Looking Back on the Miami GOP

I am by far not the first to talk about the bad accounting or administrative practices over at the Miami GOP going back through the past 3 chairs.


http://floridaconservativenews.com/2011/10/miami-dade-rec-continues-irresponsible-spending-liliana-ros-responds-to-her-payments-of-rent-money-from-the-rec-will-the-rpof-investigate/

Democrat Collaborator Takes Over Republican Party of Miami?

Navy Seal/SWCC veteran Marcus Rivchin has released an email outing lobbyist Nelson Diaz, the newly-elected chairman for the Republican Executive Committee of Miami-Dade County (REC) as a closet liberal for contributing to the reelection of DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Shultz. This was just a smoking gun for more shenanigans. 

We are now breaking the news that the Republican Establishment and Diaz the new Chair had a registered Democrat manage the Election Meeting as the official timekeeper. Diaz is in the midst of a scandal involving the recent REC Election, including being elected with the assistance of Angel Zayas (click for screenshot copy), a registered Democrat. Diaz has made public statements that he appointed Zayas as the official time keeper to enforce “order” in the REC Election. 

Correction: I have been informed that a Mr. Eleodoro E. Zayas, a registered Republican and husband to staff member, Aida Zayas was the appointed time keeper. Mrs. Zayas' has since been dismissed from her staff position. 

The admission of Mr. Zayas, a non-REC member, still requires explanation. Isn't counter intuitive or at least a conflict of interest to appoint a time keeper that is related to Aida Zayas who is paid by the REC?

(image removed in reference to Angel Zayas)

If Diaz appointed a Democrat to run a Republican Party Election, shouldn't we ask ourselves why he did it and demand an investigation by the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF)?


Scroll down for Marcus Rivchin’s original email outing Chairman Nelson Diaz as a liberal, Democrat collaborator.


The most unethical of all means is the non-use of any means.
  – Saul Alinsky (Obama’s Hero)

We're back after a hiatus!

After a few months off, SFLA TEA Party is back to let TEA Party conservatives and anyone else who's for honesty & transparency in politics get a chance to have clear and concise information...

Voter Guide & Early Voting Starts Tomorrow

Miami-Dade Voter Guide Ready!

Download our official voter guide here (Miami-Dade County ONLY, PDF, 4 pages)

If you have trouble accessing the file please try again. It does work.

Early Voting Starts Tomorrow

August 4th until August 11th (Saturday to Saturday) from 7 AM - 7 PM throughout the county at the following locations...

Remember, you can go to any of these locations to vote. No matter how far away from home the early voter center is located.


Aventura Government Center
19200 W Country Club Drive
(2nd Floor Commission Area)

City of Miami – City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
(Entrance is located at the northeast side of the building – ADA entrance is through the front door of City Hall)

Coral Gables Library
3443 Segovia Street

Coral Reef Library
9211 SW 152nd Street

Elections Department (SOE Main Office)
2700 NW 87th Avenue

Florida City - City Hall
404 West Palm Drive
(Commission Chambers)

John F. Kennedy Library
190 West 49th Street

Kendall Branch Library
9101 SW 97th Avenue

Lemon City Library
430 NE 61st Street

Miami Beach City Hall
1700 Convention Center Drive

Miami Lakes Public Library
6699 Windmill Gate Road

Model City Library @ Caleb Center
2211 NW 54th Street

North Dade Regional Library
2455 NW 183rd Street

North Miami Public Library
835 NE 132nd Street

North Shore Branch Library
7501 Collins Avenue

South Dade Regional Library
10750 SW 211th Street

Stephen P. Clark Gov’t Center
(SOE Branch Office)
111 NW 1st Street (Lobby)

West Dade Regional Library
9445 SW 24th Street

West Flagler Branch Library
5050 West Flagler Street

West Kendall Regional Library
10201 Hammocks Boulevard

Miami-Dade Endorsements - County Offices

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CANDIDATES TO COUNTY OFFICES


SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, 5
Daniel “Dan” Espino


PROPERTY APPRAISER
Carlos Lopez-Cantera


COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, 1
Shirley Gibson


COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, 3
Alison Austin


COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, 5
Bruno A. Barreiro


COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, 9
Loretta Riley


COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, 11
Juan C. Zapata


MAYOR
Carlos Gimenez


COMMUNITY COUNCIL 5, AT-LARGE
Ira J. Paul


COMMUNITY COUNCIL 10, AT-LARGE
Miriam “Mimi” Planas


COMMUNITY COUNCIL 10, SUBAREA 106
Victoria E. Tomas


COMMUNITY COUNCIL 11, SUBAREA 112
Daniel Ojeda


COMMUNITY COUNCIL 11, SUBAREA 116
Carolina Blanco


COMMUNITY COUNCIL 12, SUBAREA 122
Matthew Larsh


COMMUNITY COUNCIL 12, SUBAREA 124
Angela “Angie” Vazquez


COMMUNITY COUNCIL 12, SUBAREA 126
Alex Duran


COUNTY QUESTION: Repeal of County’s Pit Bull Dog Ban
YES


Comments:

The most contested county races are for mayor and property appraiser although expect a few surprises in the county commission races as Norman Braman is backing a slate of candidates there, too.

My opinion is low of the current Property Appraiser, Mr. Pedro Garcia, who has done little to assist the common homeowner and everything to support a county commission looking to solve its fiscal problems. Garcia is running despite his pledge to only run for one term since he is now nearly 75 years old. I take issue that foreclosures and short sales are still not adequately taken into consideration when our property tax burdens are being considered - we are all paying more in taxes because of Mr. Garcia. Former Florida House Majority Leader and State Representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera is actually going out of his way to tackle the big issue of property taxes from the position of county property appraiser. This is admirable and besides the lackluster performance of the current property appraiser, Lopez-Cantera should be the obvious choice here.

As for incumbent commissioner, Bruno A. Barreiro, he is a rare figure who has not been involved in scandal or otherwise noted as performing poorly. Better to support someone you know rather than a stranger you don't is the case here.

On county question - isn't it ridiculous that we're the only county in the state that has breed specific and extensive ban on pit bulls? Vote YES to repeal.

Miami-Dade Endorsements - Judicial Offices

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CANDIDATES TO JUDICIAL OFFICES


CIRCUIT JUDGE, 11TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
GROUP 8
Mauricio Padilla


CIRCUIT JUDGE, 11TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
GROUP 15
Robert Coppel


CIRCUIT JUDGE, 11TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
GROUP 47
Maria de Jesus Santovenia


CIRCUIT JUDGE, 11TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
GROUP 49
Teresa Mary Pooler


COUNTY JUDGE, GROUP 1
Patricia Marino-Pedraza


COUNTY JUDGE, GROUP 10
Diana Gonzalez


COUNTY JUDGE, GROUP 20
Fleur Jeannine Lobree


COUNTY JUDGE, GROUP 24
Greer Elaine Wallace


COUNTY JUDGE, GROUP 27
Ivonne Cuesta


COUNTY JUDGE, GROUP 28
Enrique “Rick” Yabor


COUNTY JUDGE, GROUP 33
Teretha Lundy Thomas


COUNTY JUDGE, GROUP 40
Don S. Cohn


Comments:

Before you think of a judicial candidate's political philosophy you should first find out if the candidate is even qualified to be a judge.

The people who know best about a candidate's qualifications are the people who will be spending most of their time working hand in hand with them, Miami-Dade's attorneys.

To that end, the Dade Conty Bar anonymously polled thousands of their members about both sitting Judges and Lawyers seeking election this August.

The results of the poll are a good and clear indication of the merits of these candidates. In fact, the choices were made so clear that most of the candidates were clearly favored (and thus endorsed).

A guide to understand the poll -

If anyone with less then 10 percent "unqualified" rating is acceptable. If anyone is over 20 percent "unqualified" you should consider the candidate carefully. Above 33% "unqualified," you should be looking at the others in the race.

You can see that there are some judges who need to be retired. Attorneys are good are identifying bad judges.

Miami-Dade Endorsements - Republican Party Offices

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CANDIDATES TO REPUBLICAN PARTY OFFICES


REPUBLICAN STATE EXECUTIVE
STATE COMMITTEEMAN
Renyel Rivero
Phil Santa-Maria has endorsed Renyel Rivero

REPUBLICAN STATE EXECUTIVE
STATE COMMITTEEWOMAN
Elizabeth Romney-Robayna
Audrey Betancourt has endorsed Elizabeth Romney-Robayna

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 1
David Bateman
Matthew Reibel

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 4
Erwin Meinhardt
Ira Jay Paul

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 5
Samuel E Maldonado
Mark C. Morales

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 7
Emmanuel Oramas
Jesus Rietzke

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 10
Brent Rolland Allen
Anthony “Tony” Campos

