Oscar Braynon, II Running for Frederica Wilson's State Senate Seat. By Geniusofdespair

After his big win here at Eye on Miami for "Best Looking Elected Official", State Rep. Oscar Braynon II seemed destined for greatness. Now we hear he is running for State Senate in District 33, the seat to be vacated by Frederica Wilson.

Braynon served as the Minority Deputy Whip and was the only house member to serve as ranking member on two committees, both the Government Affairs Policy and Governmental Operations Appropriations Committees. He currently serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Florida Conference of State Black Legislators.

I suppose he has to resign from our beauty pageant title to run, you know that pesky "resign to run" rule. Never mind, I just realized his reign was up January 2010 when the contest morphed into a beauty contest for ethically challenged politicians. You never could have won that title Oscar. Good luck with filling Frederica's hat...I guess you had to expect someone was going to photoshop you, so it might as well be me.

Eugene Flinn talking about Green City Hall in Palmetto Bay. By Geniusofdespair

SB 360 Ruled Unconstitutional. By Geniusofdespair

By the way, Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay were part of this lawsuit, helping to fund it (maybe Pinecrest too) although not mentioned. This gives us one more reason to like candidate Eugene Flinn - Palmetto Bay Mayor.

According the South Florida Business Journal:

A Tallahassee judge has declared the so-called Community Renewal Act (SB 360) unconstitutional.

The sweeping growth management legislation, also known as SB 360, ended a 37-year-old regional planning process for major projects known as developments of regional impact DRI's, removed state requirements that developers help pay to upgrade roads, and extended the shelf life of a building permit for two years.

Developers supported the law, but municipal governments, including Weston and Miami Gardens, were outraged by it and sued to overturn it on the grounds that it represented an unfunded mandate. Link to an article from our archives on SB 360.

Prepare for the day Natacha Seijas retires ... by gimleteye

Since the zaniest things are happening this election cycle, like the Florida GOP imploding, my mind is set to other impossibilities that may come true in the fullness of time. The photo of Katy Sorenson holding up a Flinn t-shirt during her endorsement set me to a reverie of what news of Natacha Seijas' retirement could inspire. In fact I don't know what it will take to pry Natacha Seijas loose from the Miami-Dade county commission. Her dour presence is a constant reminder how voters in Miami-Dade get exactly what they deserve. Seijas stays as far away from computers, we hear, as Osama Bin Laden from cell phones. Still, it is entertaining to speculate how news of her resignation could trigger some paranormal event, like an electric surge of excitement setting off computers across the state. Or maybe just sparklers around the edge of the screen.

Commissioner Katy Sorenson has endorsed Eugene Flinn. By Geniusofdespair

It is official, late this afternoon County Commissioner Katy Sorenson endorsed Mayor Eugene Flinn for the District 8 seat she is vacating. Too bad Lynda. Maybe vile Natacha Seijas will endorse you? I am really happy that Sorenson got off the fence and backed Flinn. He will make a good Commissioner and she gave him a glowing recommendation. There was more to the speech but I was getting tired of holding up my phone. You can read about it and watch video on Channel 4.

Miami Herald: I am guilty, I voted for Mike McCalister. By Geniusofdespair

Today in the Miami Herald, reporter John Frank speculated on how Mike McCalister got 10% of the Republican primary vote. He said:

One of the most intriguing questions to emerge from Tuesday's election results was: Who is Mike McCalister?

"The third wheel in the hotly contested Republican primary for governor took a whopping 10 percent of the vote -- whopping because he didn't run a single advertisement, barely registered in any poll and spent less than $8,000 on his campaign. The answer: a spoiler."

Don't think so, he was the ONLY choice Miami Herald. I voted for McCalister because McCullough did a right hand turn at the end. Even though I think he would help the Everglades, I couldn't vote for him after that. Left with no choice I went to McCalister's website. There was nothing highly objectionable on the first page so I voted for him. Besides, it looked like he was just trying to sell his book with his candidacy. In contrast, I did the same for Rubio's opponents. Their websites were very scary, crap about health care, immigration, restoring bible values, etc. I did not vote for anyone in the Senate as there was no choice, the other two were actually worse than Stop-O-Marco Rubio. Yep. This is one of the guys that was running against Rubio, William Escoffery:

That Stupid. The truth about the Marlins' deal and the County: no one cares ... by gimleteye

1899 cartoon from Puck: "All politics revolve around the boss"
"Tammany Hall depended for its power on government contracts, jobs, patronage, corruption, and ultimately the ability of its leaders to swing the popular vote."

