Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL) announced on Thursday that he will not seek reelection at the end of his current term after 18 years in that office. One of three Republican Latinos currently serving in Congress, Diaz-Balart is known for his strong stance in favor of the Cuban embargo. He is reported to be “seriously considering” a request by Florida governor Charlie Crist to be appointed temporarily to serve in the U.S. Senate.
Within minutes of the announcement, Lincoln Diaz-Balart’s brother, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), announced that he will run for the seat being vacated by his brother, which is seen as having a more reliable Republican and Cuban American electorate.
In 2008, Mario Diaz-Balart defeated Miami-Dade County Democratic Chairman Joe Garcia by only 53 percent. Garcia, who is currently an appointee in the Obama administration, is reported to be considering running for this seat again giving the Democrats a chance of potential gain. In addition, state Reps. David Rivera and Anitere Flores are running for a state Senate seat that is almost fully contained in the congressional district.
About time. I’m tired of the corrupt ways of the Diaz- Balart brothers, they pass out pastelitos to win votes from the elderly. Hopefully someone like Joe Garcia can step up to the plate and be a Representative for the changing political views of Cuban-Americans in Miami.
One less D.B. in congress. Phew
If Lincoln is so bad, then why would NCLR honor his work.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb 13, 2008
NCLR TO HONOR REP. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART, REP. HILDA SOLIS, AND UNIVISION COMMUNICATIONS AT 2008 NCLR CAPITAL AWARDS GALA
Washington, DC– The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., will honor Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and Representative Hilda Solis (D-CA) at the 2008 NCLR Capital Awards gala on Tuesday, March 4 at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC.
Representative Diaz-Balart and Representative Solis will be recognized for their tireless efforts to preserve and expand education and health opportunities for Latino and immigrant families. NCLR will also present the Public Service Award to Univision Communications Inc., the nation’s leading Spanish-language media company, for its outstanding commitment to educating and empowering our community as a leader in the national citizenship and civic engagement campaign, ya es hora.
Sorry Andy. Not sure if that’s really credible. Headline should read “Fidel Castro to step down, hand over power to Raul.” Oh sorry, wrong pair of brothers. Must run in the family.
He’s not bad Andy, just misguided. Simply put, his foreign policy positions are reminiscent of an age when stubborn, ideological rage trumped rational, results-oriented philosophies. The NCLR and others acknowledge and appreciate Rep. Diaz-Balart’s public service, but Cuban American politicians also serve a de facto role in representing the interests of Cuban people, and clearly they have failed categorically when it comes to the Cuba issue – castro was not defeated, democracy and human rights have not flourished, cubans still suffer… So what do we have to show for the decades of rhetoric and posturing? This is why some of us are happy to see the old guard step down, and look forward to a new breed of thinkers that will hopefully bring some new ideas to the game.