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STATE HOUSE: Frank Carollo, Haitian-born Democrat Ronald Brisé, David Rice win races for open seats

Incumbent state representatives from Miami-Dade breezed through the primary, but three crowded contests to fill open seats ensured new faces in Tallahassee.

BY MICHAEL VASQUEZ AND CAMMY CLARK

mrvasquez@MiamiHerald.com

For most state House members from Miami-Dade, Tuesday's primary results held little significance. Many incumbents faced no opposition from within their own party and were expected to cruise to easy reelection come November.

But three open seats created when incumbent lawmakers stepped down added some suspense to the mix.

Five Republicans battled for the right to be the next District 107 representative -- a seat formerly held by Gus Barreiro -- while five Democrats competed in the race for District 108, previously represented by Phillip Brutus.

Further south, in the Keys-based District 120 race, four Republicans carried hopes of filling the seat vacated by Republican state Rep. Ken Sorensen, who faced term limits. District 120 also includes portions of South Miami-Dade County.

The winners in the three districts: Frank Carollo -- brother of former Miami Mayor Joe Carollo -- Haitian-born Democrat Ronald Brisé and Monroe County Commissioner David Rice.

In District 107, Republican Frank Carollo emerged victorious, followed by Robert Fernandez, Xavier Suarez, Eric Padron and Arthur Arnau. Carollo will face Democrat and Miami Beach City Commissioner Luis Garcia in November.

FAMILIAR NAMES

The District 107 matchup included Suarez, a former Miami mayor, going against Carollo, the brother of a former Miami mayor.

Suarez and Joe Carollo clashed in one of Miami's most infamous elections -- a bitter 1997 mayoral contest marred by voter fraud so pervasive the initial results were overturned. Both men ran for mayor again in 2001, but were bested by current Mayor Manny Diaz.

In the crowded race for Miami-Dade's open Democratic seat, Brisé triumphed in District 108 over fellow Democrats Kathy Emery, Hans Laurenceau, Eddie Lewis and Peter Walsh.

Brisé, who boasted the endorsement of Brutus, the previous representative for that area, will face Republican Prospero Herrera II, a former Miami Shores councilman, in November.

In the Keys, Rice was the top vote-getter in District 120, ahead of fellow Republicans Sal Gutierrez, Spencer Slate and Jeff Wander.

Rice will face Democrat and former state Rep. Ron Saunders in the general election, along with write-in candidate Bob Horan. Horan's chances of winning with his ''pro-marijuana'' platform are viewed as slim.

INCUMBENTS' RACES

On the incumbent front, Miami state Rep. Juan-Carlos ''J.C.'' Planas faced the stiffest primary challenge among Miami-Dade legislators -- but Planas, a former prosecutor, crippled his opposition in court weeks earlier by getting two challengers knocked off the ballot for failing to qualify properly.

The two disqualified challengers: Kendall Community Council member Carla Ascencio-Savola and the incumbent's third cousin, Juan Enrique Planas.

On Tuesday, Planas easily bested his lone remaining opponent, doctor and first-time office seeker Rafael Palmerola. Among Planas' planned priorities when the Legislature recovenes is the passage of property insurance changes to benefit consumers slammed with skyrocketing premiums.

''I'm gonna fight like heck for that,'' Planas said.

In other results, incumbent Democrat Yolly Roberson appeared poised to survive a challenge from two candidates -- Jacqui Colyer and Dominique Simon -- in District 104.

Early returns also showed incumbent Republican Marcelo Llorente solidly beating challenger Jorge Espinosa in the Kendall-based District 116 race. With no Democrat or write-in candidates to face in November, Llorente's primary victory automatically earns him a third term.

''I'm just humbled, I'm humbled by the support,'' Llorente said.

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Ronald A Brise - Democrate Candidate

for Florida House of Representative District 108th

e-mail rbrise@rab4108.com

phone: 305-450-0516

mailing address: 12864 Biscayne Blvd #380

North Miami, Florida 33181-2007

http://www.rab4108.com/contact_us.htm