David Rivera's cash haul: $161k

If money decided an election, Miami Rep. David Rivera is the likely replacement for Miami Sen. Alex Villalobos. Rivera received $161k in contributions last quarter and spent just $14,000. All told, the Republican has raised almost $400k and spent less than $17k.

His opponent, Miami Rep. Anitere Flores, is hot on his trail. She raised last quarter more than $160k, way more than she initially announced. Still, she has half the cash of Rivera.

--Marc Caputo

Comments

[Get real]

Unfortunately, most times, money does decide the election, I sure wish the people would figure that out and be much more deliberative of that before they cast a vote for someone who might just have had far moe money to re-make themselves and be the "bought". Rivera has been what I call using "extortive" practices when hitting up these big contributors. Many politicians do this, and it is just wrong. Rivera is a dirt bag. PERIOD
The citizens of that district will be bombarded by phoney ad campaigns that were paid for by the special interests who will be receiving many favors(paybacks) from Rivera. Those paybacks are never really benefit the people of thier districts, but they do benefit the special interest. I don't know his opponenet very well but from little I do know, she is not much better. When will the media really report what these paople really do? Arn't there good people out here who want to take their representative governmnet back?

[Bosworth]

The following needs to be pointed out. Rivera is Sansom's legacy. He is the appropriations chair because Sansom wanted him to win the Senate race. All the lobbyists therefore need to give him money. Flores raised her money without the appropriations seat and without help from Sansom. Something that Rivera couldn't do.

[annie oakley]

Bosworth- AMEN. You are right on target. Flores would be the best servant of constituents in SD 38. Rivera is only in it for personal glory.

[bang bang]

SE Fl mafia

[38 Resident]

Dear Friends, Family, Neighbors and Supporters:

Congratulations -- we did it! Thanks to you, not only did we reach our fundraising goal for this finance quarter, we actually surpassed it by over $60,000. We have now raised nearly $400,000 in this campaign; more than any other candidate for State Senate in the entire state of Florida.

I was also able to raise another $125,000 for the Republican Party during this same quarter to help assure a strong Republican victory next year.

This is only one of several positive developments in our campaign for the Florida State Senate.

Recently, the other major candidate in this race decided not to run, and Florida International University conducted a poll which shows me ahead of the remaining candidate by a more than two to one margin. I’m even winning in my opponent’s own state house district!

As you may know, I’m also the only candidate in this race who has actually already been elected by every voter in the senate district; and against two incumbent state legislators at that.

While this is all great news for our campaign, we must also remain focused on the priorities of the voters in Senate District 38.

As a product of Seminole Elementary School, WR Thomas Junior High School, Miami Christian High School and Florida International University, all in the heart of this senate district, I understand the educational needs of my community.

As a 25 year resident of the senate district and a homeowner in the district, I understand the importance of keeping property taxes low and stimulating job creation and economic development for the district.

These are the reasons Republican voters throughout all of Senate District 38 elected me over two sitting state legislators last fall to represent them – and why they will elect me again as their state senator next fall.

While I’m pleased to have significant leads in fundraising and poll results in this current campaign, what heartens me the most is the support Senate District 38 voters have already given me at the ballot box in every corner of the district. No other candidate can claim this type of proven district-wide support.

I will work tirelessly to continue earning the support of Senate District 38 residents all the way to election day and beyond.

Thank you for your generous contribution and for the trust and confidence you have placed in me. Your support is critical to our success. I look forward to continue providing you with updates as we head toward victory next year.

All the best,

David Rivera

[...]

What a joke! This is all the appropriations chair could manage?

[never saw it coming]

So the almighty David Rivera gets schooled by little miss Anitere Flores. What a day! Somewhere pigs are flying.

[DR]

Dear Friends, Family, Neighbors & Supporters,

I just got my butt handed to me. For that reason, I must continue to extort special interest lobbyists to raise money and invent far-fetched poll numbers to make you believe I can win. But don't worry! Since I have no real job or family to keep me busy, I promise to keep spending every minute of my life running for office. Have a great weekend!

All the best,
David Rivera

[actual quote shows either an intentional lie or maybe he can't count!]

Every voter? His opponent did not even get a single vote?
This has to be a new record.
Hasn't Batista been overthrown and long gone? Hasn't there a couple generations that can't even remember Batista? What is the point of continuing this embargo,GET OVER IT,IT DIDN'T WORK...Could it be you refuse to stop the embargo until what,your grandparents land is given back?
This doesn't work for the American Indians in their own country why should we continue to back these failed policies?

"As you may know, I’m also the only candidate in this race who has actually already been elected by every voter in the senate district; and against two incumbent state legislators at that."

The proceding is an actual quote,this cut and paste has not been altered in any way.Someone on the happy juice?
Stupid juice?

[impressed!]

David Rivera has blown away the entire field. I predict he will hit the million dollar mark before the election. He is the new Adam Hasner!

[...]

Anitere's number is impressive (it needed to be to keep her in the game), but I have a feeling she pulled out about every stop to hit that number. Every chit she had has been used and I'm sure she received most of the anti-Rivera money that is out there this period.

It'll be interesting to see what she posts three months from now.

David will end up raising in the high six figures for this race; Anitere doesn't have to match him but she has to be competitive. I don't think she can do it.

