Some nasty attack ads against Candidate for Mayor Carlos Gimenez have surfaced from the Accountability Project, Inc. They are put out by The Accountability Project, Inc. (repetition is good for search engines). The Chairperson is Keith Donner and Treasurer is Keith Donner, one of those do-anything-to-win campaign consultants. Anyway, it is shitty politics. Ignore anything you get from the Accountability Project.
Keith Donner worked on Eugene Flinn's campaign. He hardly attacked Lynda Bell there, maybe he was a double agent? Did Donner graduate from the Prince of Darkness, Randy Hilliard campaign school?
See message from Vanessa Brito in comments, she was briefly working for this Political Action Committee.
21 comments:
I'm not surprised. There was an article about this in the Miami Herald Naked Politics. It also mentioned Vanessa Brito of Miami Voice helped produce some of ads.
I thought from well before the Commission primary's there was someone behind the scenes undermining Flinn's campaign. Whether it was Donner or not, who know, but this is very suspect.
Gimenez has supported Charter Changes, did not support the Marlin's funding, has been a proven fiscal conservative (actually doing, not campaigning on) and what has Hialeah Julio done? Receive over $100,000 per year in slush fund money with no accountability (see recent New Times article about this) and he could be part of a Ponzi scheme (to be determined). I think his mirror image would be Rivera (where is he now?) and look how the GOP just kind of sweeps this crap under the rug (that's another post for another day).
Gimenez is the best candidate running and for Vanessa to get involved in any type of negative ads against him is proving some of her recent critics correct. By the way, and if my memory serves me correctly, I think Gimenez supported Flinn.
Carlos is the logical choice. Raul spits on his constituents and Alex removes the p and adds an s to do what he does to Miami Dade voters.
Vanessa Brito disavows the quotes attributed to her not knowing the context...
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2011/04/attack-ads-begin-in-miami-dade-mayors-race.html#more
Here's the link and they quote her. She may want to let them know.
Is she involved with any of this? I've seen her post here, so maybe she can clear this up.
Last Anon is right.
There was an article in The Herald Naked Politics about this.
Who is really behind these ads apart from Donner? Who is translating them in Spanish, as many have heard them already on Spanish radio media outlets.
Here's the link again:
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2011/04/attack-ads-begin-in-miami-dade-mayors-race.html#more z
Let's see...
Speaking of Bell, Channel 10 news had another story today about the Homestead Speedway concert which Bell was recorded as saying something to the affect she'd do anything to stop it (referring to the Cuban Performers) and that she's Commissioner of Dist. 8 (the Speedway is in Dist. 9 dingbat). The ACLU is "looking in to it". Bell's spokesman said she was in Tallahassee (what I want to write about that I will hold back).
Thanks Donner for royally screwing Flinn (and Dist. 8), whether by incompetence or worse. Hope all is working out better with Hialeah Julio.
OK, I read it. No biggy. I thought this comment was interesting. I pulled it off the site:
"Well, too bad nothing that was said was true. Gimenez only has one pension, following 28 years of service at the City of Miami. Robaina, on the other hand, who has a direct tie to the "Accountability Project" will make $150,000.00 a year after 6 years in office as Mayor... Also, this is the same group that fought term limits in Hialeah, the Dade County PBA is a huge contributor to it as well. We all know the PBA is part of the problem."
Read more: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2011/04/attack-ads-begin-in-miami-dade-mayors-race.html#more#ixzz1Im89lCGc
I might point out one thing. Gimenez is working for $6,000 a year. Sure, he has staff and expenses, but you can check out how he spends all that money. I suspect he takes the high road. He has devoted some of his salad years to working as a Commish. when he could have been doing something else. You have to factor in all these things when you look at the big picture.
As far as Vanessa, I think she is also trying to be fair so that she is above reproach. At least that seems to be the way of it at this point. I certainly hope so.
LOVE YOU GENIUS
What is rude: coming on one blog and putting a link to another blog. But don't worry, I deleted you.
I was duped by Eye on Miami into donating money to Miami Voice before the recall. Now that I know Vanessa Brito is using her time to attack Gimenez, the only reform-minded, good government candidate for mayor, I regret my donation.
