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| Sometimes you have to stand for something bigger than a paycheck. How does it feel to align yourself with the Koch brothers Brian - helping them? |
With Gimenez, it was tough at the beginning for Brian,” (Brian) May says. “By the time Gimenez made the runoff, Brian had refined his approach, using a softer touch with donors.”
Goldmeier continued dialing for dollars immediately after Gimenez beat Robaina in the June 2011 run-off. The mayor had a short window to amass another war chest before the next election in August 2012. Common Sense Now collected close to $2 million in a one-year span, mostly due to Goldmeier’s relentless soliciting of campaign donations from people doing business at County Hall.
For his efforts, Gimenez’s political action committee paid Goldmeier’s firm, BYG Strategies, $220,076 in consulting fees, plus a $20,000 bonus. In addition, Goldmeier got another $44,919 from Gimenez’s re-election campaign.
One lobbyist, who asked to remain anonymous, says he disliked Goldmeier from the moment he met him. “I promised Gimenez I would raise a few bucks for him,” the lobbyist says. “That led to Brian calling me every half-hour. The guy’s a jerk, but he is effective.”
Goldmeier has parlayed Gimenez’s victories into more fundraising jobs. Building for Tomorrow, a political action committee organized to promote a successful $1.2 billion bond issue for Miami-Dade Public Schools in 2012, paid BYG $74,507.
During the same election cycle, he pocketed $9,000 in fees from another political action committee that pushed a referendum to expand the Key Biscayne Tennis Center. Goldmeier made $154,046 in fees raising money for last year’s Jackson Memorial Hospital campaign for an extra half penny sales tax. The Miami Dolphins also retained him, doling out $9,000 in consulting fees for a referendum that never happened because the Legislature rejected owner Stephen Ross’ attempt to put public financing of Sun Life Stadium improvements on the ballot.
RACKING UP CONSULTING FEES
Today, Goldmeier is working the phones on behalf of the re-election campaigns of incumbent Miami-Dade county commissioners, Lynda Bell, Jean Monestime and Jose “Pepe” Diaz. So far, Diaz is running unopposed.
Commissioners’ campaign finance reports show that Goldmeier’s firm to date has racked up $43,451 in consulting fees. Political action committees supporting the commissioners have paid BYG another $52,360. He’s mainly been tasked with corralling prominent donors for events featuring Gimenez and politically connected hosts.
For instance, Goldmeier set up an April 2013 fundraiser for Bell hosted by the mayor at the house of Rafael and Vicky Garcia-Toledo. Rafael Garcia-Toledo was Gimenez’s campaign finance chairman and chauffeured the mayor to events during the 2011 special election and the 2012 re-election campaigns. Garcia-Toledo’s wife is a high-powered lobbyist whose clients include Genting Group, the Malaysian casino giant and owner of the old Miami Herald headquarters.
The host committee included some prominent Democrats, such as attorney Alex Heckler, who has raised tens of thousands for the Clintons, and Freddie Balsera, a political consultant who is President Obama’s main pitchman to Hispanics in Florida. Interestingly, Bell is one of the most conservative Republicans on the county commission.
14 comments:
it's in his genes- obnoxious, pushy, ... that's why they hire him. integrity? forget about it
Another generation of bottom feeders. They thrive in our anaerobic political ecosystem. Ron Book's successor, waiting in the wings.
So sad that they don't stand for anything but themselves and their pocketbooks. Karma return.
When you have no conscience you are pretty much a sociopath of politics.
"When you have no conscience you are pretty much a sociopath of politics."
Birds of a feather!
This describes Lynda Bell to a "T." She will do anything to crush anyone who gets in her way of what she wants.
If the people in District 8 keep her, they will get what they deserve and frankly, there will be no hope for them.
If you have any doubts, before you vote for her, contact anyone in Homestead and they will tell you all about her.
This woman should not ever represent people politically.
Consultants do not equal activist they are hired to do a job , facilitate their clients election or reelection. Not throw themselves on the sword for a cause or candidate.
Mr G is doing what he is getting paid to do as far as his working for Bell ( who Idont care for) what about people getting paid working for Levine ? Is theres a more noble cause?
Maybe we should rethink the worlds oldest proffession.
He isn't a consultant. He raises money only. And he historically has not raised money for Republicans.
So slimy. The idea of harassing government vendors and companies that do or want business from government is just so slimy. "Pay to Play"? Is there any ethics? How about the termed out politician selling his votes for campaign contributions for his handpicked successor, his hidden wifey? "Want my vote, show me the money".
He is actually a good guy with a good heart. Needs to soften his approach a little, but he is refreshingly honest in a traditionally dishonest and ruthless industry. He's only 30 and will mature in due time. And just because he raises money for someone doesn't mean he endorses their views on every issue.
Pay to Play! Typical politician corruption. Demand campaign contributions in return for government contracts.
So if you worked for, or was registered for, one party at one time in your life, you must stick with that party for the rest of your life?
Someone tell that to all the baby-boomers who were diehard George McGovern supporters, only to vote for Regan, Bush, Romney....
M
Blame this unethical amoeba for raising enough money to elect Carlos Gimenez. Much of those monies went to paying off Al Lorenzo, Vivian Cassals Muniz and their stable of absentee ballot collectors. In the end, the monies collected by this slimeball is costing us millions on kickback contracts through Carlos Jr. and Freddy Balsera.
The City of Miami Beach does not let City vendors make campaign contributions. Why doesn't Miami-Dade County have that law?
There are too many of these young eager beaver corrupt money raisers.
Its more than just about raising money its trading favors. What promises has he make, clearly to keep raising this kind of money he has done a good job of keeping past promises.
GOD or G please look into what and who he has delivered. He is becoming very important and its time to find out what he is doing to make this happen.
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