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Every elected leader in Golden Beach endorses Fabián Basabe for re-election in HD 106

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Those challenging Rep. Fabián Basabe in House District 106 shouldn’t look to the elected officials in Golden Beach for support.

They’re all in — all of them — for the Republican incumbent.

Every one of town’s five City Council members is backing Basabe for re-election in HD 106, which covers a coastal strip of Miami-Dade between Miami Beach and Aventura.

Each wrote a letter of endorsement explaining why they want to see him win a third term. And they all essentially said the same thing: Basabe consistently listens, shows up and delivers for Golden Beach and its residents.

“It is rare to find a representative who is genuinely accessible — one who not only returns calls, but who answers them. One who shows up toe events not for photos — but to listen. One who asks what we need — and then actually follows up. You have done that for Golden Beach, consistently,” Mayor Glenn Singer, a Republican, wrote.

“Our Town is small in population — but we are large in expectations, responsibilities, and public safety complexities. You have always treated our community with importance and priority, and I have personally witnessed your involvement firsthand — from attending our civic events, to speaking directly with our residents, to spending time here understanding what matters to us.”

Vice Mayor Judy Lusskin, a Republican, said Basabe’s accessibility “is not political — it is genuine.”

“I have come to know you not as a distant elected official in Tallahassee — but as someone who knows our Town personally, who walks our streets, and who sits at our community dinners and events,” she wrote. “You have shown up — repeatedly — and that matters. When we reach out, you respond. When we need information, you make yourself available. Your accessibility is not political — it is genuine.”

Council member Bernard Einstein, who switched from Democrat to Republican in 2023, said very few elected leaders have been as “visibly engaged” in Golden Beach as Basabe.

“You answer when we call — and we do not take that for granted,” he wrote. “You attend our functions, you meet with our residents, and you take the time to truly listen. Those qualities differentiate you.”

Council member Kenneth Bernstein, a Democrat, described Basabe similarly.

“You show up, you attend our programs and events, and you make it clear that Golden Beach matters to you,” he wrote, adding that he’s personally witnessed Basabe’s respect for the Golden Beach Police department and appreciation for public safety. “When we have reached out on matters affecting our town — whether involving infrastructure, legislation, or state agency coordination — you have taken our calls, and you have always been willing to assist.”

Council member Jessie Mendal, who has no party affiliation, called Basabe’s accessibility “outstanding.”

“Our Town values consistency, accountability, and follow-through — you have demonstrated each of these,” she wrote.

Basabe said it is “truly an honor” to win the sweeping support of Golden Beach’s elected leaders, who serve an affluent, coastal municipality of fewer than 1,000 residents.

“Golden Beach is small in size, but it has enormous expectations, high standards, and one of the most respected municipal operations anywhere in the state. Your professionalism, your commitment to public safety, and your clear vision for your community make Golden Beach a model of disciplined, effective local government,” he said in a statement.

“Working with you has been a privilege and a pleasure. You run a tight ship, you lead with purpose, and you hold yourselves to the same level of accountability you expect from others, which is a rarity. I value the trust you have placed in me, and I will continue to show up, follow through, and fight for this community every step of the way.”

The Golden Beach endorsements join others from Kissimmee Democratic Rep. Jose Alvarez, Hialeah Republican Rep. Alex Rizo, Miami-Dade Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez, Aventura City Commissioner Gustavo Blachman, Bal Harbour Council member Buzzy Sklar, Republican Vice Mayor Tina Paul and Commissioner Ruben Coto of Surfside, North Bay Village Commissioner Richard Chervony and Miami Beach running legend Robert “Raven” Kraft, who said Basabe’s actions last year helped save him from homelessness.

Rizo, Fernandez, Blachman, Paul, Chervony, Sklar and Kraft are Republicans. Alvarez and Coto are Democrats.

Two Democrats have filed to run against Basabe: former Miami-Dade School Board member Lucia Báez-Geller, whom he’s accused of lodging “false, malicious” accusations against him, and lawyer Ashley Litwin Diego, who has enlisted the services of influential consultant Christian Ulvert.



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Woman who died after riding Universal’s Revenge of the Mummy had ruptured aneurysm

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Ma de La Luz Mejia Rosas died last month after the 70-year-old suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm on Universal’s Revenge of the Mummy ride, according to a newly released Medical Examiner’s report.

Rosas became unresponsive on Nov. 25 on the indoor roller coaster then passed away two weeks later Dec. 9 at Orlando Regional Medical Center, records showed.

“Mrs. Rosas went to the park to enjoy time with her children and grandchildren, expecting a safe and joyful experience,” lawyer Ben Crump, who is representing her family, said in a statement.

“Instead, her family is now left grieving and searching for answers. They deserve a full understanding of what happened before, during, and after this ride. We intend to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragedy and ensure her family’s voice is heard.”