No one duped you. Is Natacha still a commissioner? Be happy with what you got...rid of the most toxic commissioner. That is what your donation was for.
Vanessa said she likes Gimenez. But truthfully, does it matter what Vanessa thinks? Be a man John. Think for yourself.
I am glad there is support for Gimenez. I've known him to be a really fiscal responsible public servant. County administrators are scared of him because he knows how to bulldoze through their bullshit. He is very well versed in county politics, administration, budget, finance and will cut through the red tape. He won't be afraid to fire anyone and will surely cut through the existing crony/budget problem at county hall. He consistently questions the bond deals and the county lost multimillions when many had to be renegotiated due to the market turn in 2008. He knows when staff is trying to manipulate the issues and he questions the stuff they try to push through the agenda. He will no longer just be one vote on the commission. Our ad valorem taxes are used as a secondary pledge on many of these bond deals (including the stadium) and the market wasn't too happy when we recalled the Mayor. So we need a responsible administrator/strong mayor to keep our ratings stable and if we have to go back to market to issue refunding bonds to pay off old debt, we can go forth with a stable and capable strong mayor who knows what the hell he is doing instead of just being a rubber stamp. What we don't need is Hialeah politics at county hall.
Sometimes, people like myself who are relatively new to the "scene" do not realize the background or baggage that comes with a professional request. I believe in transparency and accountability, one of the reasons I agreed to serve as a media contact for the Accountability Project. I did not form the PAC and I apparently did not do my due diligence on their motive for bringing me on board.
I never thought the attacks emanating from this PAC would be so out of line and targeted at one candidate. I never thought my quotes would be misconstrued to an attack on one candidate for Mayor.
I immediately resigned from the position.
Someone asked if I did the voice over for the radio ad. I did not.
Political Action Committees serve a purpose in a community. I am sorry I got involved with this PAC as I feel my name was sullied by the actions of the PAC. At this time, I only wish to be associated with my own PAC - Miami Voice, where I have control of the message. As stated several times before, Miami Voice PAC will not endorse in the Mayoral or District 13 Commission races, but will provide a voter guide to voters with relevant issues to help them decide who will be the best candidate - for them, the people.
As always, my professional private work will remain as such. This specific case, however, is one I wish to clarify and to apologize to County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez for any statements attributed to me released by Accountability Project.
Thank you Vanessa, for all you do and the clarification.
There are a lot of very toxic political consultants out there, who can draw in even the most seasoned.
Most of these political consultants are a mafia of relatively young unethical con-men who recycle themselves. They have won very few, if any, campaigns and because the candidates don't check their credentials, they keep coming back.
Carlos G.is a very straight guy, however so was Carlos A. He has ample administrative experience just like Carlos A. He was a uniformed public safety officer, who was applauded for saving a bad municipal government.
Carlos A. always believed he was right, despite what the public thought of his decisions. Carlos G. always thinks he right and never compromises, despite the public perception.
Let's not get carried away, the Mayor needs to someone who is not a demagogue and is willing to work with the public to achieve their goals and not just his goals....
Please be careful about labeling Carlos G. as a reform candidate...because Carlos A. was a reform candidate, too!
Will Foote
Vanessa, we appreciate you. Just keep moving forward, taking the high road. The cream always rises to the top.
Agree with Will Foote's comment. We have seen many individuals who are reform candidates but, don't compromise. Like it or not compromise will be required in such a position....
I also have to wonder about candidates who claim they will cut their salary and benefits, why not do it now in your current position. Lead by example!
It all doesn't matter. Gimenez ain't running. guess all his toadies will need another losing candidate to rally behind.
This is a very strange world. Flinn's campaign consultant, Lynda Bell’s campaign consultant, and Natasha's chief of staff (a Bell advisor) are working for the same candidate!!
Do you see what I think was cooking behind the scene in District - 8.
It should be investigated.
I just got a robocall from this idiot Donner complaining about the robocalls one gets from Giminez. I called him back to complain about that and he just hung up. I left him a message, though, afterwards.
I hate these calls and by the way, I am still undecided.
Michael Weber
Miami Beach
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