Miami’s (probably) most ethically challenged politician should coast to victory in August, with our help
Al’s Loupe
Miami’s (probably) most ethically challenged politician should coast to victory in August, with our help
By Alvaro F. Fernandez
alvaro@progresoweekly.com
Dorrin Rolle wants to be reelected Miami-Dade County commissioner in August. It would be his fourth term. Commissioner Rolle has been slapped on the wrist numerous times for ethics violations while a county commissioner. I think he deserves to pay a steeper price. At the very least, not get reelected. He’s held the position since being named by then Governor Lawton Chiles in 1998. His predecessor landed in jail – for being a corrupt government official.
As executive director of JESCA, a Liberty City social services agency Rolle helped bankrupt, he made sure he was paid his $200,000 a year salary. This, in spite of driving the organization into the ground while not paying employees, vendors and not spending money on a community that badly needed the agency’s services.
Then when a northern developer rolled into town promising to create jobs and build a high tech center in his district, Rolle was there to greet him – with a smile and his hand out. The developer contributed handsomely to his campaigns. Later Rolle was one of several elected officials who made sure the developer received public funding and help. The project was never built. Not even started. The developer now faces charges of stealing about a million dollars – some of it the public’s money. Rolle claims he was unaware that the project (in his district) was never begun.
Earlier this year we learned that Rolle was a partner in a business that does business at Miami International Airport. He voted in favor of (his) business as a sitting commissioner. A smiling Rolle shrugged it off as an oversight on his part.
There’s more, but I believe you get the picture. It’s not the first time I write about Commissioner Rolle. I’ve done so, for a second time in the last few months, because in a county with plenty of ethically challenged politicians, Rolle may be a contender for tops on the list.
Yet, in spite of his record, Commissioner Rolle has amassed more than $220,000 in campaign contributions. The five other competitors in the District 2 race have raised approximately $50,000 – together. And what is most striking is the list of names who have given to the Rolle campaign. It’s a who’s who of lawyers, doctors, developers, dentists, and business owners. Unions, like the police and electricians, have also given. There’s also towing companies, every auto tag agency in the county, lobbyists (of course), and local, high profile families. Even Coca Cola out of Atlanta contributed. Don’t take my word, check it out for yourself by clicking on the following:
http://www.voterfocus.com/ws/mdccand/candidate_pr.php?c=miamidade&el=14
His election is scheduled for August 24, only weeks away. Few people are aware there are important elections happening on that Tuesday. With a quarter million dollars to spend, Rolle will assure that “his” people vote. Chances are he will win.
And when we reelect Dorrin Rolle for another term, whose fault will it be? Because it looks like unless he is caught doing something bigger than what have been termed ethical indiscretions, Rolle will continue to use the system as his casino.
The sad part, though, is that his enablers are many of the same people you later see photographed on the Sunday Miami Herald society pages. Our holier than thou philanthropists who don’t seem to care that this commissioner is… well, let’s say he is not the cleanest politician in town. Also pushing for him, police unions who seem to only want to serve – themselves. Lobbyists who know they can count on Rolle to vote “the right way.” Developers who know Rolle may be the vote they need when they want to push the urban development boundaries.
Which leads me to conclude that Miami has hit a political trifecta of the worst kind: a city where bad politicians keep getting reelected because so-called community business leaders provide them enough money to assure they are victorious at the polls. And potential voters don’t seem to care because they refuse to participate in the process.
Like I said at the beginning, one of Miami’s worst elected officials wants to be reelected in about a month. With the help of this community, I don’t think he’ll have any problems achieving his goal.
