You Knew It Was Coming [Updated and Correction]

Joe Garcia (on the left) this morning, around 8 AM, officially announced that he will be challenging Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, brother of Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart who was recently challenged by former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez. Garcia called in to the local morning show with Nicole Sanders mentioning that he had a long night's rest in preparation for today.

Garcia is quoted in today's Miami Herald saying: "This is a unique time in American history and just sitting on the sidelines and cheering isn't enough." In response, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart states: "I will base my campaign on my extensive record of cutting taxes on our families and small businesses while delivering hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for our community's needs, including transportation, healthcare and education." Concerning Cuba, Garcia is opposed to the Cuban family travel (and remittance) restrictions imposed in 2004, which is supported by both Diaz-Balart Brothers. But this is the only point of disagreement. Concerning the general US embargo towards Cuba, all candidates support the current unilateral economic sanctions on the island.

According to Lesley Clark from the Miami Herald, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart has "more than $465,000 in his campaign account." It is not yet known exactly how much Joe Garcia or Raul Martinez have behind their campaigns so far. Clark also reports that political analyst see that Garcia "may have a tougher time gaining traction because he lacks name recognition" in the district in which he is running for office. While the district (Florida's 25th Congressional) still leans Republican, a decreasing number of registered Republicans and an increasing number of Independents, including anticipated high voter turnout, may prove to make this another exciting South Florida campaign along with Raul vs Lincoln.

[Update]

Tonight local Spanish station Noticiero23 (Univision) had an interview with Annette Taddeo, potential challenger to Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. She did not say whether she would run or not, but stated that "change" is needed in Ileana's 18th Congressional district. Taddeo, like now-official Democrat candidates Martinez and Garcia, has been seen around Capitol Hill looking for support to run against Rep. Ros-Lehtinen. No comments have been made by Rep. Ros-Lehtinen's office so far about the potential challenge in November.

And, on Telemundo51 an online poll asked viewers who they would vote for between Joe Garcia and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart. 63% voted for Mario, and 37% for Joe, from a total of 2509 votes.

[Correction: I misquoted Joe Garcia earlier from the Lesley Clark article in today's Herald. Corrections have been made, and my apologies to readers.]

Joe García vs. Mario Díaz-Balart

It was almost made official last night on Maria Elvira Live with guest Joe García, director of the Hispanic Program at the New Democrat Network and Chairman of the Democratic Party of Miami-Dade County.

Days before Raúl Martínez officially announced his candidacy challenging Rep. Lincoln Díaz-Balart last week, Martínez also appeared on Maria Elvira Live and almost confirmed his intentions then. Last night, García did the same thing.

Maria Elvira let García know that she had very reliable information indicating that Joe García would make an official announcement next week to run against Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart of District 25 in Miami. García, like Martínez before him, neither confirmed or denied the rumor. It is very likely that Joe García will make an official announcement soon, which may also point to another announcement to challenge Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen for District 18.

Last week NBC6 reported (through local political analyst Nick Bogert) that "Democrats hope to take on all three long-time Cuban-American congressional Republicans... Miami-Dade County party chair Joe Garcia said he will challenge Mario Diaz-Balart, and businesswoman Annette Taddeo will take on [Rep.] Ileana Ros-Lehtinen."

Annette Taddeo is founder and CEO of LanguageSpeak, "a comprehensive language services company offering translations, conference interpretation and private tutoring in over 100 languages." Taddeo has a strong political record locally, and very active within the local Democratic party. Yet, no public announcements have been made by Taddeo to run against Rep. Ros-Lehtinen.

Earlier this month, Larry Luxner of CubaNews interviewed some of the main organizers behind this Democratic push in South Florida. Luxner quoted Alvaro Fernández, president of the Cuban American Commission for Family Rights, saying: "As important as Washington, D.C., is, if we want real change, it has to come from South Florida. Once we knock off one or both of these guys [Diaz-Balart brothers], things will start changing... right now, there’s a search for somebody to run against [Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen]. Trust me, all three will be challenged."

Luxner also quoted Tony Zamora, former Bay of Pigs veteran and director of the Foundation for the Normalization of US-Cuba Relations, saying: "We’re going to do battle in Miami... This embargo thing started in South Florida, and we’re going to end it in South Florida. I’m extremely confident that not only is there an energized Democratic Party, but also a very strong change in the community. I’ve lived here for 40 years, I was the [Cuban American National Foundation]’s general counsel and I know the politics of Miami very well. And I find total unity, which is very surprising to me."

According to the potential Democrat candidates and supporters, polls show weak support for the Diaz-Balart Brothers, Cuba is no longer a central issue allowing for a multi-directional political campaign, and November may be a good time to be a Democrat.

When I mentioned the news last night to my father that both Diaz-Balart Brothers may be challenged in November, he revealed his frustration and relief. "It's time for them to go."

[Photo above courtesy of the Democratic Party of Miami-Dade County]

Meanwhile in Politics (Part 2) [Updated]

BATTLE OF THE CUBAN TITANS

And then there's what the Miami Herald has described as the "Battle of the Titans: Martínez vs. Díaz-Balart."