[AF]

Dear Friends, Family, Neighbors & Supporters,

I just got my fat butt handed to me again. For that reason, I must continue to hold on to my no-show taxpayer funded "job" at a university to spend time raising money and pretending I actually work. But don't worry! Since I have no real job and have abandoned by child to be raised by my mother, I promise to keep spending every minute of my life running for office. Have a great weekend!

All the best,
Anitere Flores

[Leary Fan]

Does Flores really have a Ray Sansom-type no-show job funded by taxpayers? The St. Pete Times needs to investigate this. Where is Alex Leary when we need him?

[Pride comes before the fall]

Anitere got blinded by ambition and bad advice

[irate taxpayer]

Dear 38 resident,
thank you for posting that letter. I am presuming it is a real letter from David Rivera. If so, It says a lot about the man. He will certainly merit my trust and confidence if he continues to work so hard and communicate so well. I think he is a good candidate and even though Flores might be a good candidate too, I think she should resign her job if she is being paid a salary for working at a school and not showing up daily for that job. Especially if she is allocating money to them, to pay her own salary. There should be a law against it. It isn't right. It wasn't right for Ray Samson to do it, and its not right for her to do it either.

[DR]

Dear lobbyists,

I have just got done reading Anitere Flores’ campaign report. For all you lobbyists who gave campaign checks to Representative Flores or whose client’s gave contributions to Representative Flores, please be advised that your 2010 budget requests are officially dead upon arrival. You all will pay dearly for helping her out.

All the best,

David Rivera

[The paybacks are going to be too high a price.]

Dear 38 resident, Yes thsnks for posting the letter. Now I am certain I do not want David Rivera as my Senator. He is the "bought" candidate and I am so sick of that kind of candidate. It is truly a shame that campaigns have to have these huge amounts of money and even more unfortunate when candidates treat getting the most special interest monet as a badge of honor. They will have to pay back for that money. No THANKS Rivera.

[no more special interests]

Did anyone notice the $50,000 in Flores nursing home special interest money and all the other money from special interests? She is bought and paid for. None of Rivera's money came from Tallahassee. Say no to Flores and the Tallahassee special interests.

[Taxpayer]

Hey 5:25 Leary fan, what exactly is her job at FIU and what does she do for her salary other than campaign for herself?

[Get us someone else]

We need another candidate. Both of these really stink, Somebody, anybody please apply.

[St. Timothy's Parishioner]

Anitere Flores is a fraud. She is an absentee mother and wife. She is a coward as a legislator and has NEVER done anything other than what she is told to do by Republican leadership. She is blinded by ambition and she easily forgets what and who helps her. I intend to do EVERYTHING in my power to make sure she is never a senator.

[no one is buying it]

St. Tim's parishioner: Is that you Esther? You've been spotted there pretending to be a goood Catholic. No true Christian would say such awful things about another person. If anyone is a fraud it's you!

[esther's replacement]

Esther,
He's cheating on you big time! I KNOW!

[question]

What does David Rivera do for a living?

[I know him]

Rivera's money will buy him boring mailers, repetitive ads, etc., but it can't buy him the love and support that Flores has earned in her House District, which by the way, is completely emcompassed in Senate 38.

[lobbyist]

Rivera is so slimy that even shaking his hand disgusts me.

[Jason Straight]

Right wing jerk..The nursing homes are killing residents with no ins and no oversight ..if he takes money from that scum industry he is one of them

[More Facts]

2008 Election Results in Senate District 38 for Republican State Committeeman:

Rep. David Rivera 45 percent
Senator Diaz delaPortilla 24 percent
Rep. Julio Robaina 16

Flores is toast

[curious observer]

OMG, this thread is certainly not about raising campaign funds. Sounds like it's gone far beyond that. Is David Rivera dating Amber? The same Amber working for Flores' campaign? This is getting very incestuous. Isn't Esther the cute little brunette working on his campaign? Is she dating him too? This cattiness is all starting to make sense. Next thing we'll hear is Rivera's wife finds out. Is he married?

[///]

Hey Miami! Wake up! This is exactly why no one takes ANY of you seriously. I would suggest that each and every one of you cut this out for good. People that matter and make decisions are watching.

[Line Stepping]

11:45 & 1:59, if you're going to call out someone's name have the guts to sign yours at the bottom.

4:39, everyone involved in these campaigns know one another, have worked together and are (for the time being) competing against one another. This same garbage goes on north of the Dade County line. Your thinly disguised dig at Hispanics ("Miami", "Any of YOU") is a product of your envy at the fact that in 40 years the Cuban Refugees transformed Miami into the economic engine of this state (Walt Disney aside). Go back to your veranda pour yourself a glass of Iced Tea and dream of days gone by. The people that matter north of Palm Beach are watching because they've seen their Hee-Haw VHS tapes so much they've worn out.

[Cuidao]

Mr. Ferreiro, is that you posting between 12:27 and 12:32am?

[Bored]

Trust me 4:39, no one that matters or makes decisions is on this blog. Only people with waaaaaaaay too much time on their hands.

[Knowing]

David Rivera will win that election. In all the years I have known David, he has never lost. I have not always supported him but I can tell you this man has no quit in him. He has no distractions and he will crawl over the finish line bloodied but victorious. Flores is a nice gal but not in his league.

[who cares]

Heard David was dating a chick from Palm Beach anyway- How many does he really have, and more importantly, who really cares???

[laughable!]

Review Rivera's report: When he realized he had less than Flores - he scrambled! He listed contributions from Alina's family and Esther's family.