There are 17, count ’em, 17 candidates for the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s election — so far. But only one of them scored what is likely the mother of all endorsements.
Congressman Carlos Gimenez — the former county mayor who served as the de facto sheriff in that role — has come out for Miami-Dade Police Assistant Director Rosanna Cordero-Stutz, the highest ranking county officer in the race and the woman in charge of the transition to the first Miami-Dade sheriff’s office in 57 years.
“I know first hand the professionalism and dedication of the Miami-Dade Police Department and its brave men and women,” Gimenez says in a 1:11 video on the candidate’s YouTube channel. “Transition to an elected sheriff requires someone who knows the Miami-Dade Police Department inside and out.
“Rosie Cordero-Stutz has a track record of upholding the highest ethical standards and can lead with a vision for a safer Miami-Dade County on Day One.”
Read related: Miami-Dade Sheriff’s race expands with Dem Broward candidate James Reyes
Of course, the rumors began to fly immediately that Cordero Stutz only got the nod because CJ Gimenez, the congressman’s son, is running her campaign. Well, goes to show what those people know! It’s actually his daughter-in-law who is running the team and it’s no secret.
Tania Cruz Gimenez, an attorney who ran for Coral Gables Commission in 2021, has been seen with the candidate at forums and town halls. Cruz was there in the third row at the Hispanic Police Officers Association town hall last month and she worked the room at the Cuban American Bar Association thing.
But if anyone thinks that Gimenez is going to risk his shiny, national brand and political stock for his nuera, they’re nuts. He could have happily just stayed out of it altogether. After all, former MDPD Director Freddy Ramirez is already out — having had that incident in the car with the gun — and Juan Perez, the other director under Gimenez, is apparently not interested.
He didn’t stay out of it because this is an important race, and Gimenez — who has always loved being the protagonist and wants to stay relevant — has worked with Cordero-Stutz. He knows her. He’s watched her rise through the ranks.
And, like he told Telemundo 51’s Marilys Llanos in a short interview Monday, he knows some of the other candidates, too. Which might be just as important, right? We can always just eliminate 10 or 12, right off the bat (more on that later). Is there anybody left that rises to Rosie’s level of experience, professionally and educationally? The woman is FBI trained.
“She’s the most prepared,” Gimenez told Llanos. After all, he should know.
This is not only a doozy, it’s the first endorsement of the race — at least the first one that matters. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava is expected to endorse her boy James Reyes, who she named the director of public safety less than four months ago, but hasn’t yet. He’s the Democratic front runner and represented by the same consultant, so her backing is understood.
Still, the Gimenez endorsement is important because many political observers expect a Republican candidate to win. That’s probably why they outnumber the Dem candidates in this race, 4 to 1.
Expect other Republican electeds to follow Gimenez in endorsing Cordero-Stutz.
And if Donald Trump decides to jump in, it’s game over. The other wannabes should just bow out.
Read MorePolitical Cortadito
