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.