Hispanic candidates turn to Miami

[Freddie Stubbs]

A Democrat running for mayor of Los Angeles is coming to town today to tap into Miami's high-rolling network of Hispanic fundraisers, many of whom are Republican.

BY OSCAR CORRAL

[e-mail]


Antonio Villaraigosa, who is competing to become the first Hispanic mayor in Los Angeles in more than 100 years, plans to tap into Miami's booming Hispanic fundraising circuit today.

And his allies in Miami expect to give him a big boost: about $100,000.

Villaraigosa is just the latest candidate making the rounds in a national fundraising circuit that has become a tremendous cash machine for Hispanic candidates around the country, often pumping hundreds of thousands of dollars into their campaigns. Villaraigosa, a high-profile Democrat who co-chaired John Kerry's presidential campaign, will likely draw donations from high-rolling Republican fundraisers, including developer Sergio Pino, media mogul Raul Alarcon Sr. and lobbyist Sylvester Lukis.

''He's a Hispanic. I'm a Hispanic. I want to help a fellow Hispanic,'' said Pino, who has raised large sums of money for Gov. Jeb Bush and President Bush. ``Los Angeles is a big city, and the Hispanics there are booming, so it's time they had a Hispanic mayor.''

more: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/11378955.htm

[davidinalameda]

1. Villaraigosa is running for way more than just mayor of LA

governor?

senator?

president?

[siliconefreak]

2. sleazeball

Villaraigosa comes across as a sleazeball, in my opinion. I'm glad I'm in SF.