No one is surprised that the Marlins, a professional sports team, conned public officials into standing behind a $700 million stadium, lying about the team's finances. If you are a paid consultant to the Marlins and read this blog and are surprised, raise your hand. The voters of Miami Dade are that stupid. Do voters care that Pepe Diaz or Dorrin Rolle allowed rock mining in West Dade to threaten public health and drinking water? Of course not. Worried about cancer rates or cancer clusters? Hell no: that's someone else's problem. Care that the environmental fund collecting millions in fines from polluters and law breakers was looted by the police department? No one cares about the environment. Care to understand the difference between state senator Julio Robaina and Miguel Diaz de la Portilla? No. Mayor Alvarez won't even answer press questions on police looting the environmental fund. Care that Jeffrey Loria, the Marlin's owner, took down $49 million in the year he and his staff were crying poverty and couldn't afford to keep professional baseball in Miami unless taxpayers stood behind their deal? Nope. Miami Dade voters are brain dead. In the District 8 runoff for county commission, voters could choose a former mayor of the city that is the blighted, blasted capital of Florida's fraud and mortgage scams and bankers gone wild: Homestead. Do voters even know what that is? Nope. The worst housing market bubble and crash since the Great Depression has had no impact whatsoever on Florida's brain dead voters. Reward ignorance. Condemn honesty. Bury facts. Celebrate buildings. Play ball!

Rick Scott: so you want to be governor? Support Amendment 4... by gimleteye

The lobbyist class was down in its cups at the campaign headquarters of Bill McCullom last night. To run competitively against the ultra deep pockets of health care magnate, Rick Scott, McCullom needed every lobbyist dollar he could find. The special interests rushed to his side. They had everything to gain and they lost. Now what?

Rick Scott can run competitively against Sink, without the lobbying class. Still, and most importantly, he needs enough independents and Democrats to defeat the former St. Pete banker, Alex Sink. Wherever Sink is most vulnerable is where Scott should plant his campaign. Where is Sink most vulnerable as a former financier of development run amok? Amendment 4, the November referendum that would return the choice of changing community land use plans back to local voters.

Sink has avoided Amendment 4 like the plague. It is no wonder, why. From the Chamber of Commerce to Lennar and other large production homebuilders, to the shill for land speculators, Associated Industries, opposition to Amendment 4 has drawn tens of millions of dollars. But Amendment 4 is energizing millions of voters who are sick and tired of the insider dealing and the development Wrecking Crew that drove the economy off the rails.

Isn't limiting the power of government-- especially the abuses of excessive authority-- a cornerstone of conservative values? Alex Sink doesn't have the courage to stand up for Amendment 4. Does Rick Scott?

The Miami-Dade Primary Election in Pictures. By Geniusofdespair

The big surprise for me on election day was in District 8 where I was expecting Annette Taddeo to make the run-off. The big disappointment was the loss by Julio Robaina to Mickey D.

The picture above was snapped at Eugene Flinn's campaign party celebrating his move to the runoff with the most votes in County Commission District 8. Pictured are Pam Gray, Howard Tendrich, Eugene Flinn, Sid and Marionette Robinson (Redland activists). He will face Lynda Bell who I have personally disqualified from running.


This young man with Candidate Philip Brutus was so personable. He is really going somewhere.

To see more pictures from the campaign trail, hit read more:

These two campaign workers were so happy even though they were stuck outside for 12 hours on one of the hottest days of the years.


Loved this photo because that is Phillip Brutus who was a candidate for the Meek seat against his X-Wife Yolly. He posed with her signs recognizing the humor in it.


Liked the hat this Albert Harum Alvarez supporter fashioned for himself. I am sorry Albert wasn't in the runoff. He is a very good person. I do admire him. Albert: How about a blog on what it was like being a candidate?


I can't say I am sorry Joe Celestin lost. Miami Herald, you really blew it on that endorsement.


Of all the precincts I visited this was the one with the most signs: Palmetto Bay.


Pictured is Mrs. Flinn and the Flinn's eldest daughter (who was busy multi-tasking, reading and texting). Both are very nice people.


I titled this photo, Rolle Ick, I didn't have the heart to taint this paid campaign worker's face with the T Shirt he had to wear. Dorrin Rolle is in a runoff with Jean Monestime. Everyone send Jean money, really. This is our chance to get rid of Rolle.

For campaign finance reform ... by gimleteye

This is not a new story. It is on the order of a constant refrain as election results trail in, one cycle after another. Our campaign finance system is irretrievably broken. There is no other conclusion to reach. It doesn't matter what party you claim or whether you are an independent. We cannot have a reasonable public discourse in this country, because reason is drowned by money and the money points in one direction: short-term profit. This behavior is championed as virtue. It is sanctioned by the US Supreme Court.

Of yesterday's primary elections in Florida, Herald writer Fred Grimm proposes: "... never has so much vitriol been expended for so few votes. It was as if the campaign strategy was to beat the electorate senseless by spending record amounts of money on uncivil messages. Political strategists must know that the effect would be to depress the turnout to that meager, pathetic trickle of voters who showed up Tuesday. The hope must have been that those few who bothered to cast a ballot hated the other guy more than yours. You might get yourself a winner running this kind of cynical campaign, but it only reinforces the distrust of government that has made us a nearly ungovernable, perpetually angry rabble." True, and nothing new.

