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Hialeah Council Race: Fresh Face V. Familiar Face
Election Day Is Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
HIALEAH (CBS4) ―
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Former police officer Daniel Bolanos, who is also the son of the former police chief, is running against Katharine Cue for the council seat.
CBS
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd. In Hialeah, the race for two city council seats is stacking up to be a race between a familiar face and a fresh face.
"I've always been driven to protect and serve this community," said Daniel Bolaños. If the name Daniel Bolaños rings a bell, it should. The candidate for Hialeah City Council is a former Hialeah police officer and the son of Hialeah's former longtime police chief Rolando Bolaños Sr.
Bolaños Jr. is no stranger to the news. As a Hialeah police officer, he and his brother, also a police officer, were tried on felony charges of brutalizing a suspect. They were found not guilty. Bolaños doesn't see it as a liability.
"The state attorney investigated me and a jury acquitted me and that's the bottom line. When I was with the police department, I was the leading arresting officer. Nobody had more arrests than me. I don't think anybody had more life-saving awards than I did," touted Bolaños.
Bolaños avoided a second trial for official misconduct by agreeing to quit the police force.
He says it was not an admission on his part. "Absolutely not. I maintained at the time I was not guilty. I still maintain I was not guilty. I chose to serve this community in a different capacity."
Now, he's a fraud investigator for the Housing Agency.
His opponent is 22-year-old incumbent Councilwoman Katherine "Katy" Cue, who was appointed to a vacant council seat a year ago. Named the first ever Little Miss Hialeah, Cue went on to be a professional entertainer. She gave it up to serve as the city's liaison to area schools.
"Education is key in our community. Education is the future of our community," said Cue.
Cue stresses community based education programs to combat crime, poverty and dropouts. She dismisses the suggestion that, at 22-years-old, she lacks experience.
"I've worked with the Hialeah police department, I've worked with the firefighters, with water and sewer, with the fleet, all 27 departments, I know how they work," stressed Cue.
Cue has the support of Julio Robaina, Hialeah's hugely popular mayor.
Danny Bolaños has the support of Raul Martinez, Hialeah's hugely popular former mayor. Bolaños says Cue is a Robaina rubber stamp.
"I'm an independent voice. I'm a voice that's willing to stand up and say "no" to the mayor," said Bolaños.
Cue makes no apology for her support of Robaina.
"Why would I vote against road reconstruction? Why would I vote against schools? Why would I vote against progress and revenues for the city?"
Bolaños has challenged whether Cue is a resident of Hialeah. He points to city employment documents where she listed her address as an apartment in Aventura.
She says, "It happens to be a beach apartment, but it's not where I live."
As proof, Cue offers her driver's license and voter ID, which lists a Hialeah address.
Danny Bolaños is counting on his name recognition to help counter Katharine Cue's financial advantage. With help from the incumbent mayor, the former Little Miss Hialeah has outraised the former police chief's son, two to one.
Click here for more on the election in our special section Campaign '09.
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