Doral Councilwoman Digna Cabral was reelected last week with 59% of the vote, but two other council contests and the heated mayoral race head into runoffs after nobody got 50% plus one.
For mayor, Christi Fraga, who has served as a Doral councilwoman and a Miami-Dade School Board member, came out on top of a four-way race with 41% of the vote. Doral Councilwoman Claudia Mariaca, who is endorsed by outgoing Mayor J.C. Bermudez, got 30%.
Councilman Pete Cabrera, a city founder and the longest serving council member in Doral history, came in third place with 27%. He could not be reached for comment but is expected to make an endorsement any day now. Another wannabe, Haim Otero, came in a way distant fourth with almost 2%. So nobody cares what he thinks.
Political observers know that there will be a different electorate in the runoff. The midterm Nov. 8 ballot had the governor’s race, congressional and state races on it. So the electorate was much motivated by party. And this is something that could have helped Fraga, who has positioned herself as a conservative Republican, even though the Doral election is a non-partisan race. Mariaca is an independent NPA.
The runoff Dec. 13 will be mostly the people who really care about Doral. So Fraga could lose her MAGA votes. Even she knows that’s her strong point.
“There are distinct differences between us. I’m Republican. She’s Democrat,” Fraga told Ladra. “We have different views and priorities.
“I have more experience. I have served at different levels and run several businesses,” Fraga said.
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Mariaca is a stay-at-home mom who has been involved in community organizations for many years. She is also fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese. And, cute as hell, her dad answers her campaign phone.
She never called back.
Bermudez told Ladra that he endorsed Mariaca because she is “more consistent with what I believe is the vision for Doral, which is open and ethical government.”
Fraga said she was not surprised.
“While I’ve always tried my hardest to have a cordial relationship with the mayor, he’s chosen not to respect that,” Fraga told Ladra. “I look forward to working with him as a county commissioner. I just will never work for him.
“Leadership is earned. It is not handed to you.”
And the Republican leadership — future Speaker Daniel Perez, Sen. Bryan Avila, State Reps. Alex Rizzo and David Borrero, Hialeah Mayor Esteban Bovo, Medley Mayor Robert Martell and Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago — are endorsing Fraga.
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She loved being on the School Board and fighting for parents’ rights — and trying to ban LGBTQ flags on school campuses — but Fraga did not love what she says she was seeing in her city: A decline in police presence, an increase in crime, great employees leaving, no access to electeds, mismanagement of the parks bond and the “insurmountable debt” caused by the pension vote.
“I’m committed to repealing the pension plan,” Fraga said.
Mariaca voted no on the pension plan, but she didn’t fight enough on her position, Fraga said. “She may as well have voted yes.”
The two have also been neck and neck on fundraising. Fraga has reported $146,818 in contributions, according to the latest campaign reports. Mariaca has reported $153,173, through Nov. 3.
In the race for Seat 1, former School Board Member Susie Castillo — who was once Bermudez’s chief of staff — got 44% and Rafael Pineyro got 32%. Between them, Francisco “Frank” Gamez and Carlos Pereira got 3,539 votes that both Castillo and Pineyro will be chasing.
In the race for Seat 2, Ivette Gonzalez Petkovich — who unsuccessfully ran for state rep in 2016 — got 43% of the vote and Maureen Porras got 38%. The other 19% went to Juan Manuel Sucre.
Bermudez also endorsed Castillo and Gonzalez.
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