David, Leila Centner Contribute $100K to Díaz de la Portilla's PAC

Miami's anti-vax power couple, David and Leila Centner, are back supporting their favorite Miami politician.

As first reported by Political Cortadito, campaign finance records reveal that in late April, the Centners contributed $100,000 to former City of Miami commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla's political action committee, "Proven Leadership for Miami-Dade County."

The Centners, founders of the Centner Academy in Midtown Miami, were at the center of an alleged bribery scheme involving Díaz de la Portilla in 2023. State prosecutors alleged the Centners funneled money through their lobbyist, William Riley Jr., to Díaz de la Portilla to ensure the city approved a $10 million sports complex for their school at a city-owned park in Downtown Miami.

While the Centners never faced any charges related to the alleged scheme, prosecutors dropped the money laundering and official misconduct charges against the former Miami commissioner in November 2024, pointing to "unreliable" witness testimony.

"This case fails to meet the legal standards for prosecution," the Broward County State Attorney's Office close-out memo states. "The evidence does not demonstrate corrupt intent, unlawful benefits, or falsification of records. Witness testimony is unreliable, and lawful actions have been misconstrued as criminal."

After prosecutors dropped the charges against Díaz de la Portilla and Riley, the Centners' former lobbyist filed a lawsuit against the couple, alleging that they let him "take the fall."

Díaz de la Portilla did not respond to New Times' request for comment by the time of publication.

During law enforcement interviews before charging Díaz de la Portilla and Riley, the Centners "feigned ignorance of plaintiff's actions on their behalf, even though they well knew what he had at their specific direction," the lawsuit states. "They did not volunteer the information that would have exonerated plaintiff at their pre-charge interviews or afterward, and then they refused to pay for plaintiff's legal defense because they 'did not want to get involved.'"

The Miami couple first made national headlines in 2021 when they informed teachers at their private school that they could lose their jobs if they received the COVID-19 vaccine. The private school has a dedicated page on its website for "Our Vaccine Policy," which reads, "We believe in health freedom. We recognize that every child and family is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to vaccines. We follow the Florida law and allow our parents to complete a medical or religious exemption form to opt out of the Florida school vaccination program ... We are here to support you in any way we can."

The Centners have contributed millions of dollars to Republican causes across the country. The couple made their fortune after selling their toll-collection tech company, Highway Toll Administration LLC, for an undisclosed amount in 2018. The couple launched their latest venture earlier this year: a podcast for cancel culture victims.

Díaz de la Portilla, whom Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended following his arrest, has yet to file any paperwork to run for mayor later this year. However, he previously told the Miami Herald that he is considering a mayoral run.

The Centners had not returned New Times' request for comment by the time of publication.