People are still asking what really happened with the million dollar campaign to elect Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez as mayor? How could an up and coming, popular politico — son of Miami’s first Cuban mayor, who many considered the natural heir to the seat — just decide to throw in his towel?
Did he jump? Or was he pushed?
Suarez, as most know by now, gave up his bid to unseat incumbent Mayor Tomas Regalado last month after one too many public blows to his image ended with two campaign staffers taking a deal and pleading no contest to illegally requesting absentee ballots online for a year probation. He said the stress the negative campaign could have on his pregnant wife, as well as the fact that it was increasingly difficult to talk about the issues, led him to withdraw from the race.
But some think he may also have been pushed by something, or someone, else.
And, sure, Ladra still believes the State Attorney’s Office was too eager about this investigation into what seems like a non-intentional slip with 20 ballots — especially when you look at all the other shit they let by without so much as a slap on the hand — but I’m not convinced he would not have overcome that. And maybe that was not the only conspiracy against Suarez.
It is possible that his campaign consultant, Steve Marin, who is also a lobbyist at the city — representing the red light camera firm Affiliated Computer Services — pressured Baby X to give up what was becoming an increasingly difficult race. Marin was all in when he thought Suarez could close the gap. But it isn’t worth it to him if inside polls allegedly showed that margin widening beyond double digits (or double digits times three).
Because Marin needs Suarez on the commission. Malas lenguas say the consultant/lobbyist couldn’t afford to lose both the commission seat — which Suarez would have to resign from — and the mayor’s race, where polls reportedly said he would be defeated.
Several City Hall insiders say that Marin has a fair amount of influence with a comfortable majority of the city body: Commissioners Willy Gort, Marc Sarnoff and, yes, Suarez can be counted to vote his way. If Suarez were to lose the mayoral election, then Marin loses not only potential access to the mayor’s office, but also one of his near sure-thing votes.
“Steve Marin stands to lose a lot more than Francis,” one political observer told Ladra.
But if Baby X stays on the commission and doesn’t even take the chance, then Marin is in for another two years. An “in” that could help his clients win city contracts — like his red light camera firm did despite concerns over a lack of transparency and complaints raised by the other firm’s lobbyist, Carlos J. Gimenez. Yep, the son of the county mayor.
Suarez scoffed at the idea that Marin threw him under the bus.
“I don’t discuss specifics regarding the recommendation of anyone,” he told Ladra when I asked what Marin’s advice was on the eve of his decision. “There was a collection of recommendations from a variety of people.
“Mostly it was friends and people who have volunteered side by side with me, who have no other interest of their own other than what’s best for me and what’s in the best interest of the people of Miami,” Suarez told Ladra. “These are the people I listen to.
“But other than my wife, there is no one person who influences me more than anyone else.”
That’s good to hear, now that you are going to be on the dais for two years. Because I don’t think your wife is going to be lobbying on someone’s or some company’s behalf.
But I will bet you lunch that Marin does.
With Francis Suarez out, lobbyist Steve Marin is still ‘in’ added by Ladra on
View all posts by Ladra →