The Florida Squeeze has been making and sometimes not making endorsements in Florida’s Democratic politics for well over a decade. Rarely have we been as enthusiastic about any recommendation as for Billy Corben for Miami-Dade DEC Chair.

To the Precinct Committee People who will vote in this election – it’s OK to do something unusual and vote for an unorthodox candidate like Corben. 

Lord knows where Miami Democratic performance has gone under a steady diet of status quo. We badly need outside perspectives, and a famous favored son of Miami-Dade could deliver that perfectly in today’s landscape.

On issue after issue, Corben has been a serious contributor to Florida’s overall civic conversation and a brave, devastating critic of everything wrong with our ailing state’s political dynamics, especially in Miami City Hall – and an effective champion of strong alternatives.

Few have shed light on the real underlying issues in the Florida Democratic Party and the “consultant cartel” approach to losing winnable elections in Miami-Dade County as fearlessly or to such a wide public audience.

As we have covered on the Squeeze, Sen. Shevrin Jones’ record has largely been in sync with Democratic values with some exceptions and he has created a strong profile as a Tallahassee legislator in the minority. He would no doubt make a capable DEC Chair. 

But Corben offers a chance at something we’ve never seen before: a highly visible Democratic Party official fully independent from the Old Boys’ network of business as usual, yet with a deep expert knowledge about Florida’s politics and what makes Miami work. 

Go ahead, Miami-Dade County Democratic Party electors, do something provocative and something different – elect Billy Corben. Place your trust in a proven communicator and advocate with a national, even worldwide audience for our views as reform-minded Democrats to truly make a difference.

Most of all, do it Because Miami.