Joe Martinez, Carlos Gimenez engage in spirited Miami-Dade mayoral debate

The first time Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and his chief reelection rival, County Commission Chairman Joe Martinez, faced off, it was a sleepy affair, held over breakfast after a late-night Miami Heat playoff game. The two men agreed on most everything.

Not anymore.

A month and a half after that first forum, and in the throes of campaigning for the Aug. 14 election, Martinez and Gimenez tried to crystallize their attacks against each other at an hour-long debate Friday hosted by the Latin American Business Association.

They were egged on by a boisterous, dressed-for-happy-hour crowd of more than 100 people gathered at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, who generally sat on opposite sides of the room: one for Gimenez and one for Martinez. The Martinez side tended to be louder, though the association does not plan to endorse a candidate in the race.

Martinez, the challenger who has raised far less campaign money than the incumbent mayor, was quick on the draw after Gimenez gave his stump speech centered on reforming county government and cutting spending and taxes.

More here.

Charlie Crist bashes Gov. Rick Scott's 'shameless' voter purge, registration crackdown

In another sign former Gov. Charlie Crist is moving to the Democratic Party, he penned an op-ed in the Washington Post bashing Gov. Rick Scott's noncitizen voter purge. The seeds of the purge, incidentally, began under former Secretary of State Kurt Browning, first appointed by Crist, who's now a trial lawyer and therefore earns his living in a profession targeted by Scott. Crist might challenge Scott in 2014.

Crist, in mentioning a voter-registration crackdown law Scott signed, notes a federal judge rejected it. But the former governor fails to mention that the noncitizen voter purge has fared better in court before the same judge.

Some excerpts:

I’m concerned that zealots overreacting to contrived threats of voter fraud by significantly narrowing the voting pool are doing so with brazen disrespect and disregard for our greatest traditions.

As a result of insidious political maneuvers and a lack of respect for voters, we in Florida have been entangled in litigation. The courts and the Justice Department have been required to step in this summer to protect the integrity of the voting process against a sweeping voter purge that the Florida Department of State undertook under the guise of removing non-U.S. citizens from the voter rolls. Among those caught up in this shameless purging and notified that he was not a U.S. citizen eligible to vote: a 91-year-old World War II veteran, Bill Internicola, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge and has proudly exercised his right to vote for many years.

This is just the most recent example of a mean-spirited and all-too-partisan attempt to restrict access to the rolls and to the polls. A federal court also recently struck down provisions of a law Florida’s legislature passed in 2011, which put heavy burdens on organizations seeking to help voters: burdens that the court described as “harsh and impractical,” serving no purpose other than to make it harder for Americans to participate in the electoral process....

More here

Ana Rivas Logan, Jose Felix Diaz spar over awards from insurance advocacy group

When state Rep. Jose Felix Diaz proudly shared with the Miami Herald editorial board earlier this week that that he had been recognized by the Florida Association for Insurance Reform (FAIR), his opponent interrupted him.

"So was I," state Rep. Ana Rivas Logan piped up. Diaz and Logan, both incumbent Republicans, are pitted against each other in a nasty race after redistricting threw them into the same district.

"They did not recognize you with the same award," responded Diaz, who said he was named the "2012 Policy Holder Defender."

Responded Logan: "Yes, but they recognized me, too. They recognized me, too."

Except, they didn't.

"I can say definitively we have never given her award. She never shows up to vote," said FAIR Executive Director Jay Neal.

Mitt Romney campaign to raise coin with Rudy Giuliani in Boca

Just after President Obama leaves the state this week, Republican challenger Mitt Romney's campaign plans to return. He's holding a fundraiser with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani on 5:30 p.m. Friday, July 27 at the Boca Raton home of Dr. Larry Kawa.

General admission per person: $500. Dinner: $2,500

** Note: This post has been updated.  Romney's going to be on vacation.

Gov. Scott responds to Aurora theater shooting

Gov. Rick Scott released the following statement this afternoon:

Tallahassee, Fla. – “Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost their lives during this morning’s tragic shooting in Aurora, Colorado, or were injured or otherwise affected by it. 

