Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the library, there is a special election that ends Tuesday for the Florida House 118 seat to replace Juan Fernandez-Barquin, who was named Miami-Dade Clerk and Comptroller by the governor in June.
The candidates are Democrat Johnny Farias, an electrical contractor and former community councilman in his third attempt at elected office, and Republican Mike Redondo, a personal injury attorney on his first run.
“It’s always been an interest,” Redondo told Political Cortadito, adding that he was attracted by the open seat. “I was born and raised here and I want to give back. When an opportunity opened up… well, opportunity doesn’t knock very often.”
He only moved back to the district six months ago, however. And Farias says Redondo does not know what the needs and wants of the district — which is from Sweetwater to Cutler Bay — and was recruited by the Republican Party.
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Yes, there’s a third no party candidate, but former community councilman Frank de la Paz — who was a Republican some years ago — is just going to take votes away from the Democrat. Is he a spoiler like Alex Rodriguez was in the state senate race for District 36 in 2020? Could be. De la Paz has no money, no website and no real presence.
He told WPLG’s Glenna Milberg that he wasn’t, that he ran so people would know about the election. But what has he done to inform people? And what else would a spoiler say?
Farias, who lost a race in this same seat by more than 30 points in 2020, got the endorsement of both the Miami Herald and the Kendall Federation of Homeowners, which communicates with tens of thousands of homeowners. His name recognition is high after two runs and a stint as a community councilman. And he’s getting some help — phone banking and mail (but should get more) — from the Democratic Party, finally. So the third time might be the charm.
A victory for Johnny would prove, again, that money doesn’t necessarily win elections.
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Farias has less than half the campaign war chest that Redondo has, with $84,290 in contributions, according to the latest campaign reports. But they are mostly from actual constituents — an auto dealer, store clerks, a radiology technician, a grants writer, teachers. Only nine of the 450 contributions to Farias’ campaign come from attorneys. Only 45 of them were for the maximum $1,000. Many more were written for $50, $25, $100 — not amounts we are used too seeing on campaign reports, but evidence that he has grass roots support.
Redondo, meanwhile, has raised more than $187,000 since June. Of the 218 contributions listed on his latest campaign finance reports are 67 maximum checks from political action committees. That’s almost one third. At least 20 more contributions came from lobbyists. Redondo also has a few bundles, including $8,000 from Big Sugar and $3,000 from Sunshine Gasoline distributors.
The biggest bundle is from the long list of “conservative” PACs, most of which share the same address on Hays Street or South Monroe in Tallahassee. Redondo seems recruited by the Republican Party.
“He has $145,000 of special interest money and you know that’s what he’s going to represent. I will represent the regular people who I represent,” Farias said. “You cannot say you were not recruited when you have $145,000 of special interest money.”
Farias has painted Redondo as an insurance industry insider. But Redondo said that’s not true.
“That’s literally the opposite of what I do. I sue insurance companies,” Redondo told Ladra.
That has been the main theme of the campaign — rising insurance costs and other affordability issues, like housing. On Sunday, all three candidates appeared on This Week in South Florida with Glenna Milberg and debated those issues.
“There is more work to do,” Redondo said of the latest insurance legislation. “The insurance industry got essentially what they were asking for. But premiums have not been coming down.”
Farias told Political Cortadito that the insurance bill passed by legislators earlier this year is actually helping him because “a lot of Republicans are disgusted with what happened. They’re not going to vote in this election.”
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Not a lot of Democrats are going to vote either, because of the timing. In fact, according to the Miami-Dade Elections Department, more Republicans than Democrats have voted so far either by mail or early voting. More than 1,400 no party affiliation voters could tip the scales in Farias’ favor. In all, 6,686 voters have cast ballots by mail so far and 483 took advantage of early voting.
“This race from the genesis was designed for the Republican candidate,” de la Paz said on WPLG, referring to the December date when the governor had time to schedule the specia election with the November general.
Marvin Stein, chairman of the KFHA political committee, said that Farias answers to their questions aligned with their interests. “We found him highly qualified and the best candidate for this race.”
Redondo never responded to their requests, Marvin said.
“Scheduling conflicts,” Redondo said.
Special election in House 118 pits longtime public servant vs first timer added by Ladra on
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