By Coral Gables Gazette staff
When Coral Gables City Manager Peter Iglesias announced his resignation on May 20, he gave the city a little more than four months to identify his successor before his planned departure on Oct. 2.
More than halfway through that timeline – roughly two months and one week later – there has been little visible progress toward finding the city’s next chief executive.
City officials confirmed this week that the Coral Gables Commission, which is responsible for hiring the city manager, has not yet discussed how it intends to conduct the search. The city has not retained an executive search firm, identified candidates or begun interviewing prospective applicants.
“No decision has been made regarding the appointment of an interim city manager should a permanent city manager not be selected prior to City Manager Peter Iglesias’ retirement,” Communications Director Martha Pantin said in response to questions from the Gazette.
The Gazette also contacted commissioners individually seeking an update on the process.
“These issues will be discussed at the next commission meeting,” Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson said in an email.
Even if commissioners begin the process next month, the timeline will be compressed. The City Commission is not scheduled to meet again until Aug. 25, leaving just over a month before Iglesias’ announced departure.
According to the Florida City and County Management Association’s 2024 Search Guide, the typical search for a new city manager takes between 90 and 120 days from initiation to selection.
Commissioner Melissa Castro said she appreciated Iglesias’ decision to announce his retirement well in advance, giving the commission an opportunity to conduct a thoughtful search. But as of this week, she said she had not yet been briefed on any transition plans.
“I was supposed to have a meeting regarding this subject with the city manager this week, but it was impossible for my schedule and it’s going to be next week, so I don’t have any information really on his transition plan or what’s going to happen,” Castro said.
“The selection of the next city manager will be one of the most important decisions facing Coral Gables, and I believe residents deserve a process centered on professionalism, transparency and strong leadership for the future of our city.”
Iglesias’ departure comes just before historic election
If Iglesias leaves on Oct. 2 as planned, his successor — or an interim city manager — would take over only weeks before Coral Gables voters head to the polls for the city’s first-ever November municipal election.
The timing adds another layer of significance to the commission’s decision, as the city’s top administrator could be selected by the current commission just before voters choose the officials who will work with that manager over the coming years.
Iglesias has had an unusually eventful tenure in Coral Gables. After serving as city manager for more than five years, he was dismissed in February 2024 on a 3-2 vote by the commission, with Commissioners Melissa Castro, Ariel Fernandez and then-Commissioner Kirk Menendez supporting his termination.
The political landscape shifted over the following year. In May 2025, a newly constituted commission voted 3-2 to reappoint Iglesias, with Mayor Vince Lago sponsoring the motion and Commissioner Richard Lara casting the deciding vote. Castro and Fernandez voted against bringing him back.
In his May resignation letter, Iglesias said he was announcing his departure months in advance “to provide the city commission with sufficient time to identify a successor and allow for an orderly transition.”
City manager remains sought-after job
Despite the political tensions that have dominated city commission meetings over the past two years, the Coral Gables city manager position remains one of the most sought-after municipal leadership jobs in South Florida. Even with pending property tax reform on the horizon, the city has an enviable commercial tax base that won’t be affected by potential decreases as part of its $318 million budget.
The position’s responsibilities are outlined in Article II of the Coral Gables City Charter, which designates the city manager as “the chief executive officer of the city.” Under the charter, the city manager oversees the day-to-day administration of municipal government, directs city departments, appoints most employees and is responsible for carrying out the policies adopted by the City Commission.
The charter provides broad authority for the office but does not include a detailed job description or establish salary parameters.
Iglesias currently earns an annual salary of $305,324, exclusive of benefits, making the position among the highest-paid municipal management posts in the region.
Go’s to show its not easy finding a qualified person for the job….Imagine your not looking for a chimney sweep, your looking for a city manager..Perhaps some small minded people think that qualified city managers are a dime a dozen…They are not…And no matter who you get there will always be criticisms….Our city government , I think, is doing a great job with the exception of getting speed bumps allocated where there are priorities to put like on the 400 block of Palermo where drivers seem qualify like they are on the F1 tour…It seems to me there is nobody in charge of public works and its a free for all…Every time I go there or call nobody knows anything or they keep pushing back the permanent speed bump…Public works needs to prioritize its speed bumps…over 20 years ago they (the city in their infinite wisdom) closed off west bound traffic on Sevilla from Le Jeune..They didn’t think that it would double trafiic on Palermo which is directly adjacent to Sevilla,which it has….You would figure that permanant traffic calming(speed bump) would be at the top of the priority for Palermo but again Public works is a train with no conductor…For years I have been trying to get permanent speed bump for Palermo to no avail…..
Amazing that such a big fuss was made about the hiring of Amos Rojas with no national search or background check (which was ludicrous given that he was the special agent in charge of the Southern Dostrict of Florida U.S. Marshalls and had higher security clearance than any city manager would ever have)…but no mention or progress has been made in a search for the next city manager. Time is ticking.
A very concerned group of old time residents has put together a list of very qualified potential candidates to be considered for the job of City Manager and avoid the expenses of hiring a firm to conduct a national search. It is quite obvious that time is running out and we appreciate the fact that the majority of the Commission has been extremely busy figuring out how to put forth their pet projects, ie.,the Mobility Hub, FIFA watch parties, dog parks, etc.
We hope to be of assistance in this very important process. The following list has been compiled in order of priority;
Governmental Affairs Director
Recently fired President of the Chamber of Commerce
Past Director of Development Services
Key of the City recipient past H.R. Director
Past Assistant Public Works Director for Sanitation
Past or present Political Consultants
Past or Present Lobbysts
Past or Present Assistant/Deputy City Managers
Past or present elected officials, not necessarily limited to the City of Coral Gables
names, please.
Give me names and I’ll let you know if they made the list!
Mrs. Cruz – continuing the irony, you should also include Mayor Lago’s former Chief of Staff, Chelsea Granell. She got a $20,000 raise and was appointed as Director of Government Relations by Iglesias as soon as he became the City Manager in May, 2025. That position required a law degree which was eliminated because Granell never went to law school. This is another example of Lago using City money for his friends. That would be a question for prospective City Managers – would you change job requirements of a City position so that Mayor Lago could give a pay raise to a friend?
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https://politicalcortadito.com/2025/08/02/in-coral-gables-mayor-vince-lagos-chief-of-staff-gets-promotion-pay-bump/
I have learned that it’s better not to mention names, but since you asked, she is our #1 candidate!
Any takers on whether Art Noriega will be the next manager? Lago and him have been seen together recently, according to a source.
There is another possibility in the past or present elected officials, someone who was an elected in à neighboring City and the City Manager of Doral!!!!