Does either Republican candidate running for Florida's 116th House District actually live in the district? The battle for the Republican candidacy in HD116 seems to only grow hotter by the day, with new allegations arising that one of the candidates, Daniel Perez, doesn’t actually live in the district he’s running in -- but Perez and his campaign team are wasting no time fighting back.
On Thursday, the Miami Herald published a story alleging political newcomer Daniel Perez’s home address is nothing but a “shell of a house,” which is totally unlivable due to being under full construction.
The house on Southwest 84th Street in Kendallwood where Perez says he lives is empty, the subject of an extensive home renovation project.
Perez has listed the address on his homestead exemption, his voter registration and his driver’s license, though he doesn’t actually sleep in the Kendallwood house.
State law requires candidates to live in their districts by Election Day, which would be Sept. 26 if Perez beat his opponent, Jose Mallea, in the July 25 primary.
Mallea trashed the news, saying the renovation was just another example of Perez’s policy of untruthful statements lying to voters in the Miami House district.
“Not surprised,” he wrote on Twitter. “He's lied about everything else, why wouldn't he also lie about his residence?”
Perez and his campaign team don’t seem to see a big problem with apparent residency discrepancy, instead turning the tables on the Herald, which they say is merely a mouthpiece for Mallea and a “hit campaign.”
Perez campaign consultant David Custin told Sunshine State News Perez still met the residency requirements and said the Herald’s story and Mallea’s criticisms wouldn’t cut the mustard when put to the test.
“No one is going to deem Danny’s status as not being in the district,” Custin said. “That’s not going to happen. Everything surpasses the residency requirement, between [the] homestead [exemption,] voter registration and driver’s license. The fact they would even write the article the way they did is pretty pathetic.”
Custin said the real fault lies with Mallea, who he said moved into the district only to run for the open House seat vacated by Jose “Pepe” Felix Diaz.
Residency has become a hot issue in the HD116 race, with both candidates now criticizing each other for living outside of district boundary lines.
On Wednesday, Perez’s campaign unveiled a Spanish-language television ad attacking Mallea for living outside of the district.
“[Mallea] has received thousands of dollars from special interests to run in a district he doesn’t live in,” the narrator says in the 30-second clip.
According to the Herald, Mallea is now renting an apartment within district lines in Doral as of June 15.
Despite that, Mallea, Custin contends, has no connections to the district and merely saw and seized an opportunity to run for office only for the title -- with no real connection to the people or the culture of HD116.
“He’s basically a carpetbagger,” Custin said. “He’s never lived in the district. He just moved in after he filed. If he wants to make that case to the district, good luck.”
Perez, Custin says, grew up in the district, attended school there and has a better handle on what’s really important to the voters in HD116.
“We are just doing a contrast of the connections,” he said. “Mallea has none. Zero. We aren’t disputing that or suggesting he wouldn’t meet a residency requirement. Our contention is that he isn’t from here.”
According to a poll released last week, Perez has a large lead over the Republican insider.
The two Republicans will face off July 25 in the primary. The winner of the special election primary will face off against Democrat Gabriele Mayaudon for the seat.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
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