This blog supported Carlos Gimenez as Miami Dade mayor. Both bloggers here believed that given the alternatives, Gimenez was the best alternative. Readers warned us, and over the years, our point of view changed.
Like his predecessors, Mayor Gimenez became hostage to the lobbyist corps -- especially the land use and development lobbyists who deformed the purpose of county government during the 1990's (cf. Greenberg Traurig). As a county commissioner, he once made an effort to reach out to dissidents of the status quo. No more.
Miami Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho is a viable challenger for the county's top job. Carvalho, recently named the top schools chief in the nation by the Schools Superintendents Association, is ambitious and smart enough to see the weakness in Gimenez' portfolio.
Carvalho downplays reports about running for elected office, but he has the public visibility to run a county-wide campaign. We would welcome a strong challenge to our current mayor.
Geniusofdespair wrote about this 11/30.
Like his predecessors, Mayor Gimenez became hostage to the lobbyist corps -- especially the land use and development lobbyists who deformed the purpose of county government during the 1990's (cf. Greenberg Traurig). As a county commissioner, he once made an effort to reach out to dissidents of the status quo. No more.
Miami Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho is a viable challenger for the county's top job. Carvalho, recently named the top schools chief in the nation by the Schools Superintendents Association, is ambitious and smart enough to see the weakness in Gimenez' portfolio.
Carvalho downplays reports about running for elected office, but he has the public visibility to run a county-wide campaign. We would welcome a strong challenge to our current mayor.
Geniusofdespair wrote about this 11/30.
24 comments:
Among Mayor Gimenez's indescretions was giving corrupt Juan Kuryla a massive $300,000 County Director's salary, a 70% increase while the current Port Director remains in his job and while all other employees get cuts. Kuryla's background includes personal bankruptcy, coworker love affair leading to divorce, shady dealings with potential port vendors and clients resulting in Inspector General investigation, scheming to get PBSJ a port contract at the same time PB was being indicted for fraud, a fraudulent scheme with convict Hardemon for material hauling from the Port, wining and dining family and friends on the county credit card on foreign junkets, an embarrassing episode in Dubai on County business, inability to show up for work before 10am, aggressive behavior toward law enforcement at traffic stops and other unstable episodes. He is favored by this administration and commission because of his ability to cater to their needs, including numerous junkets like the June 2014 trip he is organizing to Spain and France for insiders paid by taxpayers. The 2014 Port budget also includes a $5 million item for payment in a legal judgment against the County for a judges ruling that the Port of Miami has a way of doling certain business permits illegally protecting incumbents -- ``creating a handful of entrenched privileged companies". The judge said evidence showed other ``established, qualified, competent and trustworthy, companies were denied permits even as some incumbents who didn't use their permits received automatic renewals". Kuryla works the backchannels and selection process, where privileged insiders are awarded business while those who are not tied into the system of lobbyists, commissioner aides and certain County staff are denied. Kuryla should be fired, not promoted. Divide his salary among honest employees. Stop the travel junkets for friends and family, save millions.
Be very careful what you wish for. You wished for Gimenez, and look what it got you. This is Miami, and nothing is as it seems.
Well then, we'll keep changing mayors like underwear but this maniac, ego fanatic, unstable lunatic has to go.
Eye on Miami should do an in depth study on what contacts hGimenez' son, daughter-in-law, and sister has obtained . Family and friends have been exposed before and it's time for another one
Contracts not contacts
First comment: you wrote about Juan Kuryla like this over and over. This is it. Stop. All your comments are the same that makes it a vendetta and that is banned from this blog.
Juan Kuryla for Mayor? Seems to have all the qualifications necessary.
Thank you for dumping the repeated personal attacks on Juan Kuryla. The poor decision to simultaneously maintain two department directors at the Port rests with our bumbling Strong Mayor, Carlos Gimenez.
The Mayor has no credibility to recruit executives, and did not want to go through the exercise when Bill Johnson leaves. Paying to have Juan remain on stand-by is the cost associated with being an inept Mayor. It is not the fault of Mr. Kuryla.
The next candidate for County Mayor may be coming from the School System, but not necessarily the Superintendent. There is a whisper campaign underway encouraging School Board Member Raquel Regalado to step forward.
Can you blame executives from staying away? Gimenez treats everyone like crap. Just look and see top people who have already left. Director Loftus couldn't stand Gimenez any longer so he quit early. The human resources guy hire less than a year ago didn't last a year after dealin with Gimenez and let us nor forget Fire Chief shorty Bynson. Shorty was a personal friend of Gimenez and after testifying under oath contrary to what Gimenez said under oath, Shorty resigned abruptly. There are so many more. The rest that have to hang in their are anxious to get out and away. Also, just look at the vice mayors; while over paid, they look like thay have aged twenty years just dealing with Gimenez. In addition to destroying the county, Gimenez destroys lives.
Great idea. We need a real educator in that job.
To genius above, you mean Like your vendetta against Linda Bell?
Calvalho is no prize. He is another egomaniac. Unfortunately, Calvalho has started to believe the drivel written by his full time publicists. Remember, disgraced ex-mayor Manny Diaz forced the taxpayers to pay for his flacks? Calvalho is just another 5'5" dude with slicked back hair. No substance.
I don't go by my rules, only you guys do. At least I say different things every time, this guy is like a tape recorder. Same comment every time.
Commandante Gimenez and his gang of hoodlums are shameless running dogs. The people have been deceived.
Raquel Regalado for Mayor???? She is lucky not to be wearing an orange jumpsuit right now. She can't even track if her license is suspended or not. Please,this woman has no moral compass and is a baby mama.She dated Frank carollo. No brains to be Mayor.
Racquel Regalado? No way. Miami has seen enough of the Regalados. Racquel and Tomas are lucky they did not go to jail for their election fraud convictions. People have noticed that Tomas Regalado appointed numerous thugs and relatives to high paying jobs at the City of Miami.
Raquel Regalado! She'll fit right in....plus G.O.D. and Gimmmy Baby will have plenty of material.
Raquel Regalado? Why not? She's an expert on everything. Just ask her.
For now anybody but Carlos Gimenez!
No more County mayors that come from Mia,mi. Enough is enough
Albert Calvalho is a nasty piece of work. He spends 2 hours a week getting pictures of himself framed and installed on any wall he can find. Self promotion much?
Too bad Miami-Dade county does not see the need to have a true educator to lead the intellectual development of our children. Hopefully he will run for Mayor or any other job that creates the possibility for us to get the talent that we need.
Alberto Carvalho is a self-absorbed blowhard. He has politicized the school system and has a staff of full-time publicists within the school system and at local media outlets essentially campaigning for him. His agenda...his brand...his name are all that matters.
He must always have the biggest seat in the room and all roads must lead to him. Never has a sitting school superintendent spent so much time in the media, bloviating about himself and his awards. So much for humility being a part of an educator.
Need I remind you of his alleged affair with a Herald reporter covering the school system? Ask around the school system and his reputation is not as prestine as he portrays.
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