Crump said he is asking for information about the ride’s operations, safety protocols, maintenance history and data on other incidents.

Universal did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Rosas’ death was publicly disclosed on a statewide theme park injury report last week.

Florida’s major theme parks are required to self-disclose all visitors’ injuries on rides if the guests were hospitalized for at least 24 hours. The report is publicly released by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, though it contains limited information on what went wrong and about visitors’ condition.

The theme park injury report showed 16 people had been hurt on Revenge of the Mummy since it opened in 2004. Most recently, a 32-year-old woman felt “neck pain/motion sickness” last year. A 60-year-old woman hadseizure in 2017. Other guests reported chest pain, light headedness, feeling nauseous or passing out.

Crump was previously representing the family of a man with disabilities who died in September after riding a roller coaster at Universal’s Epic Universe theme park.

The family and Universal settled out of court in a confidential settlement.

Millions of people visit Orlando’s theme parks every year, and a handful of tragedies occur.

Earlier this month, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against The Boathouse restaurant after a man died from choking on a steak at Disney Springs last year.



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James Uthmeier endorses Jon Maples for HD 87

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‘Jon Maples brings real-life experience, strong values and a deep commitment to Florida families.’

Fresh off a commanding Republican Primary win in the Special Election for the empty House District 87 seat, former Lake Clarke Shores Council member Jon Maples has notched an endorsement from Florida’s top cop.

Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on X that he is fully behind Maples, who he said will be “a principled voice in Tallahassee.”

“Jon Maples brings real-life experience, strong values and a deep commitment to Florida families. He understands the challenges facing our state and is ready to lead with common sense,” he said.

“I’m proud to endorse Jon Maples for FL House 87.”

Uthmeier’s endorsement Tuesday adds to others from President Donald Trump, Republican Reps. Anne Gerwig, Griff Griffitts, Jon Snyder and “MAGA” Meg Weinberger, Palm Beach County Commissioner Sara Baxter, Lake Worth Beach Commissioner Mimi May, former Rep. MaryLynn Magar, the Florida House Republican Campaign Committee and business group Associated Industries of Florida.

Maples won last Tuesday’s Primary with 84% of the vote over one opponent. He’s set to face Democrat Emily Gregory, who took 88% of the vote against a single Primary foe.

The winner of the March 24 Special Election will succeed former Republican Rep. Mike Caruso, who vacated the HD 87 seat in August for an appointed post as Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller.

HD 87 covers Palm Beach County’s coast from Juno Beach south to Lantana, spanning Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, and Hypoluxo along the way.



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Stacy Hahn files to challenge GOP incumbent Donna Cameron Cepeda in Hillsborough Commission race

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Republican Hillsborough County School Board member Stacy Hahn has filed to run for the Hillsborough County Commission, challenging another Republican in a gambit for the countywide District 5 seat.

Hahn, who has served on the Hillsborough County School Board since 2018, announced her candidacy by citing her experience with the School District as evidence of her fiscal responsibility and belief in limited government.

The countywide District 5 seat is currently held by incumbent Republican Commissioner Donna Cameron Cepeda, who won election in 2022 as part of a broader GOP sweep that flipped control of the Hillsborough County Commission

The race is already drawing significant attention, with well-funded Democratic challenger Neil Manimala also vying to claim the seat. Manimala has a significant lead in funds raised, with his campaign already reporting more than $121,000 compared to $6,000 raised by Cepeda, according to Supervisor of Elections records. Hahn has not yet been required to submit a funding report.

Hahn described herself as a conservative who supports limited government and fiscal discipline, arguing that government is most effective when it empowers individuals, families and businesses rather than expanding bureaucracy.

In a statement, Hahn said her time on the School Board gave her a firsthand view of how county-level decisions affect classrooms, neighborhoods and the local economy, touching on issues such as public safety, infrastructure, housing affordability and budgeting.

“As a School Board member, I worked closely with families, educators, and community partners, and I saw firsthand how county decisions impact our classrooms, neighborhoods, and local economy — from public safety and infrastructure to housing affordability and responsible budgeting,” Hahn said.

“Hillsborough County is a unique and beautiful place with tremendous potential. To unlock that potential, we need common-sense leadership at the County Center — leaders who are focused on improving quality of life for every neighborhood, supporting local businesses, and being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.”

First elected to the School Board in 2018, Hahn has focused her tenure on financial transparency, literacy initiatives, workforce and career pathways, and early childhood education. She has pointed to her oversight of the School District’s roughly $4.4 billion budget and management of the county’s largest employer as preparation for the demands of county government, saying that experience helped her balance budgets, manage growth and deliver results.

Hahn has also been involved in a range of community and nonprofit efforts, including literacy- and STEM-focused programs, according to her campaign materials. She lives in Tampa with her husband, Jeff, their three children, Ethan, Jackson and Aidan, and their dog Rocky.

Hahn said she is “excited about the work ahead and the opportunity to serve.”



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