Real estate industry gives Regalado’s mayoral campaign a boost

Miami Herald, 8/9/2009

Major financial support from the real estate industry has helped give Toms Regalado a fundraising lead in his bid for Miami mayor, more than offsetting donations flowing to challenger Joe Sanchez from the Florida Marlins and others.

Those are among the early trends in the commission rivals’ bid for Miami’s top political post, a contest to be decided in November.

Through the end of June, Regalado, who has represented Flagami and West Little Havana since 1996, had collected $420,174. Sanchez, in office a decade overseeing most of Little Havana, The Roads and the Shenandoah neighborhoods, had collected $298,286.

Neither is close to the more than $1 million two-term Mayor Manny Diaz had collected at the same point four years ago, before his easy reelection. With Diaz term-limited out, the heated race pits two veteran politicians with contrasting styles — and supporters.

Sanchez has collected more than $20,000 from the Marlins and their associates, including maximum $500 contributions from team owner Jeffrey Loria and his wife, and Major League Baseball President and Chief Operating Officer Bob Dupuy and his spouse. The commission chair was among the key backers in approving plans for a new stadium in his Little Havana district.

Attorneys have also contributed more than $50,000 to Sanchez’ camp.

Regalado’s pro-development backers have contributed more than $80,000, with a maximum $500 contribution from hotelier Sherwood “Woody” Weiser, and thousands more from Boston-area developer Mark Plonskier and co-workers.

Plonskier is the chief executive of the Gatehouse Group, which builds affordable housing in Miami. The company held a fundraiser for Regalado earlier this year, contributing $3,000. “We like Toms,” said Nick Inamdar, the company’s vice president in Miami, saying the candidate has visited the company’s senior communities.

When fundraising began, one common view among politicos and downtown special interests was that Sanchez would gobble up development money. Regalado, as a consistent critic of Mayor Diaz’ development plans, is far from adored by some in the pro-development crowd.

It hasn’t turned out that way, at least not through June, at a time polls show Regalado carrying an election lead at this early stage.

Just recently, Regalado received more than $10,000 from a pair of fundraisers — one from Flagler Street restaurant owner Jose Goyenes, another from prominent land-use attorney Lucia Dougherty, who represents some of the biggest developers in the city.

DOWN TO THE WIRE

In some respects, the fundraising — which can bankroll vital radio and television advertising spots in the final stages of the campaign — has come down to support from the Marlins and Miami attorneys for Sanchez, against big-money developers and small donations from longtime residents for Regalado.

Regalado said he “absolutely” considered the development money a bonus. “These are Joe’s people,” he said. “But they recognize that I have been pointing out the problems that they are now facing.”

One reason Regalado is getting developer help, political observers say, involves his opposition to Diaz’ Miami 21 zoning overhaul. A small but vocal group of developers feared Miami 21 would come with a cost to big projects, as building heights would be restricted along most of the city’s main corridors.

Regalado has opposed the plan from the start, and did so again Thursday. So, surprisingly, did Sanchez, killing the plan with the potential fifth vote, Commissioner Angel Gonzalez, absent.

Fernand Amandi, vice president of Bendixen & Associates — a polling group that parted ways with Sanchez in March — said Regalado may be taking advantage of the city’s economic meltdown.

Miami is looking to fill a $60 million budget hole this year, and perhaps one double that size in 2010.

“For better or for worse, Joe Sanchez has been affiliated with the current administration,” Amandi said.

Regalado has been a staunch critic of the $642 million Little Havana ballpark stadium blueprint, while Sanchez has been its biggest supporter on the commission. Marlins President David Samson said the ballclub doesn’t comment on campaign contributions.

In the push to get Sanchez elected, the Marlins have held fundraisers, with thousands of dollars of contributions coming in from a host of New York City residents around Major League Baseball’s Park Avenue headquarters.

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Sanchez has campaigned at senior centers around Miami with Billy the Marlin, the ballclub’s eight-foot-tall mascot. At one ballgame, Sanchez was shown on the big screen seated between a large group of seniors.

Another time, he was interviewed by Marlins broadcaster Craig Minervini.

In turn, Regalado received cash from stadium critic Norman Braman and associates including Frank Schnidman, who Braman hired as a consultant during his failed legal attempt to stop the stadium plan.

With three months before the election, Sanchez is focused on questioning whether Regalado — backed by the city’s main unions — will take steps to curtail runaway pension costs that have put city finances in jeopardy.

He spoke briefly about fundraising on Thursday, saying “we’re doing great.”

Yet some election watchers say the commission chair needs a sharper focus.

Amandi, the pollster, said Regalado has consolidated his status as a front-runner. “Sanchez hasn’t done much in the way of developing a message or a campaign,” he said.