Dem
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GOP
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We tend to assume this is the last item we will ever write about "presidential candidate" and Miami mayor Francis Suarez (R), but you never know, since we also assumed the last one we wrote would be the end of our Suarez coverage.
The Miami mayoralty, like so many prominent political posts in the South (and some elsewhere), is a part-time job. That means that Suarez also has "alternate" employment. Do you know how many different side gigs he's had since Jan. 1, 2022? How about: 13. Undoubtedly, those were all on the up-and-up, right? In addition, although Suarez draws a salary of $150,000/year, plus another $60,000 for various expenses, he likes to live a seven- or eight-figure lifestyle. So, he's apparently accepted lots of perks from private benefactors, like tickets to the World Cup and an invite to the annual Formula 1 viewing party held at the Paddock Club. Footing the bill for much of his hospitality was billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin, who became "friends" with Suarez after the latter was elected mayor, and who surely has no ulterior motives.
As it turns out, Florida law covers these sorts of gifts. Unless the fancy-pants perks are paid for by the city or an immediate family member, Suarez has to file disclosure paperwork. He did not do so. The city most definitely did not pay, for example, for $12,000 in viewing-party admissions, so either the Mayor needs to find a close, wealthy relative who will cop to making the purchases, or he's in deep doo-doo. Since Suarez has already claimed (incorrectly) that he was on government business, and that is all that matters, he presumably will not be producing a close, wealthy relative. Unless Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV), who is Suarez' cousin, wants to get a divorce from his wife and then marry Griffin.
The Florida Commission on Ethics has formally launched an investigation; it's not clear how long it will take, or what sanctions Suarez might face. We pass this story along for two reasons, however: (1) having these political jobs be part-time really seems like it creates more problems than it solves, and (2) it's a shame that the mayor of the 44th largest city in America (in other words, a relatively small fish) can be held accountable for this sort of behavior, but a Supreme Court justice (a much larger and more impactful fish) cannot. (Z)