There are now only 13 candidates in the city of Miami special election to replace former Commissioner Ken Russell in District 2.
It’s only only because we started with 15.
Renita Ross Samuels-Dixon withdrew from the race, complaining that the city commission didn’t go the way of an appointment instead. She wanted to be appointed, not elected. And a judge found — after the city clerk filed a lawsuit to boot her off the ballot — that Alicia Kossick did not qualify because she had not met the residency requirements.
It’s almost laughable that a Miami City commission candidate is disqualified because of residency. We know at least two sitting commissioners who didn’t live where they said they lived at the time of their election.
In addition to living in the city for a year before the qualifying deadline, candidates must be electors in the city for a year.
Read related: 15 candidates qualify for Miami District 2 race to fill Ken Russell vacancy
According to the complaint filed by City Clerk Todd Hannon — and how many times has that happened? — Kossick’s voter’s registration and her driver’s license had her living in Coral Gables, not the city of Miami, as recently as last March. That’s less than the one year required residency before qualifying.
Records show Kossick, owner of The Polished Coconut, was registered at a house on Riviera Drive in the Gables from August 2016 through April 2021. On April 6, 2021, she changed her address to one in Miami. On March 9, 2022, it changed back to Riviera Drive.
But Kossick didn’t change it. According to her attorney, David Winker, she is a casualty of a new law (read: Gov. Ron DeSantis’ voter suppression) that automatically reverts your voter’s registration back to the address on your driver’s license, which Kossick never changed. Which is also illegal.
In any case, she is out.
That leaves us with the lucky 13, from which Sabina Covo, former Miami city attorney Eddy Leal — who is only on leave from his job in the mayor’s office — and Downtown Neighbors Alliance President James Torres are emerging as a front runners.
And, of course, former and disgraced judge Martin Zilber, who has the backing of Commissioners Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Joe Carollo and, sources say, Christine King. Zilber, who was spotted hanging out with ADLP at Thursday’s commission meeting, was said to be in the mayor’s office Friday, seeking his support.
Read related: Miami will have a special Feb election to fill Ken Russell vacancy in District 2
And, las malas lenguas say, the powers that be are pressuring the Miami Fraternal Order of Police union to also endorse Zilber. Some union members want to stay out of it altogether — like Commissioner Manolo Reyes has said he will do — and there was supposed to be some kind of emergency FOP meeting last week to make the decision.
Historically, the District 2 commissioner has been elected from Coconut Grove by Grove voters who could be more motivated to vote than ever.
The remaining candidates in the Feb. 27 special election are:
Sabina Covo, a former TV, radio and print journalist who has a communications and marketing company and does communications for Melo Group, a local developer. She lives in Coconut Grove.Michael Goggins, a wealth manager and compliance officer. He lives in the Brickell area.Javier González, a Realtor, former bakeshop owner and four-year president of the Cocoanut Grove Village Council. He ran for city commission in 2015. He lives in Coconut Grove.Lior Halabi, a digital marketing director and former political strategist for the Israeli Knesset. He lives in Edgewater.Eddy Leal has taken leave from his job as a city of Miami attorney who works in the office of Mayor Francis Suarez. He lives in the Brickell area, where he also owns two investment properties.Maxwell Manuel “Max” Martinez has a marketing agency and ran against Mayor Baby X last year and is proud of his 11% against “the most famous mayor in America.” He lives in the Brickell area.Lorenzo Palomares, a tax attorney and onetime congressional candidate (lost the primary to Carlos Curbelo) who later became a Donald Trump surrogate in 2016. He is the father-in-law of Omar Blanco, a Miami-Dade County firefighter who also ran for congress unsuccessfully 2020 (lost the primary to Carlos Gimenez). He lives in Coconut Grove.Kathy Jane Parks Suarez, a Tampa transplant and automobile dealer. She lives in Coconut Grove.June Ellen Savage, a real estate salesperson who also works part time at a Home Depot, according to her financial disclosure. She lives in Coconut Grove. But she ran for mayor of Miami Beach in 2017.Christi Tasker, a home decor and fashion jewelry designer who is big on social media and volunteers for the Alzheimer’s Association, among other groups. She lives in the Brickell area.James Torres, the popular president of the Downtown Neighbors Alliance has also served as president of the board of directors at Viscayne Condominiums. He is also director of business development at Hotwire Communications. He lives in the downtown. Mario Francis Vuksanovic, is a city of Miami information and referral specialist for seniors. He lives in the Brickell area. Martin Zilber, is a former and disgraced circuit court judge who resigned when he was accused of ethical lapses. He was allegedly not at work when he was supposed to be and had his staff run errands for him — which makes him perfect for Miami, actually. He has been ADLP’s handpicked choice from Day 1. We don’t know where he lives because, as a judge, his address is exempt from public records. But Deputy Elections Supervisor Suzy Trutie assured Ladra he lives in District 2.
Palomares and Zilber already have signs out. Leal, Savage and Torres have been spotted knocking on doors. The Coconut Grove Women’s Club interviewed candidates on Monday.
Their first campaign finance reports are due Feb. 2. The Brickell Homeowners Association is planning to have a candidates’ forum on Feb. 13, which is the same day as the city commission meeting.
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