The permanent incumbency that benefits from a rigged system isn't budged by term limits. Their faces may change, but the content does not. The two main political parties and their messages have merged into pale reflections of each other, framed by sound bites delivered on TV. We are not protecting democracy with these results. We are destroying it.

Flinn leading in early voting and absentee ballots. By Geniusofdespair

Eugene Flinn is in the lead in early voting and absentee ballots for the District 8 County Commission seat election. Lynda Bell is second and Annette Taddeo comes in third.11:30 pm - It looks like it will be Flinn and Bell in a runoff in November.

Out and About on Election Day. by Geniusofdespair

2 pm: Just left a precinct with between 2 and 3 thousand registered voters. 50 people voted today. If you have a report on voting, leave it in comments. 3 pm: precincts 149 and 169 had 130 voters so far--- North Miami. 3:35 pm - Precinct 175 had 1 voter and precinct 141 had 97 voters. This is Rolle's district and Meek's congressional district. Most of these poll workers are scared to death when I ask a question. I got thrown out in South Miami. Elections won't let me in to polling places-- I have been doing it for years. Anyway -- Early voting stats are 32,882 and absentees as of 5:15 are at 75,084. That is out of 1,203,633 in the county. So about 108,000 have voted and the voting going on today is very light. This South Miami polling location has at least 3 precincts but it is dead at 5:30. 6:45 I am at St. Richard Parish in Palmetto Bay. Saw Piedra earlier. Lynda Bell is here and Eugene Flynn's family. Never saw so many signs in one place -- will print photos tomorrow. It is almost over, there is a steady stream of voters here.

Eye on Miami Endorsements. By Geniusofdespair

A Brief Reminder Endorsements for the 2010 Primary (not a primary in non-partisan, local races - it is the election so you MUST vote):

In the County Commission races Eye on Miami, along with the Miami Herald, endorsed Mayor Eugene Flinn for District 8, Either Mack Samuel or Jean Monestime for District 2 (Herald was wrong on this one) and Mimi Planas For District 10. In the State Senate Eye endorsed Julio Robaina and State Rep Republican Candidates in the primary, Whilly Bermudez and Jose Pazos. Dan Gelber was endorsed for Attorney General over Dave Aronberg. Gimleteye endorsed Marleine Bastien for the 17th Congressional District. I could not make up my mind in that race.

Good luck all of the candidates and thanks for running! Now, where are the parties??

Resign to Run Violation Dismissed Against Candidate Eugene Flinn. By Geniusofdespair

The Cody case against Mayor Flinn has been dismissed. I wonder if that means that Mayor Flinn can collect attorney fees from Stephen Cody? Really, disappointed that this non-issue was the focus for so many weeks, when candidates need to campaign. Not fair in my book. I hate this sort of distraction.

Happy voting everyone...get out there and do your civic duty. Even though I think not voting is a waste I don't think I can vote for any Republican running for Governor. I might vote for Colonel (Ret) Mike McCalister the third candidate. And, you know I will not vote for Rubio and the other Republican candidates for Senate appeared even worse, so I will go just go to do the judges and the County Question about Franchise Votes --- be sure to VOTE NO!

Obdulio Piedra's Campaign Report up by $29,570. By Geniusofdespair

Very surprised to see both David Lawrence with a fat $500 check and Haitian Activist Gepsie Metellus giving $250. Not surprised to see the Latin Builder's Association PAC giving $500. Worth noting: Lobbyists Neisen Kasdin, Balsera Communication, and the dreaded Jeff Bercow's law firm all were donors. Also giving were the the Florida Marlins and separately David Sampson of the Marlins. Piedra is using Dario Moreno and Davenya Armstrong as consultants on his campaign.

There were a few developers but none of the well known ones, maybe because some of them are too busy propping up or defaulting on their loans. He is second place in fundraising. $109,590.00

District 8 Election: Taddeo Campaign Report. By Geniusofdespair

Taddeo Campaign report is out, she picked up an additional $19,398 to bring her total to $184,596.57. A lot of the longtime Miami-Dade Democrats are listed like Dave Patlak. Of slight note: Tree Farmer Manuel Diaz, Attorney Carlos Gimenez (son?), Brian May and there are a couple each from The Florida Marlins and Fuentes Group (lobbyists). Fuentes is working with Steve Marin on Pepe Diaz's campaign. Sorry folks, no check to lawyer Stephen Cody on the report.

Best one: Edie Weiner whose occupation is listed as 'Futurist.' There are some problems with the report: Occupations shouldn't be listed as 'CEO' or 'Officer'. You need more on a campaign report. Get cracking treasurer your occupations are too vague. At least the unreformable majority on the County Commission write good occupation descriptions on their reports.

