Entering the last two weeks of the special election season, we've compiled a list of the folks who are collecting a steady paycheck from the candidates running for mayor and two county commission seats. The usual suspects are again banking on the business of electioneering. Here are political operatives who can thank Miami-Dade voters for creating an economic boon for them during an off election year:
- Maritza Guiterrez. It appears the wife of political consultant and lobbyist Armando Guiterrez is doing quite well thanks to Julio Robaina's campaign, which paid her firm $92,215 in the month of April for advertising.
- Sasha Tirador. A political consultant who provides phone banking and absentee ballot collection services received $31,808 from the Robaina camp on April 18 for consulting work.
- Hugo Arza and Ana Carbonell. The cousin of disgraced former state Rep. Ralph Arza is also banking with Robaina. He has been paid $9,000 for consulting on the Hialeah mayor's bid for county mayor. Carbonell, former campaign manager for Lincoln Diaz-Balart, has collected $10,000 through her firm The Factor.
- Jennifer Lara. The Coral Gables based political consultant's firm has been paid $55,947 by Carlos Gimenez's campaign.
- Dario Moreno. The Florida International University political science professor is moonlighting for Gimenez. He has received $15,500 for conducting polls on the mayor's race.
- Brian Franklin. The Broward political consultant is working for Gimenez. His firm Impact Politics has gotten $12,696. Franklin's previous work includes working for Congressman Robert Wexler and Broward County Mayor Stacy Ritter.
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