Bower Power

I will let the pretentious night of Halloween On South Beach go by for one evening without thinking of the vanity and glory that encompasses that night. On Tuesday night, it didn't take more than a few minutes for Commissioner Bower to bond with The Countess. the two had met on Sunday's Emergency Room party at The Palace.

Matti is in the closing week of a closing race. Was it only a few months ago that she started her uphill race against fellow Commissioner Cruz, finding herself with absolutely no money or organization and requesting a meeting about how to get the gay vote? With the help of her staff, I began escorting this endearing, but unlikely candidate around Town. This week it was Sunday at The Palace, Monday at Twist, and Tuesday at Halo; Matti has handshaked her way into what I think is the most difficult crowd to count on. The gay vote is not dependable because of its likeliness to not vote. The seniors vote, the Cubans vote, the elderly Jews vote; but, the gays--despite all they have to lose--are always a question. Sometimes it seems we would more likely to shop than vote; meanwhile The Hangman is always around the corner.

Last week, The Miami Herald endorsed Matti Bower in an astounding slap to her opponent, Simon Cruz. Months earlier, in a time that Matti was collecting five and ten dollar bills to Cruz's $500,000 war chest established by developers and lobbyists, and couldn't afford an ad, The Wire newspaper--a gay publication--put her on the front cover as endorsement. Last week, the current mayor, David Dermer, endorsed her along with my long-time friend, Commissioner Saul Gross. The pace is quickening to a race; well-financed interests are now calling and telling of their long-time interest in Matti (even if they were late in thinking of it).

It's days to go for the little grandmother who asked a lot of questions of everything put in front of her and supported every gay legislation put before her. You, go, Matti.

Somewhere, here, the Bower Power is taking hold.