Drew Wilson
Construction trade group Associated Builders and Contractors announced Monday it had endorsed a dozen candidates running for office in Miami-Dade County.
Republican Sen. Anitere Flores got the nod in Senate District 39 and Reps. Daphne Campbell and Frank Artiles won endorsements from ABC in the SD 38 and SD 40 races.
ABC Florida East Coast Chapter President Petery Dyga said the trade association picked these candidates, mostly incumbent lawmakers, because their “philosophy is friendliest to our own with respect to free markets and non-discrimination in public contracting and construction.”
Dyga added the endorsements are based on ABC’s philosophical principles “and not just based on political party affiliation or an individual candidates’ chances of winning.”
The group also announced endorsements for Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and incumbent Republican Reps. Manny Diaz, Carlos Trujillo, Michael Bileca and Holly Raschein, as well as Democratic Rep. David Richardson.
The only non-incumbent House candidates earning endorsements were Republican John Couriel in HD 114 and Lynda Bell and David Rivera, two of the five Republicans running to take over for Artiles in HD 118.
ABC said it sends invitations for endorsement interviews to all qualified candidates running for local or state office in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Brevard counties.