Do you know why, you are voting for who you are voting for? by gimleteye

It is extraordinarily striking-- reading the mainstream press on Florida primaries -- how miniscule the presentation of candidates' positions relative to the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Astonishing that GOP candidate Rick Scott has any traction at all, given his principal role in the healthcare industry. Then, again, the majority leader in the GOP- led US Senate had been Bill Frist, another centimillionaire from the healthcare mess. (My family's healthcare premium for catastrophic insurance with Aetna just went up 15 percent, without any explanation, so I'm not inclined to charity on this count.) Then again, there is banker Alex Sink for the Democrats whose glossing over the housing boom, its causes and origins, and bust is inexplicable.

It seems that the electorate is either brain-dead or has amnesia, when it comes to recalling what interests triggered this economic calamity. Its names and addresses roughly correspond with the same special interests who are major financiers of political campaigns; from the lowest rungs of the ladder to the top. Voters are owed explanations and assessments but it is not happening. The failure of cogent, rational debate bodes very poorly for consumer confidence. Most people know quite well that while consumers are mired in debt, banks are being permitted to reload with cheap money. Even in Miami, these well-heeled financiers have names.

Let's be clear about the assessment of blame, at least, in the context of Jeff Greene: whatever questionable personal behavior you may find fault with, Jeff Greene is not to blame for making a good bet that many more of us might have made-- (or a bet that would have been far less profitable)-- if the mainstream press had done due diligence of the housing boom. A clear record of the fraud and fraudulent arguments underlying the boom and financing would have cast dark shadows where the media, instead, shone klieg lights and praise so long as they, too, got a piece of the action. Jeff Greene did not make his money like the investment banks who touted one set of investments while betting heavily against them, at the same time. He didn't make money garnering advertising revenue while supressing stories of the housing bubble fraudsters and downtown bankers and law firms that ginned up hundreds of millions doing to the market "what the market wanted".

Wayne Rosen has Money to Burn. By Geniusofdespair

One of the campaign's has put up multiple comments that Wayne Rosen is on Eugene Flynn's campaign report. Ask Lynda Bell what she thinks of Rosen giving $1,000 to a campaign. She will laugh at you and she has good reason because that is a pittance. She knows that if Developer/Land Speculator Wayne Rosen really wants to influence an election, he knows how to spend BIG money to do it: He spent almost $50,000 during her Mayoral race.

When Bell was running for reelection in Homestead, Wayne Rosen gave $46,000 to a PAC called "Citizens for Reform for Miami-Dade." The PAC ran TV ads against some of the incumbents, i.e. Lynda Bell for one and the PAC promoted the Bateman/Waldman team. The PAC's papers said that they were supporting: government and political reform. Hmmm, not exactly. Rosen and others just wanted Lynda Bell out as Mayor and the money in this PAC paid for the TV commercials and other incidentals to get a new regime in.

Even though I am not a big fan of Former Homestead Mayor Lynda Bell, I think she got a raw deal. So don't whine about a couple of thousand, that is the tip of the iceberg. Watch this PAC in this election it is still open. That is where evil lurks. Speaking of evil, take a look at Pepe 'Le Pew' Diaz's $326,995.50 campaign report. Pepe has $1,500 from Rosen.

Dick Morris and the League of American Voters ... by gimleteye

The Florida Independent notes that an entity started by former Clinton, now Fox News spinner Dick Morris is supporting Bill McCullom's primary race for governor through a Florida-based independent committee. Morris' operation is the "League of American Voters", a spin of the League of Conservation Voters but what the heck: Dick Morris is one funny man. He made a pair with President Clinton, until he was spurned after a DC sex scandal. The Florida Independent notes League of American Voters shares an address with Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform. Norquist, with Karl Rove, are generals for the Wrecking Crew that helped spin the US economy into the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. They are all still hovering about, offering their expertise, whatever it may be-- and serving funders from the right, whoever they might be.

Do you know who to vote for? By Geniusofdespair

Have little information but still want to vote? Try looking at the Miami Herald Recommendations. It is better than going to vote with no idea. For instance, there is one sitting judge who is rated in the 40's by the Bar Association. That is outrageously low. You don't want to vote for this judge and he is NOT on the Herald's list. Most of the Herald's judge picks are rated by the Miami Dade Bar Association in the high 70's, low 80's.

The Judge picks in Miami Dade with their Bar rating and one pick I differ on:
MIAMI-DADE CIRCUIT COURT

Group 45

Samantha Ruiz Cohen 85%

Group 62

Monica Gordo 76% but I will probably vote for Robert Kuntz at 75% instead because he is NOT endorsed by the LBA

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COURT

Group 7

Edward Newman 79%

Group 11

Flora Seff 78%