Absentee ballots beat early votes, but activity quiet

Absentee ballots beat early votes, but activity quiet

UPDATED: The number of absentee ballots returned so far across Miami-Dade for this Aug. 26 primary is 77,500, far less than the 210,000 ABs that have been requested as of Thursday, according to the Miami-Dade Elections Department. But it is almost four times as many votes as in-person ballots cast by early voters. And many think […]

Pets’ Voice party bus takes voters and dogs to early voting

Pets’ Voice party bus takes voters and dogs to early voting

The Miami-Dade Elections Department in Doral went to the dogs Saturday as the Pets’ Voice — an organization promoting the no-kill initiative passed by voters in a 2012 non-binding referendum — bussed voters to the office for early voting from a canine obstacle course event they had at the Miami Airport Convention Center. “Could have […]

Good timing: Animal shelter event may benefit incumbent

Good timing: Animal shelter event may benefit incumbent

After a decade of delays and hand-wringing over the where and how, Miami-Dade county officials are finally going to have a ground breaking for the new animal shelter they approved in 2004 — four days before the election. This sudden scheduling of an event in the district represented by Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz — who has come under fire […]

District 12 race heats up with Goliath beating up on David

District 12 race heats up with Goliath beating up on David

Many 305 political observers thought the only commission race that was going to be fun this year was in District 8 — where incumbent Miami-Dade Commissioner Lynda Bell is facing a real challenge from political neophyte Daniella Levine Cava, who moved into the district just so she could run. But the race in District 12, which […]

Non candidate mailer warns of absentee ballot fraud

Non candidate mailer warns of absentee ballot fraud

Our mailboxes this week are stuffed with mailers big and small for candidates from the congressional race in District 26 to county commission contests to municipal matchups to judicial jousts to the battle for the property appraiser’s office. But one mailer stands out — because it does not promote any particular candidate. “Absentee voter fraud […]

‘El Zorro’ Zapata rides again; kills $62 mil gifts to ‘insiders’

‘El Zorro’ Zapata rides again; kills $62 mil gifts to ‘insiders’

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Mr. Givewaway” Gimenez and several commissioners believed that they were about to dole out $62 million Thursday in gifts — well, grants from the Building Better Communities general obligation bond — to fund small economic development projects for neighborhoods from Palmetto Bay to Opa-Locka. Among those projects, there was $18.5 million earmarked for […]

Politicos pose with pets; insult our intelligence with photo ops

Politicos pose with pets; insult our intelligence with photo ops

Awwwwww. Ain’t that sweet? Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Cry Wolf” Gimenez and Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz snuggled up with some cute little puppies Wednesday in Doral as they debuted the county’s new HOPE Mobile, which will travel around from place to place in an effort to drum up more pet adoptions. While we don’t know how […]

Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz draws unknown opponent

Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz draws unknown opponent

Doral Councilwoman Bettina Rodriguez-Aguilera has decided that she will not run against Miami-Dade Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz after all — but another Doral resident named Marjorie Figueira did. Who? Exactly! All we know right now is that Figueira is a former educator who sued the School Board in 2007, alleging harassment by then Superintendent Rudy Crew. Oh, and […]

Poll pits Bettina Rodriguez-Aguilera vs. Jose “Pepe” Diaz

Poll pits Bettina Rodriguez-Aguilera vs. Jose “Pepe” Diaz

Doral Councilwoman Bettina Rodriguez-Aguilera might trade in the drama of her city for the dysfunction of the county: A live push poll last week asked voters if they would vote for her in a race against Miami-Dade Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz. The caller also asked voters if they would be more likely or less likely […]

Pet’s Trust campaign hits snags in Sweetwater, West Miami

Pet’s Trust campaign hits snags in Sweetwater, West Miami

In their drive to get the Miami-Dade Commission to pass a tax hike that was approved by voters in 2012 to fund the no-kill Pet’s Trust intiative, the organization that got the measure on the ballot — the measure since ignored by Mayor “By Poll” Carlos Gimenez and eight commissioners — is going around asking cities […]