Florida legislative session started — here’s what local lawmakers are up to

Florida legislative session started — here’s what local lawmakers are up to

Condo reform, critical race theory, abortion and more There’s always a theme to the Florida legislative session, and especially among the Miam-Dade delegation of state representatives and senators. This year, bills about condo safety, education and oversight are all the rage, thanks to the tragedy at the Champlain Towers in Surfside, where 98 people died […]

Javier Fernandez vs Ana Maria Rodriguez for Senate + team advantage

Javier Fernandez vs Ana Maria Rodriguez for Senate + team advantage

One of the most important Florida Senate races to both parties this year, the open seat vacated by the term-limited Republican Sen. Anitere Flores, was always going to be a general election battle between current State Representatives Javier Fernandez and Ana Maria Rodriguez. The GOP is trying hard to keep the majority, which is at […]

State Rep. Javier Fernandez turns carpetbagger to run for Senate

State Rep. Javier Fernandez turns carpetbagger to run for Senate

State Rep. Javier Fernandez (D-Coral Gables) announced Wednesday that he will run next year in Senate District 39, where Anitere Flores (R-Kendall) is termed out and Democrats have a real opportunity to pick up a seat. But first, he has to move there. There is no other Democrat in the race now. Pinecrest Councilwoman Anna Hochkammer, another carpetbagger who announced in […]

Blue wave wipes out in FL and 305, with two bright silver linings

Blue wave wipes out in FL and 305, with two bright silver linings

It started good at the top of the ticket. Then, ouch. Was former Sen. Bill Nelson and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum actually winning with absentee ballots? Because early results had them just over 50. Even Jeffrey “Doc” Solomon had 525 votes over newly-elected State Rep. Vance Aloupis, right, who ended up winning by 591 votes. […]

Kendall forum features candidates from three state House races

Kendall forum features candidates from three state House races

The Kendall Federation of Homeowners Associations has yet another candidate forum, the second of three this month, Wednesday night. This one features the head-to-head contests in three House districts. In House District 105, Democrat Javier Estevez is going up against Doral Councilwoman Ana Maria Rodriguez for the seat vacated by State Rep. turned Ambassador Carlos […]

If at first you don’t succeed… David Rivera tries again, in 105

If at first you don’t succeed… David Rivera tries again, in 105

Setting up a GOP primary with Doral councilwoman No this is not an April Fool’s joke. Former Congressman David “Nine Lives” Rivera is nothing if not persistent. And you never know where he’s going to turn up next. Rivera — who lost his congressional seat in 2012 to Joe Garcia and then lost a Republican […]