Paella and Politics: Miami Dade Day Draws Out Candidates

When theres a line of hundreds of people waiting for paella outside the Capitol, you know that its Miami-Dade Day. But besides paella, politics was also on the menu.

Johnny Farias, a Navy veteran and small business owner who is running for the Florida House seat Rep. David Rivera is vacating to run for Congress, was working the crowd. Farias said he was learning about the issues in Tallahassee and praised the House Democratic leadership and staff for helping him. Farias has already complied some impressive endorsements for the Democratic primary, including the backing of Homestead Mayor Steve Bateman, Rep. Dwight Bullard and Rep. Ronald Brise.

Dade County Circuit Court judicial candidate Monica Gordo, currently serving as an assistant state attorney, was also at the Capitol. Besides being backed by a host of lawyers and some of her fellow assistant state attorneys, Gordo has won the backing of some major political figures in the area, including Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina.

There were plenty of other politicians on hand, including Sen. Frederica Wilson and Rep. Yolly Roberson, two of the host of candidates battling it out in the Democratic primary for the congressional seat Kendrick Meek is vacating to run for the U.S. Senate.