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEWOMEN, 10
Luminitza Sava
Grace Denise Solis

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 14
Emmanuel Jose Roman
Emmanuel Santana

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 17
Frank N. Allegro
Pedro M. Allende

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 18
Antonio Degaetano
Nicholas Fasciglione


REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEWOMEN, 18
Carmen Roman Benard
Laura Levey

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 19
Steven Karski
Luis Rivera

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEWOMEN, 19
Marili Cancio
Sharon Wilson

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEWOMEN, 21
Maria Peiro
Adelaida D. Rosario

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 23
Chris Alvarez
Erik Veiga

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEWOMEN, 24
Dulce M. Cuetara
Elisabeth Gonzalez Negron

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 25
Andres Alonso Jr.
Andre Corea

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEWOMEN, 25
Elizabeth Chimenti
Mercedes Gonzalez

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 26
Gabriel Gutierrez de Pineres
Gabriel Morales

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 27
Paul Crespo
Emmanuel Perez

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEWOMEN, 27
Melanie Modesti
Cristina J. Pertierra

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 28
Wilson Hernandez
Nelson Obeso

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEWOMEN, 28
Magaly Betancourt
Rosa Maria Palomino

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 29
Hector C Roos
Chris Scarano
REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEWOMEN, 29
Lynn De Coulaz
Cristina Pertierra

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 30
Emiliano Antunez
Kevin Marino Cabrera

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 31
Joseph E. Delaney
Marcos Lopez

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEWOMEN, 31
Mirelys Jimenez
Angela Santacruz

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 32
Eduardo Sardiñas
Richard Semancik

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 33
Leopoldo Aguilera Jr.
Peter Santa-Maria

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEWOMEN, 33
Maria G. Castellon
Kristina Ramirez

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 34
Richard Delgado
Ricardo A Rodriguez

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEWOMEN, 34
Lourdes Munoz
Dotty Vazquez

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 35
Christopher Mata
Phil Santa-Maria

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 36
Severiano Fernandez
Francis Shirley

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEWOMEN, 36
Sandra Barrera
Mamie Pinder

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 37
Rene Nodarse
Maynor A. Perez
REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 38
Tim Meerbott
Renyel Rivero

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEWOMEN, 38
Carol Paul
Dunia Rivero

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 39
James Brady
Jesse Dieguez

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEMEN, 40
Angelo Lopez
Adrian Ojeda

REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEEWOMEN, 40
Vanessa Marie Layne
Iramys Ojeda

Comments:

Rarely is attention given to these party offices to state and county committee which essentially operate and manage the political parties in Florida. If you ever wondered why our political parties in Miami are so lame and filled with opportunistic sociopaths look no further than who controls these committees. Each of these positions are unpaid and are for 4 years.

The candidates endorsed here have indicated a desire to be active Republicans for the sake of the community rather than for personal gain. Many of these candidates are under the age of 50 which by and large has been an age long neglected by a political system that has been satisfied living off the votes of an aging population taken advantage of sentiments won by 4 decades ago by Ronald Reagan. The Republican Party has not had any youthful involvement since then and unless something changes conservatives will lose yet another generation to the open arms of the socialist Democrat machine.

Please consider these candidates as standard bearers for the future of our party.

And in case you might find complaint that there is no endorsement of elected Republicans to these leadership positions please understand that as officeholders these elections officials already have a seat in the committee. Elected officials usually put their name for consideration in this race to test their "name recognition" that serves as a free countywide public poll of interest in their name or candidacy. And this information is used when they consider what public office to run for in the next election cycle.

Miami-Dade Endorsements - State Office

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CANDIDATES TO STATE OFFICE


STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 100
Sheldon Lisbon (DEM)

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 103
Manny Diaz, Jr.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 105
Paul Crespo

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 109
Bernadine Bush (DEM)

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 110
Jose Oliva

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 111
Maykel “Miguel” Balboa

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 112
Gustavo Barreiro

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 113
Waldo Faura (DEM)

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 114
Amory Bodin

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 115
Eugenio Perez

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 116
Ana Rivas Logan

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 119
Libby Perez

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 120
Morgan J. McPherson


Comments:

There are 3 primaries where Republicans can vote in the Democrat Primary since there is no Republican Primary. I think back to Rush Limbaugh's "Operation Chaos" which was designed to hurt Democrat incumbents (after all it is after all the same incumbents that have largely made our state the mess it is in now).
 
There are 2 narratives playing out in Republican primary contests across the county.

