Meet Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, a Dem candidate for a seat on the Miami Beach city commission:
Buenos Días Miami Beach! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/vS2THrIqqt
— KristenRosenGonzalez (@rosengonzalez) September 23, 2021
But her candidacy hit a slight roadblock last night after local reporter Jim DeFede pointed out that the self-proclaimed “most high-profile Hispanic Democrat in the City of Miami Beach” isn’t Hispanic at all:
During an interview with Democratic Party leaders, former MB City Commissioner @rosengonzalez argued they should endorse her campaign comeback because she is “the most high-profile Hispanic Democrat in the City of Miami Beach.”
The only problem: She’s not Hispanic@CBSMiami pic.twitter.com/6TTzZRvTkd
— Jim DeFede (@DeFede) September 22, 2021
She told DeFede, “I’m perceived as being Hispanic by all of the Hispanics in my community” and “I know I’m not Hispanic”:
When I asked Rosen Gonzalez why she claimed to be Hispanic when she wasn't, she said: “Well I’m perceived as being Hispanic. I’m perceived as being Hispanic by all of the Hispanics in my community. I’m their girl. My last name is Hispanic. I know I’m not Hispanic.”@CBSMiami
— Jim DeFede (@DeFede) September 22, 2021
She divorced in 2009 but kept her married name, “Gonzalez”:
Rosen Gonzalez was married to a man named Gonzalez. They divorced in 2009.
Rosen Gonzalez then added: “I'm sorry. I probably oversold myself. If you want to nail me to the cross go ahead, make me look foolish."
— Jim DeFede (@DeFede) September 22, 2021
The interview happened on the second day of Hispanic Heritage Month, too:
Party chair Robert Dempster noted "the interview was on the second day of Hispanic Heritage Month.”
Another Dem, Maria-Elena Lopez told @CBSMiami adopting the last name of your Hispanic ex-husband, “does not give you the right to say you are Hispanic. It's insulting.”— Jim DeFede (@DeFede) September 22, 2021
She later apologized to “anyone that was offended”:
It is being reported that I have called myself Hispanic. Clearly, I misspoke. I am proud of my children who are Hispanic, and I am proud to have kept my hispanic married name.
— KristenRosenGonzalez (@rosengonzalez) September 22, 2021
I am proud to speak Spanish fluently and am I proud of the relationship I have built with the Miami Beach Hispanic community.
Of course, none of that makes me Hispanic and I deeply apologize to anyone that was offended."— KristenRosenGonzalez (@rosengonzalez) September 22, 2021
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