Tuesday, March 13, 2012

It Would Be Crime Not To Elect Jose Javier Rodriguez to the State House. By Geniusofdespair

Now that the district boundaries are approved for the Florida House, I guess it is time to start looking at the candidates barring a legal challenge, the districts are set. I see one standout so far, Jose Javier Rodriquez who is running for District 112. He was a volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps, where he trained small business owners and helped design employment-generating projects in both urban and rural areas.

Most of this I got from his website: With the help of scholarships and financial aid Jose Javier Rodriguez graduated from Harvard Law School.  Jose Javier turned down lucrative jobs elsewhere to return home and use his education to give back to the community. Jose Javier has defended the rights of those who cannot afford lawyers and taught as law professor with the Carlos A. Costa clinic at the FIU College of Law. He owns a home here in Miami and has been active in the community.

Many of my friends have already donated to this guy...If you live in this district (enlarge the map by hitting on it) or know someone who does, send them to his website. 

This is District 112 (he was originally in 113 but it changed with redistricting)

I asked him about some environmental issues and he sounds green to me. It is important to be green as he has our fragile coastline, Virginia Key, Matheson Hammock, Bill Baggs State Park and Biscayne Bay aquatic preserve in his district.  I liked what he said about the Urban Development Boundary:
This session our legislature tried, and fortunately failed, to meddle with Miami-Dade’s Urban Development Boundary  that our County Commission set in the 1970's to limit development on buffer land bordering the Everglades. Mayor Gimenez defended it because growth management, which the legislature succeeded in making more difficult last session, is not just about the environment but the fiscal impact on our communities when development is not done responsibly.
I wanted to see if he had a sense of humor. Catching him off-guard, I asked him who is his favorite comedian and he said his brother. I guess that works. My brother is pretty funny too, with a  droll sense of humor but it appears his brothers is in show business in California.

Why have I spent the last 3 days writing about State politics? Because we have to start taking the election of our State representation more seriously, Tallahassee politics is harming Florida and we all scratch our heads when wacky laws get passed.

35 comments:

B said...

I would like to know more about his political beliefs rather than where he went to school.

Geniusofdespair said...

What is with you two? Go to his website I gave the link. I wrote about stuff I found interesting. Do your own homework once in awhile. And, you the second poster - What are you running against him? I happen to like our President and don't take kindly to your slur of Potus' followers.

Anonymous said...

We do need good people in Tallahassee. I hope to hear more about your guy. We need to take the elections of our State Representatives more seriously because I am fed up with our legislature.

Anonymous said...

I just hope he does not change 3 months after he gets in public office like a few I know have in the past.
I hope he does not campaign on one issue and then turns for the worst on us.
I hope he does not throw us taxpayers under the bus.
I hope he supports our public schools.
I hope he supports healthcare for all Floridians.
I hope he supports job creation.
I hope he supports small business owners.
We will see.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the info--I live in the district, off coral way-- seems his website is kinda sparse on details-- I know more about his Dad's history than specifics on his own-- is he a full-time professor at FIU ? was he part of Legal Services or the Public Defenders Ofc (state or federal) ? on what nonprofit and community boards has he served is what I am hoping he will put some meat on his site or post a resume on there or something to let me know what he's been doing all these years--I will support a Dem in the District

Portia said...

I want to see where he went to school. By the ads in the Miami Herald- an alarming amount of our leadership in the community graduated fro Miami Dade Community college. That is pretty bad. We need more intelligence.

Anonymous said...

A letter to the editor of Miami Herald from the same guy:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/06/2679371/get-paid-for-a-hard-days-work.html

Anonymous said...

Your kidding right? Just what we need ....another lawyer in the chamber. Come on guys!

Anonymous said...

I prefer my friend Alex Dominguez who will be running against Jose Rodriguez in District 112. He is the most honest person i know. Doesnt BS anyone and not afraid to challenge the status quo. This guy has a brass set of balls. Not afraid to piss anyone off. We need that in the legislature. I know he will do the right thing for his district. Interview him and get back to us Genius. www.alexdominguez2012.com

Tere Gavalda said...

He is a very qualified candidate and will make all of us in Miami-Dade very proud when he gets to TLH.

Sonia said...

We don't need anymore REPUBLICANS in the House. We are already top heavy with Republicans. Redistricting is suppose to give us a more even mix so we can have meaningful reform in our State instead of these love fests for business. Alex Dominguez is a Republican. I will vote for the Democrat Rodriguez.

Geniusofdespair said...

Alex Dominguez appears to be a Democrat too.

Anonymous said...

To the "brass balls" guy above, maybe it's just me, but I prefer candidates with normal testicles. Or even better, ovaries.

Geniusofdespair said...

