With a bumper crop of utterly shady rich guys threatening to run off with our Senate and governor's races, it's been easy to forget that South Florida also has open House seats to fill.
But if political theater is your thing, do not ignore District 17. Eight Democrats are locked in a UFC cage match for Kendrick Meek's old seat, and the money-raising frontrunner is Rudy Moise, a wealthy doctor/lawyer/Air Force colonel who also likes to fund B movies and cast himself as the lead.
What's that? You want to see the trailer for Moise's newest feature, Trapped: Haitian Nights, in which he writhes around in a straitjacket and makes goggle-eyes at Vivica A. Fox? We're happy to oblige!
Moise has raised more than $1.45 million for the August 24 primary, including $1 million of his own cash. That's a huge lead over the second-place fundraiser, state Sen. Frederica Wilson, who has picked up more than $200,000.
But Moise has taken heat for a number of issues (which we write about in more depth in this week's New Times), including his self-financed movie roles. Some critics have complained that the posters he has plastered around Little Haiti for his latest flick, Trapped: Haitian Nights, should count as political advertising.
Moise tells Riptide the films are nothing less than a personal passion. "I loved Elvis Presley and Johnny Holiday growing up in Haiti," he says. "I always said I'd love to be in the movies."
In his new film, which follows Wind of Desire and Haitian Nights, he plays Dr. Richard Lazard, a prominent doctor whose wife has gone missing. Enjoy!
