a great commissioner.
    Some of the above negative comments about Denise are truly unwarranted and slanderous.

  7. Ladra. The strengths you feel will get her elected are actually her weaknesses and the reason she won’t get elected.
    “She doesn’t need much. She is a marketing guru who will do a lot of her own media and has the name recognition that a year of TV appearances gets ya.”
    Nothing worse than a candidate thinking they know it all. Guru or not.

    • Guru does not mean genius. Just means she has some experience and she will be able to do more of that herself rather than need someone else to do it. She has experience with email blasts and websites and events, so yeah, I think that gives her a little advantage. What I mean is she does not need as much money as she would need if she did NOT have those qualities.

      Love, Ladra

      • Don’t want to split hairs Ladra but that’s exactly what “GURU” means. Just saying no pun.

        1. Guru.
        a skilled practitioner of a particular art or activity.
        synonyms: expert, adept, genius, past master, maestro, virtuoso, professional, doyen, authority, champion, record holder; More

        My point was more in tune with… “He who represents himself has a fool for a client.”

  8. This article is all over the place, Ladra. She is a marketing guru? Of events, no? Not campaigns. Relevance is important. She has name recognition? From whom? This is a City of Miami commission race and the people who vote in this one actually don’t even like Trump. Come visit our district to get a better idea. I understand supporting women, but we should support the RIGHT women as models for future candidates; not just any woman because of gender. Unless you’re angling for or already have a job in her campaign?

    What exactly indicates Reyes has more momentum? He has a set base and rarely goes up or down from said base. The base exists because he has run so many times (and lost) and does well in his neighborhood. He had a “tremendo” lead on Francis Suarez in 2009 because of said base. He never went up from it and eventually lost.

    I’m voting for new ideas this year via Ralph Rosado. Ladra, if you’re such a supporter of integrity in government and candidates who are actually qualified to help run a City, you should consider doing the same.

    • Bobby, Bobby, Bobby… you sound like a member of the Gimenez family, who fully support Ralph Rosado, too, by the way. Let me set you straight.

      I am not working for anyone. I do not vote in the city of Miami because I live in unincorporated Dade (Senate District 40, so I get to vote there) and even if I did I would likely not be voting for Denise. I like her and we are friends but I do not agree with her politically and her views and defense of Donald Trump scare me. That said, I do think that her entering the race will jumpstart an otherwise sleepy contest and bring some excitement. Yay.

      For the record: I did do some work for Denise once, years ago, for a website she was designing for an architect, I wrote some descriptive copy of one of his projects. That’s it. I thought I did well but never got any more work from her again. And I’m not pissed off either, but just want to tell you how wrong you are. So there.

      By the way, guru does not equal genius. It is a few rungs down from there. It could also be a synonym for snake oil salesman… or rather someone who talks a big game but its all lofty BS. Anyway, not saying that is what I meant, but see how it can be perceived different ways… That said, she does have experience with events and email blasts and websites and social media and messaging so she has a little bit of an advantage there and doesn’t have to pay anybody for that.

      Ralph is likeable but he ran for state rep and it seems he has been running for this seat forever. I just know more people who are supporting Reyes — who also has name recogntion — that actually live in the district. That’s all.

      Love, Ladra

      • Ladra, no need for namecalling or assumptions about Gimenez support. In fact, it’s the opposite. I do, however, as I made clear in my post, support Ralph and candidates like him going forward.

        Let’s address your points one by one, since you claim to have set me straight:

        1. You said: “I am not working for anyone.” This does not mean you’re not angling for work, support or influence, which was my point in the post to which you responded. Perhaps you’re not, and I believe you, but your response does not answer to my original point. If your goal is to make the race more interesting, that’s another issue altogether. It’s your blog. Go for it!

        2. You said: “For the record: I did do some work for Denise once, years ago, for a website she was designing for an architect, I wrote some descriptive copy of one of his projects.” I think it was fairly obvious to anyone with a modicum of intelligence you were somehow connected. You painted a more positive picture than the facts indicate. Appreciate you disclosing it now. I think you’d agree it’d have been more credible as an add-on at the bottom of the post about the subject. But, no big deal.

        3. You said: “By the way, guru does not equal genius. It is a few rungs down from there.” Problem is the context with which you used it. It communicated expertise. You’ve had to answer this to multiple people replying, so it’s clear the interpretation your readers got was your attempt to boost the appearance of her marketing savvy as it related to the race (instead of her job).

        4. You said: “Ralph is likeable but he ran for state rep and it seems he has been running for this seat forever. I just know more people who are supporting Reyes — who also has name recogntion — that actually live in the district. That’s all.” To be fair, which I know you try to be, Ralph is more than likable. He’s the most qualified candidate to run for a City Commission seat in quite some time. The evidence bears it out. My response to you re: Reyes was about your comment re: momentum. Knowing more people voting for him doesn’t equate to momentum. As I said, he’s run quite a few times (and lost) and maintains a smallish, concentrated base.

        All in all, I appreciate your candor the vast majority of the time. Want to call things out here the same way you call out things you see happening in local politics.