Because of redistricting all the campaigns are getting off to a slow start. I will interview him again in late Spring. I spoke to Jonah Wolfson yesterday and he doesn't even have a website yet. With Steinberg's district chopped up we are in a position to elect some qualified people who won't sell us down the river once in Tallahassee.

March 13, 2012

Anonymous said...

Jose is a patient man with a quiet dignity that would be welcome in the ranks of the Dade Legislative Delegation. He listens and he learns. His involvement in support of the Wage Theft Ordinance that took months to craft is a testimony to his capabilities. He will be a legislator that reads the bills and votes his conscience. I contributed $50 today and so should everyone who cares about this community.

Anonymous said...

I used to play ultimate frisbee with him. Very nice guy, always level headed. Didn't really hear much about his politics.

Living on Key Biscayne said...

Harvard, Peace Corps, helping people, I think he is worth a closer look.

Anonymous said...

will pass on Rodriguez, already receiving contributions from Lobbyist Christian Ulvert. Funny how they drag you right in...........

Geniusofdespair said...

Then forget about voting EVER. A campaign without money will not be successful. You can't depend on citizens to finance a campaign. I would never reject a candidate on lobbyists' donations also it depends on which lobbyists --some are really bad signs. I looked at his campaign report and saw no red flags. So who are you left with?

Alex Dominguez said...

If elected, I would propose a bill that would give public school teachers a 50% property exemption after 5 years of service and in good standing. After 20 years of service the exemption would be permanent. This would give teachers a "permanent raise". We need to re-invigorate the teaching field so that our young and brightest pursue teaching instead of avoiding it like the plague due to lack of pay. Any ideas would be welcomed.

Thanks,

Alex Dominguez
Candidate district 112

Anonymous said...

Dominguez has at least two typos/grammar errors in the FIRST PARAGRAPH of this home page. Not sure if "brass balls" will help him overcome what appears to be either sub-GED education or sloppiness -- I don't want either representing me in Tally, thanks!

Ross Hancock said...

I am running in the district just to the west of Jose Javier Rodriguez, and I just wish I were half the man he is. Peace Corps. Harvard. Community organizing. I can't imagine doing better. We need to unite when we have such a great challenger that can flip this seat. He has a tough race ahead in November, but it is very doable.

Anonymous said...

I work with abused and neglected children and Alex Dominguez supports the Voices for Children program. I wish more politicians would pay more attention to these programs that help thousands of kids in Miami Dade.Dominguez gets my vote! (although other dems look good too!)Finally a decent slate of challengers...

Anonymous said...

looks like Rodriguez has the pedigree and Dominguez has the ideas. Can we vote for both :-)Maybe one of them can run in the stalkers territory on the beach.

Mari in Brickell said...

Is there an event or forum coming up to meet the candidates in the state races. It sure would be beneficial to ask them questions and get some feedback. As a registered democrat I feel encouraged that we have some pretty good candidates this time around. I agree with previous post, a good slew of candidates. Rodriguez,Dominguez, Hancock, and Wolfson.

Geniusofdespair said...

The Urban Environment League held a series of State legislature debates 2 years ago. Nobody came... A good turnout was 15 people. They were a disaster. They also held a series of debates for the County Commission, those were pretty well attended---up to 100 people.

Alex Dominguez said...

Should anyone wish to ask questions or express concerns in my district 112, please feel free to call me on my cell at 786-210-2366. I return all my calls. You can also email me at ardmiami@yahoo.com.

Alex Dominguez

Jacob said...

I've been active in Miami's community for years and I don't think I've been as excited about Jose's campaign as any other. It's totally rare that you get someone who not only has the values, skills and experience, but actually has gotten his hands dirty in moving our community to a better place.

Appreciate you for posting this and that you took the time to listen to him,
Jake

Anonymous said...

Go Jonah Wolfson!!

Mike said...

Dominguez sure does know how to pick stocks! He made me $$$$$$$$$$$$$ when I followed his herald picks LONG time ago. Seems like a decent guy too. Love the stuff on Hancocks website! looks like the guy is fired up against Fresen.

Anonymous said...

what about Gustavo barreiro?? Experience matters?

Geniusofdespair said...

Barreiro...that name turns me off. Like Bush, don't like that name either.

Anonymous said...

Gonna be a dogfight in112. My money is on barreiro although he won't do much when he gets there.just think his name recognition alone will blow away either democratic candidate. I do agree however with previous posts that dems have good challengers in multiple races this time around.

Anonymous said...

Barreiro gets fired for having porn on his computer and the guy he is running against got canned from the school board years ago. The GOP has some shitty candidadtes compared to the dems in 112 .Click on the link for more:


http://pdfs.dadeschools.net/Bdarch/2003/Bd051403/agenda/c3.pdf

Ross said...

Alex DLP has qualified to oppose Barreiro in the Republican side of the primary for this district.