Harold Pryor | REDBROWARD

Why did Tania Williams hire Jose Riesco?

The campaign treasurer for Broward County Circuit Court candidate Tania Williams is the same man mentioned in the Miami-Dade “ghost” candidate investigation, records show. In records filed in March 2022 with the Florida Division of Elections, Williams listed Jose Riesco of Coral Gables as her campaign treasurer. An odd choice for a longtime Palm Beach county resident who, until recently, trained lawyers for Broward State Attorney Harold Pryor.

Jose Riesco was named in numerous published reports detailing investigations into no-party “ghost” candidates in Miami-Dade elections. In March 2021, former State Senator Frank Artiles was arrested for his role in funding the campaigns of ghost candidates.

According to the Miami Herald, Artiles was charged with felonies related to “offering Alexis ‘Alex’ Rodriguez $50,000 to run as an independent in Miami-Dade’s Senate District 37 race. The goal, investigators say, was to ‘confuse voters and influence the outcome’ of the race to represent Senate District 37, a large swath that includes downtown Miami, Coral Gables and Pinecrest.”

In 2020, the Herald first reported how Artiles had recruited and boasted about planting Rodriguez in the race.

In June 2021, the Herald published emails showing Jose Riesco’s involvement in Artiles scheme. “In one of the email chains released by state prosecutors, Jones is looped in on a June 16 message with a PDF attachment labeled: ‘Wire Transfer Instructions.’ On that day, records show Data Targeting arranged a wire transfer of $100,000 to a nonprofit called Florida Stronger Inc. The organization’s officers include De Varona, who notarized Rodriguez’s campaign paperwork, and Jose Riesco, who served as the no-party candidate’s campaign treasurer.”

According to Frank Artiles’ arrest affidavit, Jose Riesco signed the check for the ghost candidate’s qualifying fee.

Tania Williams calls herself a “skilled advocate.” So how did she end up with a campaign treasurer involved in such shady business?

Did someone recommend Jose Riesco?

Does Tania Williams know how to use Google?

Don’t Broward residents deserve Judges who do not hire shady Miami-Dade campaign operatives?

Frank Artiles arrest affidavit mentions Tania Williams’ campaign treasurer

The Dale Holness For Congress campaign promised a who’s who of powerful Broward leaders would attend his kickoff event on Tuesday evening. The flyers and emails boasted about the big names on Holness’ “host committee” while urging supporters to join them for a mere $10,000 campaign contribution. The host committee included Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony, Broward Clerk of Courts Brenda Forman, Broward State Attorney Harold Pryor, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis and even Tamarac Commissioner Marlon Bolton.

Just one problem.

None of these powerful leaders showed up. Not a single one. They did not even send representatives to speak on their behalf.

When it came time to introduce Dale Holness, the emcee asked Tamarac Commissioner Elberg Mike Gelin to come to the podium. Oops, Gelin was not in attendance.

Instead, Team Holness relied on mere benchwarmers, C-listers among Broward’s elected officials, to introduce the former County Commissioner.

Backbenchers like Oakland Park Commissioner Mitch Rosenwald, Anthony Arserio of Margate and Lauderhill Commissioner Ray Martin sang the praises of Holness. Needless to say, these men did little to fire up the crowd gathered in the parking lot outside of Holness’ real estate office in Plantation.

Last year, Dale Holness was considered the front runner to replace Alcee Hastings in Congress. Holness’ campaign kickoff for that race drew three times the crowd, multiple media outlets as well as members of the Broward political elite.

But after losing to newcomer Sheila Cherfilus McCormick by five votes, Holness is a just another civilian with hopes of roaming the halls of Congress in Washington D.C.

Broward’s ruling class has abandoned him. The media covering his event was limited to the Sun-Sentinel and one television station.

Only one Broward Democrat party activist attended the festivities.

Holness’ daughter, Damara, was a no-show. Even Holness’ longtime “campaign guru” Omar Smith was absent.

But Dale Holness was not all alone.

Elberg Mike Gelin was very late. He made it just as the food was being served.

Tamarac Post founder Anthony Bonamy, a Holness aide, was in the crowd. Justin Porter, another former commission aide, was at Holness’ side.

Yet, the enthusiasm was missing. The loudest cheers came when the Stranahan High School basketball team was introduced.