        • Bobby, Bobby, Bobby… I don’t remember calling you any names. But let’s clarify some more…

          No I am not angling to get a job on her campaign and as I have made perfectly clear I do not agree with her politically. If you think I was too kind to her, that is your right. But I don’t think I was. I haven’t really waeighed in much on this race yet but I will and there will be plenty of time for the substance critiques. This was just sort of an announcement. Anybody who reads our interactions on Facebook will know that Denise and I argue and fight quite often. So this is by no means a puff piece. In fact, I think she may have wanted to keep it quiet for a little while and I probably blew that out of the water. Oh well.

          On the other hand, it seems you are more miffed at my dismissal of Ralph than any characterizations of this Trumpista. Because you support him. But how do I know you’re not angling for a job as his chief of staff?

          What I said about Gimenez is THEY support HIM… which may be why I’m not all that enthusiastic. I think Ralph could give the Gimenez friends and family plan an extension into the city. It’s just what I feel.

          And do I want my gut feelings and sourced information and my 20-plus years of experience covering government and politics and my connecting the dots to influence how people vote? Damn right I do! That’s why I blog.

          And I didn’t say expertise I said experience. She does have experience and that gives her some expertise and some ability to Market herself better than a candidate who has none. That’s just a fact.

          I’m really sorry that I don’t like your boy… And there’s still a lot of time left for someone to qualify so I’m kind of hoping a better candidate comes along. For your sake.

          Love, Ladra

          • Ladra, Ladra, Ladra, this is too entertaining and your logic too flawed to not have some more fun:

            1. You said: “On the other hand, it seems you are more miffed at my dismissal of Ralph than any characterizations of this Trumpista. Because you support him. But how do I know you’re not angling for a job as his chief of staff?” Because, unlike you, I don’t have a history of being employed by candidates. I can say I’ve never seen a dollar from a campaign or been employed by an elected official. As you’ve admitted, you cannot say the same. More importantly, since we’re trying to stay on point here, you could not say the same about ever receiving $ from the subject of your post.

            2. You said: “What I said about Gimenez is THEY support HIM… which may be why I’m not all that enthusiastic. I think Ralph could give the Gimenez friends and family plan an extension into the city. It’s just what I feel.” Fair enough. It’s your feeling, but I wonder if there’s any actual evidence. I could *feel* you’re trying to influence public elections to line your pockets, but without any evidence, it’d be a random guess. I’ve read this blog for years and nodded along in agreement when you stick to the facts.

            3. You said: “And do I want my gut feelings and sourced information and my 20-plus years of experience covering government and politics and my connecting the dots to influence how people vote? Damn right I do! That’s why I blog.” And, as your reader, that’s why I challenge your “gut” feelings and logical flaws. It’s discourse.

            4. “And I didn’t say expertise I said experience. She does have experience and that gives her some expertise and some ability to Market herself better than a candidate who has none. That’s just a fact.” You’ve backtracked enough on your original point we can all now see it was hollow. Secondly, I encourage a review the definition of ‘fact.’ I am very experienced at marketing real estate. It doesn’t necessarily (key word) make me an expert in marketing myself as a candidate. And, Ladra, that’s an actual fact.

            5. You said: “I’m really sorry that I don’t like your boy… And there’s still a lot of time left for someone to qualify so I’m kind of hoping a better candidate comes along. For your sake.” He’s not my boy. I support *any* candidates who are qualified and have a likelihood of doing actual public service because they have already shown evidence of community work before office. Ralph, like a handful of others, fit the parameters. If YOU’D fit those parameters and ran for office, I’d support you, too.

            You see, substance and logic actually have a place in politics and discourse. I hope you’ll consider focusing on those in your blog. For your sake.

          • Bobby, Bobby, Bobby… let’s keep the entertainment going, shall we?

            1. I bring up your support of Rosado as your true motivation because these are comments that are clearly meant to help him more than chastise me (which I like, by the way). I do not know you are not anglling for a job just ’cause you say so. And, my history of being employed by a candidate is short and public. If I work for someone I have to believe in them. I have already said I do not agree with her politically. Soooo… you are just being deliberately hard headed OR you are already a campaign operative with a mandate to change the narrative. Just because you have never worked on a campaign or received money directly doesn’t mean you are not, you know, a Munilla or a Codina or something like that. You said: “More importantly, since we’re trying to stay on point here, you could not say the same about ever receiving $ from the subject of your post.” What on Earth are you talking about? You are trying to create intrigue where there is none. Anyone can advertise or even donate to keep Political Cortadito going. Anyone knows that doesn’t mean I will write nice about you. If you don’t believe me, ask the new Coral Gables Commissioner Mike Mena.

            2. Nothing random about my feelings or guesses. They are rooted in the connections I see and historical knowledge. Ralph Garcia Toledo is a big supporter of Ralph Rosado, too. Maybe he’s angling for more lucrative contracts. Either way, dime con quien andas y te dire quien eres. He is surrounded by hoodlums.

