Natacha Seijas, Miami-Dade's Queen of the Mean... by gimleteye

It is important to keep track of Miami-Dade County Commissioner Natacha Seijas, who reminds me of the late Leona Helmsley, the original 'Queen of mean'. Helmsley left a few billion dollars to the dogs; Seijas leaves us invaluable memories. Thanks to New Times for keeping the memories alive.

The New Times blog reports: "The Wicked Witch of West Miami-Dade appears to be casting evil spells again. Lourdes Aguirre, a Miami Lakes businesswoman who is challenging county Commissioner Natacha Seijas in the August 26 election, claims Seijas — through an emissary — threatened to cut off county funding for Miami Bethany Community Services, an Allapattah-based charity that clothes and feeds poor families. Aguirre is the group's chairwoman."

New Times goes on: "Taking out her opponents through third parties is a signature Seijas tactic" but misses one of the most egregious from the failed recall campaign against her, leveled by citizen activists furious with the way Seijas walks lock-step with the county's major land speculators and developers.

During the recall drive, Hialeah police arrested and falsely imprisoned signature petition gatherers. Democracy, by another name. It is a moment that will not be forgotten in the history of our "Queen of the mean". Click on read more, for the full text of the New Times blog.

Natacha Seijas Is at It Again
By Francisco Alvarado, Janine Zeitlin
published: July 10, 2008

Christopher Smith

See "Punch Buggy," by Janine Zeitlin, below.

Subject(s):
Natacha Seijas, Miami-Dade County Commission, electric car, Little Havana, immigrationThe Witch's Way
Natacha Seijas is at it again.

By Francisco Alvarado

The Wicked Witch of West Miami-Dade appears to be casting evil spells again. Lourdes Aguirre, a Miami Lakes businesswoman who is challenging county Commissioner Natacha Seijas in the August 26 election, claims Seijas — through an emissary — threatened to cut off county funding for Miami Bethany Community Services, an Allapattah-based charity that clothes and feeds poor families. Aguirre is the group's chairwoman.

"To pick on me is one thing," Aguirre says. "But for her to have the audacity to pick on the little people really makes me angry."

The emissary — Frank Castañeda, who is chief of staff for Miami Commissioner Angel Gonzalez, a Seijas ally — denies it.

Castañeda says Seijas expressed concern to his boss that Miami Bethany was getting involved in Aguirre's campaign. So this past Monday, Castañeda called the agency's president, Rev. Obed Jauregui. "I told him it wasn't wise to involve a nonprofit in a political activity," Castañeda says. "And that was it."

Aguirre offers a much different account. She says Castañeda informed the reverend that Seijas is not happy to be challenged by the head of a nonprofit that receives county funding. Seijas implied that Aguirre might use Miami Bethany's resources for her campaign, Aguirre says. "The mere suggestion that I would use this organization for my personal benefit is major disrespect on Seijas's part."

Jauregui did not respond to an interview request, and Seijas declined comment.

Taking out her opponents through third parties is a signature Seijas tactic. During her 2004 re-election campaign, she tipped off Miami-Dade's inspector general about her opponent, Jorge Roque, reimbursing people who donated to his campaign to help him qualify for public campaign financing. Last year, Roque was convicted of three counts of perjury, one count of grand theft, and one count of lying on campaign reports.

When she faced a recall in late 2006, Seijas contacted law enforcement authorities, including Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, about petitioners allegedly forging voters' signatures. The commissioner gave investigators about 200 affidavits from voters who said they were misled during the petition drive.

Even though the effort to remove Seijas from office failed, the criminal investigation lasted almost two years and did not result in the arrests of any of the initiative's leaders. Police charged two bit players — public notary Luz Dunlap and signature-collector Anibal Roberto Orellana-Ramirez — on felony counts of forgery, falsely taking signatures, and receiving signatures to mislead a public servant. Dunlap, who was accused of notarizing hundreds of signatures without witnesses, pleaded guilty to nine misdemeanor charges of making false official statements. Orellana-Ramirez is awaiting trial.

Aguirre says she is not intimidated by Seijas. "She's messing with the wrong person," she says.