Staff Reports
A missing penny nearly cost one Miami-Dade Republican his chance at the ballot.
Daniel Anthony Perez, a Miami Republican, is one of two Republicans who qualified Tuesday for the race to replace Rep. Jose Felix Diaz in House District 116. But state records show Perez, who qualified via check, had to submit two checks to the Division of Elections after his first check appeared to be one penny short.
According to the Division of Elections, candidates choosing to qualify by the fee method needed to submit a “properly executed campaign check signed by the treasurer or deputy treasurer in the amount of $1,781.82 (partisan) or $1,187.88 (no party affiliation).”
The Division of Elections received a check from the Perez campaign at 9:24 a.m. on Monday. That check, however, had conflicting amounts written on it. In one place, the correct amount – $1,781.82 — was written out; while in a second place on the check, the sum was for $1,781.81.
The Division reported receiving a second check at 8:09 a.m., Tuesday for the correct amount, allowing Perez to qualify by the noon deadline.
Perez faces Jose Mallea in the GOP primary to replace Diaz in House District 116. The winner of the July 25 special primary will face Democrat Gabriela Mayaudon in the Sept. 26 special general election.
Diaz resigned his House seat, effective Sept. 26, to run in the special election to replace Sen. Frank Artiles in Senate District 40. Artiles resigned earlier this year amid scandal, promoting a special election.