The first and most dangerous narrative is the coalition of one-term State Representatives Michael Bileca, Jose Felix Diaz, Jeanette M. Nunez and Carlos Truijillo. The stated goal of this group is to use every method available to them to smear and destroy their Republican opponents in order to secure lasting political control not just for themselves but to establish themselves as a new power block to steer money and power into their hands. What is worse is that an immense amount of Tallahassee Establishment money is being spent on their behalf as well. Dangerous combination.

To oppose this group respectively are Eugenio Perez, a schoolteacher and former U.S. Marine; Ana Rivas Logan, a public school, vice-principal and a sore to the establishment for anti-gambling stances; Libby Perez, a self-described West Kendall PTA mom and small business owner who represents local citizen needs for real reform on insurance, education and the expanding assisted living facility industry; Paul Crespo, an self-employment public policy and communications professional and honorably retired U.S. Marine is the favorite in the district 105 race but very much disliked by the establishment. Paul also ran for U.S. Congress challenging Congressman David Rivera in a hotly contested primary in 2010.


The second narrative also playing is the return of more sons of Diaz de la Portilla to the State House. Alex Diaz de la Portilla, former Florida Senate President, well-remembered in Tallahassee for his habit of challenging every piece of legislation in order to gain influence is now making a return to politics after a 2 year hiatus. Former State Representative Gus Barreiro is contesting the primary in an area of City of Miami that includes the Roads, Brickell, Coconut Grove and Key Biscayne. Barreiro is known as trusted, corruption fighter and looking to return to his advocacy work with children from within Tallahassee. In another contest featuring a Diaz de la Portilla, this time Renier, who is a former State Representative and recently a member of the School Board. When it comes to political dynasties, few come stronger than this family which already has a son, Miguel, serving as a Florida Senator. Treating political office as a right instead as a priviledge of service is something we as voters should not reward.


Also of note is running for his last available term Representative Erik Fresen. Fresen used to be the chair of Republican Party of Miami-Dade County but resigned amidst a financial scandal involving a mortgage foreclosure and IRS tax lien all while earning well in excess of $200,000 a year as a land-use consultant. Ethics and possible criminal investigations aside, someone with this sordid financial record should not be allowed to have control of the public purse.

Miami-Dade Endorsements - Federal Office

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CANDIDATES TO FEDERAL OFFICE

UNITED STATES SENATOR

Marielena Stuart

REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS, 23

Gineen Bresso

REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS, 24

Rudolph “Rudy” Moise

Comments: 

While I consider Congressman Connie Mack to be an acceptable choice to challenge Sen. Bill Nelson in November, it is important to recognize that Mack is not his father and has done little campaigning in South Florida. A vote for Marielena Stuart is a vote to actively challenge the status quo and even inject much needed debate regarding the encroachment of internationalism in the form of UN Mandates such as Agenda 21 into the national debate.

There is little doubt that Gineen Bresso is the most qualified candidate among a wide field of entries. Her CV screams lifelong Republican having been nationally recognized as a "Young Republican" and worked under various Republican administrations in every branch of government in both state and federal governments serving as a Senior Policy Advisor for Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich, as Chief Counsel and Director of Legislative Affairs for the House Administration Committee, and most recently as President George W. Bush’s Commissioner to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). In her role as commissioner, she earned recognition as a fiscal hawk by slashing expensive junkets and reigning in expanding budgets going so far as to become a “whistleblower” by denouncing her own agency and testifying before Congress “spilling the beans” on a budget that went mostly to pay for administrative, bureaucratic overhead, rather than the EAC’s actual mission – helping make our elections better.

We should all demand that our congressional candidates have such a conservative pedigree like Bresso has prior to running for office. 

A vote for Rudolph “Rudy” Moise is a vote against the Democrat incumbent Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson who is running for her first reelection campaign. Prior to this she served as a state legislator. She has also made statements denouncing the Tea Party movement telling citizens to remember that the Tea Party is the real enemy and that they hold Congress hostage.

Mission Statement!

SFLA TEA Party - A Blog is a blog representing a coalition of "Taxed Enough Already" (TEA) Groups, 912 Groups and every other small government conservative group out there offering an alternative voice to "corporate" or "professional" Tea Party groups and supposed conservative media outlets for the Greater Ft. Lauderdale, the Greater Miami area and wherever our voices need to be heard to help far underrepresented voices among TEA Party aligned activists in South Florida (SFLA). This blog is for you.