Comedian wants to turn 'Doralzuela' into immigrant 'sanctuary'

Venezuelan ventriloquist turned politician campaigns in Doral

DORAL, Fla.Carlos Pereira couldn't stop laughing. It had been a while since the Venezuelan comedian turned politician was accused of being involved in pornography, but he still found it funny. 

Venezuelans who watched Venevisión, one of the country's largest television networks, recognize Pereria and his puppet "Gochirila" from their decades on-air. He entertains as a ventriloquist -- with his clothes on.

Recommended Videos



"I'm not in pornography. That's absurd," Pereira said, giggling. "I did bookkeeping for this California company that owns an adult store and other businesses," Pereira said in Spanish.  

While working for Miami-based AméricaTeVé, he performed as President Hugo Chávez, the late socialist leader who prompted the exodus that transformed Miami-Dade County's Doral into "Doralzuela." He also spent his days as a struggling artist -- working as a door-to-door salesman, at a warehouse and at a California-based Ants Video Corp.'s adult store in Broward. 

Pereira started making audiences laugh after earning a bachelor's degree in mass communications and a failed stint as a writer at a newspaper. He said he left Venezuela, because "things got strange."

"I was recording a show and I noticed that government officials were there recording me. They were laughing, but I had an uneasy feeling," he said. "I felt violated." 

Pereira found refuge in Doral, one of the fastest growing cities in the country. Two years ago -- after making fun of politicians for decades -- the 42-year-old decided to get involved in the system by becoming the president of the Venezuelan American Democratic Club.

Pereira is campaigning for a council seat in the city of Doral. He claims his work experience fuels his advocacy for issues such as raising the minimum wage and turning Doral into a "sanctuary city."

"The privileged will say this makes me less qualified," said Pereira, who now works as an Uber driver. "I think it connects me to the people. I understand their struggles. Besides, comedy is the best way to talk about politics."

Pereira said Doral needs to become a "sanctuary," where city employees are prohibited from inquiring about immigration status. This is while Florida Republicans push legislation that would make it possible for victims of crimes involving undocumented migrants to file lawsuits against the cities where the crimes took place.

Meanwhile in Caracas, Chavistas were on social media criticizing Pereira for his business partnership with José A. Colina, 42, a former Venezuelan National Guard lieutenant who lives in South Florida and is wanted in Venezuela for treason and terrorism. 

The two co-own Salón de la Fama del Humor, an active corporation registered in Florida, records show. 

"For as long as I have been here, [Pereira] has been a Venezuelan who has cared about his community. He  has a vocation for service," said Colina, the president of VEPPEX, an organization for politically persecuted Venezuelans. "He has earned a position as a local leader and also has a political platform with the Democratic Party." 

In 2014, Pereira ran for State House District 105, which covers Doral and other areas in Miami-Dade, Broward and Collier counties. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and lost to incumbent Rep. Carlos Trujillo, a Republican convention delegate.

This campaign season, the two longtime Doral residents Pereira is running against for a spot on the city council, said they don’t mind having him in the race.

"A comedian has every right to run for office. There is a place for entertainers in politics. Ronald Reagan put an end to that discussion," said Jackelin Guiza, a Venezuelan former member of Doral's citizens audit advisory board who is running against Pereira. "I am being subjected to attacks, but they are not from him." 

ELECTION DRAMA

Guiza said her campaigning troubles have been with city council candidate Claudia Mariaca, the Doral Colony Homeowners Association director and a Parent-Teacher Association board member. Guiza said she fears her 11-year-old son, a student at the John I. Smith K-8 Center in Doral, may be getting hurt in the process, because of Mariaca's PTA position. 

Mariaca, a mother of two, claims Guiza has nothing to worry about.

"It saddens me that she would use her own child," said Mariaca, who was born in Argentina and is married to a Brazilian. "There hasn't been any wrongdoing on my part. I'm very active within the community and I'm focusing my campaign on the issues."

As Doral continues to grow, Mariaca said residents need to be more involved with zoning changes. The three candidates are running for Sandra Ruiz's council seat. Ruiz, who was first elected in 2003 and re-elected in 2012, is running for mayor against incumbent Luigi Boria and Doral's first mayor, Juan Carlos Bermudez. Pereira said he hopes Ruiz, who has the backing of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party, wins in November.


About the Author:

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.