            3. Love the discourse. I was just explaining to you the sillyness of you “accusing” me of trying to have influence. Don’t we all? Aren’t you right now?

            4. You just proved my point that some experience is better than none. Because if I was going to sell my house you would be a better candidate or maybe it would be LOGICAL for me to think you would have an easier time with THAT PARTICULAR part of the job than, say, an interior decorator who would help me make it pretty. That’s all I am saying. She has a bit of an advantage and maybe doesn’t have to hire, say, someone like me as much as someone like, say, Tony Diaz would. (And of course I’m not working for either one, just an example).

            5. Actually, I’m #sorrynotsorry. I was just trying to be nice. And he is absolutely your boy. Which means he is your horse in this race right now. Every chance you get, you laud him. I really do kinda think you may be one of those campaign people who are paid to comment on blogs (those jobs exist! I know! It’s ludicrous!). He certainly has the money for it, since he’s been raising it for four years now.

            Again, this post was an announcement, not a detailed analysis of each candidate in this race, where qualification hasn’t even ended and there is no reason to get into the true substance yet. She may not qualify. Someone else might jump in. There is plenty of time for that.

            This is not a place for the he said/she said “just the facts, ma’am.” This is a place where the “facts” as presented are questioned and put together with history and connections so that other agendas and motives are exposed. If you want “just the facts” there are plenty of news media out there that are USED by the politicians who know how to spin and you can read your “facts” there. Every post cannot be Pulitzer worthy (look for one of those this weekend though). Other readers have been very glad that I let them know she was running. What? Would you have preferred it stayed a secret? #sorrynotsorry

            Love, Ladra

      • Let’s continue, Ladra, as I had run out of downtime yesterday.

        1. This is where you’re hysterically wrong. My comments aren’t clearly meant to support him (or any particular candidate); instead they exist to challenge your statements. A campaign operative? Funny. Read my comments. You see my writing style from the people who hold campaign operative jobs? There isn’t a local campaign in Miami that could afford my time. A Munilla or Codina? What? Not even sure what that means. I am a political outsider who’s actually been reading your blog for some time. As I’ve admitted, I was drawn to it to read fact-driven callouts (your best work) – not really for your attempts to influence, which, if they’re shallow, I will continue to challenge.

        4. Irrelevant experience is not necessarily better than zero experience. More overall flawed logic. Please google ‘strawman arguments.’ It will help your debates in the future.

        5. According to you, picking a “horse” (terrible Miami people see it that way) in a political race where there are otherwise weak candidates makes someone my “boy.” Ok, that’s a thin definition, but you are free to make your own definitions. Also, again with writing replies being my job. Very funny stuff. What I write here is mostly for my own entertainment. Free of charge. You’re welcome for the user engagement.

        6. You say this blog is not a place to come find facts, but your best pieces are really around exactly that: investigatory work, for example.

        P.S. the #sorrynotsorry-type attitude is beneath you. Unless you wish to regress to something less than a professional. Good luck.

  9. I will personally make an effort to take screenshots of ALL of Galvez’s tweets and inflammatory statements online. This woman is obsessed with Donald Trump, yet on her FB page, she NEVER says a word when things are going badly for Trump. She can’t defend him, and yet she still supports him. She’s a loon, and I will make sure her crazy online tweets come to light all over Miami.

    • Do it! Hurry up before she cleans up her feed.

      And remember to share with me!

      Love, Ladra

  10. Has Trump team member Galvez ever attended a City Commission Meeting? Does she know how to find City Hall?

    • Ladra was told she attended a protest at City Hall so she probably knows where it is. As far as a meeting, not sure but that is a good question. Ms. Galvez?

      Love, Ladra

  11. Just what Miami needs, a bigoted lunatic lady who will defend the right of men to “grab get by the pussy” and worships Putin’s puppet. If Miami voters want to vote away their healthcare, she might be the candidate to beat. Lol.

    • Miami’s political standards are self serving, inept and what would be considered corrupt outside of this banana republic .

      Cuban political ”Cosa Nostra” is what they should be called .

      I wont vote for a Trumpster but I don’t see her any worse then her opponents .

  12. The district residents do not want cnbc not cnn, did, etc they watch telemiami univision, telemundo etc. Name reconginittion to what? Please elaborate the district is spanish only media!

  13. This woman is a pathological liar who has burned bridges all over Miami. Everyone that has ever worked with her runs away within weeks! She may claim to do “marketing” but among Miami media and PR circles she is a complete joke and often ridiculed… and this was before she became a wannabe cult leader / Trump ass kisser. But hey, if an idiot like Trump can be president then a self-claimed racist with an IQ of a guava pastelito like Galvez can be Commissioner.

  14. Ralph Rosado is an honest business man. He would be an assett to the Miami City Commission and its constituents.

  15. But she seems to have an issue respecting people with disabilities… and thus, she should seek to measure her actions against such, with a much more civilized conduct… But I suppose her competitors will find out on their own. I look forward to writing chapters on her “Trump Train” days….oh sooooo scintillating information that Ladra might be interested in… 🤔 but all(ah) in due time my pretties….tick…tock…

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