 “Ann and I join with Floridians and all of those across our country who are praying for their comfort and peace during this time of mourning. It is at times like this that we are reminded just how important it is to ensure the safety and security of our communities and families.”

 

Wallace accuses Legg of not living in district, urges him to resign

Update: In response to this post, Rep. John Legg, R-New Port Richey, released the following comment.

"My wife and I have two houses, one is in my current House District and the other is in the Senate District for which I am running.  I have begun preparations to be in the Senate District by Election Day as Florida Statutes require, and I have been advised by the House General Council that those preparations are fine and there is no obligation for me to resign."

 

Former Rep. Rob Wallace is urging Rep. John Legg, R-New Port Richey, to resign from the House for not living in his district.

The two are facing off--alongside former marine John Korsak--for the newly drawn District 17 Senate seat, comprised of parts of Hillsborough and Pasco counties. Senate leadership has thrown its influence and money behind Legg.

It's unlikely that Legg would actually resign or that Wallace could force him to.

"I don't have the funds to go after him on this," Wallace said. "I'll leave this one up to the court of public opinion."

For the most part, public records back up Wallace's claim that Legg doesn't live in his district.

President Obama cancels Florida event to return to White House in wake of Colorado shooting

The President will address the shooting in Aurora, Colorado this morning in remarks from Fort Myers, Florida and then return to the White House, cutting short a two day campaign swing.

He's scheduled to speak at Harbor Side Event Center in Ft. Myer at 11:20 a.m., and the campaign says he'll return to the White House after the event, cancelling an event in Winter Park, Fla.

Obama was notified of the shooting in Colorado at 5:26 a.m. today by his Homeland Security Advisor John Brennan, Press Secretary Jay Carney said.

He issued a statement shortly after, saying he and First Lady Michelle Obama were "shocked and saddened by the horrific and tragic shooting in Colorado. Federal and local law enforcement are still responding, and my Administration will do everything that we can to support the people of Aurora in this extraordinarily difficult time.

"We are committed to bringing whoever was responsible to justice, ensuring the safety of our people, and caring for those who have been wounded. As we do when confronted by moments of darkness and challenge, we must now come together as one American family. All of us must have the people of Aurora in our thoughts and prayers as they confront the loss of family, friends, and neighbors, and we must stand together with them in the challenging hours and days to come."

-- LESLEY CLARK

Read more here: http://blogs.mcclatchydc.com/washington/2012/07/president-obama-and-first-lady-are-shocked-and-saddened-by-the-shooting-in-colorado-.html#storylink=cpy

UPDATED Hialeah mayor endorses Carlos Gimenez's reelection bid for Miami-Dade mayor

Last year, members of the Hialeah political establishment stood behind one of their won, Julio Robaina, in the contentious Miami-Dade mayoral race. On Friday, they turned the page and supported Robaina's former opponent, Carlos Gimenez.

Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez, most of the city council and other local politicians endorsed Gimenez's reelection bid in an event held in a second-floor banquet room above a La Carreta restaurant in the city. 

"Mayor Gimenez, you have my support," Hernandez said, praising Gimenez for reducing his salary and lowering the overall county tax rate. "You have kept your promises with the city of Hialeah."

"I needed it to unite Miami-Dade County," Gimenez said of Hialeah elected officials' support. "I know we had a very difficult race with a son of Hialeah ... and the county divided itself a bit."

Both men spoke in Spanish, because no English-language television stations showed up. They also offered prayers and a moment of silence for the victims of the movie-theater shooting in Aurora, Colo.

Hernandez was joined by Hialeah Republican state Reps. Rene Garcia and Eddy Gonzalez, former state Sen. Rudy Garcia, current legislative candidate Manny Diaz Jr., County Commissioner Esteban Bovo, Miami Lakes Council member Nelson Hernandez, Hialeah Council President Isis Garcia-Martinez and council members Jose Caragol, Vivian Casals-Muñoz, Katharine Cue, Pablito Hernandez (no relation to the mayor) and Lourdes Lozano.