The six Miami-Dade County commissioners seeking reelection this year have received tens of thousands of dollars from major developers in the area, according to the Miami Herald.
At the top of the mound of donors? Aventura Mall owner Turnberry Associates, led by Jackie and Jeffrey Soffer, Triple Five, the developer behind the planned American Dream Miami mega-mall, and GL Homes.
Together, the commissioners up for reelection — Daniella Levine Cava, Jose “Pepe” Diaz, Sally Heyman, Jean Monestime, Rebeca Sosa and Javier Souto — have raised about $1.8 million over the past two years. Turnberry gave $62,000, GL Homes donated $30,000, American Dream Miami gave $26,000 and Landmark Development contributed $30,000. Munilla Construction Management also nearly $25,000, according to the Miami Herald.
Triple Five, led by the Ghermezian family, still needs the commission’s approval to change zoning designation for its American Dream Miami site. GL Homes needs county approval for a development in Kendall. And Turnberry is seeking approvals for luxury rental development SoLēMia in North Miami Beach and eventually hopes to add a casino to the Fontainebleau Miami Beach.
Munilla, which gave to all six candidates, is trying to win an $800 million contract to build the new I-395 bridge in downtown Miami. [Miami Herald] – Katherine Kallergis