Former Miami-Dade commission chairman shows off namesake cologne at GOP fundraiser

@PatriciaMazzei

A gift sat on each table at the Miami-Dade Republican party's annual fundraising dinner Friday night: a bottle of men's cologne, encased in a white box wrapped in shiny cellophane.

The eau de parfum: "The Commissioner." As in, former Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Joe Martinez.

"Did you see?" he asked a Miami Herald reporter, proudly showing off a bottle. (Price: $31.99.)

It started off largely in jest.

Before he left his commission post last year, after an unsuccessful run for county mayor, Martinez toured Concept II Cosmetics, a Doral fragrance manufacturing business. The company created a scent in his honor, which Martinez intended to share with a small group of family and friends, he said.

But then he figured, why not spring for a bigger batch?

Martinez unveiled the cologne in a Facebook post in February -- the same one in which he announced his plans to challenge Democratic Congressman Joe Garcia next year.

"Those of you who have met me, know that it is a clean, lasting and memorable scent," he wrote.

The back of the 100ml cologne box even quotes Martinez: "There's no future in quitting."

This post has been updated with the price of the a cologne bottle.