On a routine visit to the Miami Dade campaign finance reports website, I was looking around at how the incumbents are faring with their fundraising.
It is always interesting to see who is listed in the early money. Published campaign reports are available on the county website. The Two Incumbents of the Unreformable Majority are Javier Souto and Pepe Diaz. Souto has raised about $14,150K and Diaz, $55,395K. Rebeca Sosa, $3000. That's as of the quarter ending 9.30.2009.
For Souto and Diaz, Shoma Homes interests show up as max contributors: Shoma is a big developer of production homes at the edge of Biscayne Bay and in wetlands. They have a big stake in lobbying against any regulations by the county of development. There is the by-now iconic representative of the unreformable majority, Miguel De Grandy and family contributors. They turn out $1000 for Souto and a couple of thou for Diaz. The difference must be an oversight.
Diaz raised more than three times more than Souto. Of course, Diaz does heavier lifting on the dais than the Silver Fox. Diaz, for instance, has pushed the UDB changes for Lowe's, that is really just a proxy for the development/construction lobby that wants to build all the way past Krome Avenue, beyond the UDB, to the Everglades. Souto doesn't absorb himself with details, but he can be counted on for reliable pro-development votes whenever they are really needed.
The engineering cartel is behind Diaz, including Post Buckley, former SFWMD executive director Henry Dean, Al Cardenas, the UDB line pushers including Wayne Rosen, Shoma Homes and Sergio Pino business interests under US Century. Waste management and cement manufacturers also show up.
A company called JM Global Consulting turns up with max contribution to Souto. Who knows JM Consulting, or, its principal Jose Mallea? He seems to be a fan of the George Bush Presidential Library and so forth. Former chief of staff to Mayor Manny Diaz, unless that is another Jose Mallea. According to a 2005 Miami Today report, "Mr. Mallea was a member of the State Department's Iraq task force assisting the economic restructuring of Iraq." Mr. Mallea also turned up in 2007 as co-chair of the Advisory Council for Hispanic USA, chaired by Jose Cancela, advocating property tax reform. It all seemed so much easier during the ether of the building boom.
The third incumbent county commissioner, running next year, is Rebeca Sosa. So far, the De Grandy names account for $2000 of her recorded $3000 in contributions. Ouch.
It is not too difficult to sift through the corporations, contributors, listed individually, and the commissioners they support. Here is a place to start. But it does take time to search. If you would like to give us some of your time, we can help you learn how using public records: just contact either me or G.O.D. at our email addresses. I'm sure readers would be intrigued by what you help us dredge up.
12 comments:
We need a fresh face on the dias, as in Miriam'Mimi'Planas. Souto needs to go, he needs to sleep at home, not on our time.
Wake up district 10.
District 10 is braindead. Just like Homestead.
JM Global Consulting is an international powerhouse firm, I am surprised they took an interest in Souto, there are large powers involved in this.
Are you sure JM Global is not the JM Families company from Broward (i.e. - JM Lexus, etc...)?
They are heavy hitters in Broward Political Circles.
m
I stand corrected:
Jm Global Consulting, Inc Business InformationClaim This ProfileJm Global Consulting, Inc is a private company categorized under Consultants-Business (Unclassified) and located in Coral Gables, FL. Our records show it was established in 2007 and incorporated in Florida. Current estimates
National Powerhouse?
I don't think so.
m
JM is Jose Mallea. Former Cheif of Staff to Manny Diaz.
m
Jose is a good guy, and he shares office space with some high powered County lobbyists, Jorge Lopez and Paul Acosta. Jose was the Chief of Staff to Manny, but, before that, he worked on that task force after leaving City Hall, and I believe worked on the Vice President's advance team (Cheney). He has been an active Republican. He doesn't do too much County work, so, I am guessing that he made the donations at the request of Jorge and Paul.
I don't see any single-digit donations on Souto's list; looks like Planas is reaching out to her actual constituents...what a refreshing approach! Wake up, Westchester!
Fund raising worked well in Coconut Grove. Please do not think that the Coconut Grape Vine represents the vast majority of merchants and Grovites. The author has an agenda to obtain comments by using hate, anger and hostility, which protrays the Grove Village as a place full of drunkards and dangerous---when in fact we have a lot of offer in the way of great food, entertainment for both families and individuals. Don't believe what you read in the Coconut Grove Grape Vine, come on over and see reality and have a pleasant evening.
Pepe Diaz's contributions include a sizable sum from FPL executives - no doubt to ease the siting of their western preferred route high-voltage transmission line project.
It's true about Grapevine. The "closing time" issue has taken over his common sense. He selects comments that reflect his opinion and censors the rest, declaring inaccurate numbers on public opinions. Most Grovites really don't care what time the bars close. We do want our downtown to do well, but we're busy with our families and our bills. We have seen these businesses come and go. I have written letters asking for peace and compromise, but he choses to print comments from people that want to lynch anyone that goes against the Grapevine's opinion. He has written that "you are either for Grove businesses or against them"! He has written that people should move out of the Grove if they want the bars to close at 3am! Our children are 3rd generation Grovites. We're not going anywhere. Everyone has a right to their opinion and true Grove people understand that and try to get along anyway.Telling people to move if they don't support the Grove businesses is one of the most ignorant comment I've heard in a long time. We have seen multiple businesses come and go in the Grove, yet, here we are. Our lives don't revolve around the downtown businesses as his seems to. This is one person that really needs to get a life.
It's too bad. He does a great job of promoting Grove events. If he stuck to that, it would be great. But when he shows the infighting of the Grove businesses and the slanderous comments of his readers (which he handpicks), we often go other places to enjoy ourselves and spend our money. Why would we want to be anywhere near these nasty people? I'm not sure if he realizes that he actually diverts people away from the Grove rather than drawing them in. More than once we have left places in the Grove because Grapevine is there. We don't want to be anywhere near his "our way or the highway" crowd. The wise business person in the Grove, such as the commenter above, needs to distant himself from this guy.
Sorry that this comment has really nothing to do with your article, but I was motivated by the Grove comment above. I thank you guys for printing all comments, whether we agree with you or not. Your blog is the first one I go to. It is intelligent and informative. Thanks for all your time and effort. I really appreciate it.
TOM (the other M)
Jorge Lopez has roots with Mayor Alvarez, as well, unless I am mistaken. Which I kinda sorta don't think I am.
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