Newt Gingrich's Florida Campaign Director Jose Mallea Has a Miami House in Foreclosure

By Matthew Hendley Thu., Dec. 15 2011 at 11:58 AM

newt.org

Newt Gingrich

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich -- the apparent front-runner for the Republican Party's presidential nomination -- has been an advocate of the "free market" approach to reducing the number of foreclosures in the country, coupled with his wish to repeal the "Dodd-Frank" bill signed into law last year.

He should probably explain how that works to the director of his Florida campaign operations, Jose Mallea, who's been fighting a foreclosure on his own home in Miami's Coral Way neighborhood for more than a year, as discovered by our sister paper to the south, Miami New Times.

Mallea, the former campaign chief for Sen. Marco Rubio, got his foreclosure notice from the Branch Banking and Trust Company in April 2010, and it's not going so hot for him.

In 2008 -- when Mallea and a woman named Helena Poleo purchased the home -- it was worth $290,000. Today, it's worth $159,000.

Miami New Times writer Tim Elfrink attempted to reach out to Mallea for comment, but was unsuccessful:

Mallea, who also owns Coral Gables' Local Craft Food & Drink, didn't respond to a message left at his restaurant or to another left with Gingrich's national press office. Poleo, reached on her cell phone, referred comment to Mallea.

Jose Mallea Foreclosure

Tags:

Florida, GOP, Jose Mallea, Miami, Newt Gingrich

We Recommend

Dennisg

Newt is the kind of leader America needs to bring our country back from the enemy's who has taken us over, the Marxist's regimeHe has knowledge guts and will fight to save America.Don't believes the Romney lies!We have had enough of the crap! Good Luck Newt you have our support

Pete Pepper

The man is a crook who is only out to get more money for the rich and corporations. Funny thing is this description fits EVERY republican candidate.And if you think that President Obama is a "Marxist", then you have NO idea of the actual definition of that word.

charlespopp

The Refi Plus program will waive the normal credit score requirement for a refinance; it will have reduced documentation standards for proof of income; and it will allow for computer-based appraisals, which tend to inflate the value of a home and make it easier to qualify for a refinance. Search online for 123 Refinance they are the best and fast.

Pete Pepper

Well it is the republican plan to rip off everyone, even their poorer buddies. This is what you get with Newt and the rest.

East Side Tea Party

More class warfare from the left? While you say that Republicans plan to rip people off, why is it that the richest people in politics are Democrats? The Kennedy family, John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi are all worth billions. Even Barney Frank will leave Congress a multi-millionaire after making his first million while in "service" to the nation as a congressman.

Pete Pepper

Read this if you do not believe me. It was written by interviews of only former republicans.http://www.rollingstone.com/po...It is pretty insane when even Reagan, the repub patron saint, would not be welcome in that party. Yes, there are some bad democrats, but unfortunatly when 95% of the repubs want only to cut taxes on the rich and the rich alone, then I am sorry, they are ALL bad.

East Side Tea Party

I have never gotten a job from a poor man ... have you? The only offense the "rich" are guilty of is selling products and services that people voluntarily purchase. What gives you the right to steal their property? If you aim to eliminate poverty by eliminating wealth everyone will be equally poor. Welcome to the former USSR.