As far back as August of last year, the rumors of former Hialeah Mayor Raúl Martínez running against Rep. Lincoln Díaz-Balart had been circling. But, finally, this morning in front of Hialeah City Hall, renamed in 2006 as the "Raúl L. Martínez Government Center," Raúl Martínez (Democrat) made it official. And, it will most certainly be one of the most contentious and most watched political races that Miami has ever seen.

Back in October, it was reported in The Hill (Ian Swanson) that Raúl Martínez's main opponents would concentrate on two issues: Martínez's opposition to the Cuban family travel restrictions, and his 1991 conviction of federal extortion charges (which he later appealed and was exonerated from after hung juries). Swanson quoted one of Rep. Diaz-Balart's long-time campaign managers, Carlos Curbelo, saying: "I don’t know what would hurt [Martínez] more in an election — the criminal conviction or opposition to key elements of the embargo... His being on the ballot would end up hurting Democrats statewide." Curbelo seemed to look forward to campaigning against Martínez saying: "How often do you get a chance to race against a guy convicted of a felony?"

But, Martínez has his supporters, such as former Florida Sen. Bob Graham and other current leaders in the Democratic Party. At Hialeah City Hall this morning, Martínez stood with three city council members (all Republicans), and expects more Republicans to join him soon, especially Hialeah's current mayor, Julio Robaina. In 2006, these same Republicans renamed Hialeah City Hall in honor of Raúl Martínez, and had many praises for him, as articulated in the official resolution [PDF]:

"... in honor of Raúl L. Martínez and in commemoration of his 28 years of distinguished and exemplary public service to the City of Hialeah in elected office, representing the city for 4 years as a City Council member and leading the city for 24 years as Mayor with inspiration and extraordinary vision, and whose dynamism and direction transformed the city of Hialeah during his tenure, leaving a legacy of a leader who guided the city to a firm and secure financial standing, who enhanced municipal services that surpass all other cities, who utilized financing and revenues to repair and rebuild miles of roadway and drainage facilities throughout the city and to rehabilitate the water and sewer distribution network for the benefit of present and future generations... all within the confines of annual balanced budgets, while reducing municipal taxes, and who gave his heart and soul to the city of Hialeah as his first priority, dedicating his prodigious energy and intellect to each and every citizen of the City of Hialeah, each day of every year, for the enhancement of the community and for the significant improvement of their lives."

And, Raúl Martínez doesn't shy away from his opponents who continuously bring up his prior conviction. He told Diario Las Americas earlier this month that (former lawyer) Rep. Diaz-Balart "apparently didn't take the course that says that if you go for an appeal and win, you are exonerated... The day he wants to discuss it... I'm in the best mood to do it, hand-to-hand, face-to-face, like men."

Several other political organizations are supporting Martínez because of his opposition to the Cuban family restrictions. Plans to unseat the Diaz-Balart brothers are part of a larger plan (including the formation of a PAC) for those who are advocating normalization of US/Cuba relations. Larry Luxner of CubaNews covered this angle earlier this month, and interviewed Cuban-Americans like Tony Zamora (Bay of Pigs veteran and President of the Cuban American Commission of Family Rights), Alvaro F. Fernandez and Joe García who want an alternative to the hard-line. These same men, along with Alfredo Duran (another Bay of Pigs Veteran), participated last year in a conference entitled "Imperatives for a New Cuba Policy, highlighting the discontent with US policy towards Cuba in the congressional districts of both Diaz-Balart brothers.

Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart has told El Nuevo Herald that he has about $900,000 behind his campaign. There's no indication how much money Raúl Martínez has behind his. While it was rumored that Joe García would possibly run against Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, no official announcement has been made yet. Such a coordinated challenge was reported to possibly cost $1.5 million.

According to Joe García: "The ability to raise money isn’t something that troubles me greatly... It’s going to require a great deal of money to run for a congressional seat. I assume that people of conscience will want to make a difference."

[Update]

Actually, I forgot to mention that an online poll conducted by Telemundo51.com earlier this month asked viewers who they would vote for in this "Battle of the Titans." Rep. Lincoln Díaz-Balart won with a strong majority of 67% over Raúl Martínez with 33%. These results were from a total of 3369 online votes.

And, according to Rui Ferreira from El Nuevo Herald, maybe in two weeks we will see a challenger for Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart. (Which will most likely be Joe García.)

[Part 1]

Showdown in Miami

Joe Garcia appeared this morning on the Jim Defede Radio Show and said that Raul Martinez, former Hialeah mayor, might possibly run against Lincoln Diaz-Balart's seat in District 21. Defede asked his audience what they thought, and they responded positively.

If this happens it could be quite a big political showdown. Raul Martinez has very different views about Cuba in comparison to Diaz-Balart's tired rhetoric.

This news from Garcia lends more support to the rumor that was first posted on the Naked Politics blog one week ago, which Beth Reinhard from the Miami Herald predicts "would be a monster of a race."

But, the Cuba Journal blog believes that if Martinez wins (which he argues might happen under one scenario) "nothing much will change, same anti-Cuba votes, different face."

Looking forward to more news when Barack Obama makes his August 25th visit to Miami.