Vince Lago secured a third consecutive term as Coral Gables mayor Tuesday, decisively defeating Commissioner Kirk Menendez in a contentious race that reaffirmed Lago’s standing as the City Beautiful’s top elected official.
Lago received 55.5 percent of the vote (5,528 ballots cast), winning 14 of the city’s 16 precincts. Menendez captured 37.7 percent (3,753 votes), while political newcomer Michael Abbott finished third with 6.8 percent (674 votes). Turnout was modest, with just under 10,000 votes cast—representing less than 30 percent of Coral Gables’ 34,000 active registered voters.
Speaking to supporters and the media at Wolfie’s Wine Shop on Miracle Mile, Lago framed the result as a mandate for stability and renewed unity in a city that has experienced sharp divisions over the past two years. Lago thanked voters for electing him for a third two-year term and their trust in what he has accomplished over his 12 years on the commission (eight as a commissioner and the last four as mayor).
“What we saw today was that 10,000 people voted in the City of Coral Gables for a change,” the mayor said. “We have a mandate and it’s to bring back civility, respect and dignity to this community.”
The mayor’s reelection follows a turbulent term marked by political infighting and a failed recall effort in 2024. Although he ran unopposed in that year’s election, his influence on the five-member City Commission waned after Commissioners Melissa Castro and Ariel Fernandez were elected and often voted in opposition to Lago’s agenda.
Whether Tuesday’s result will translate into greater governing power for Lago remains uncertain. A runoff in the Group III Commission race between Richard Lara—an ally of the mayor—and attorney Tom Wells will be held April 22. That outcome may determine the balance of power on the dais.
“The job is not done. We have a lot of work to do in the next couple of weeks. We have to do everything possible to support Richard Lara in the next two week,” Lago said. “They are expecting you not to vote. They are expecting you not to show up. Let’s set new records.”
Menendez, speaking at Birdy’s Bistro near the Granada Golf Course, conceded the race but offered a defiant message to his supporters. While critical of the result, he vowed that the opposition bloc would continue its work to reshape the city’s direction.
“The fact that Vince and Rhonda were incumbents was an advantage for them,” he said. “His ability to constantly hammer on social media, text, emails, magazine and newspaper articles…after a while it wore down the voters.”
“I was hopeful of a different outcome. I spent my whole life here, 62 years, and I don’t plan on going anywhere. I’m hopeful that the future my supporters were hoping for the one that is not a divisive community, one that is not in-your-face politics, hopefully we can come back to that.
“I hope that Vince reaches out across the aisle to those folks who wanted change to see if we can come together. That is what Coral Gables is all about.”
The mayoral campaign was marked by personal attacks, accusations of self-dealing, and bitter disputes over development, governance, and ethics. The race also underscored disparities in campaign finance. Lago raised $478,475, vastly outpacing Menendez’s $41,001, according to the latest financial disclosures filed April 4.
Lago, who has served 12 years on the commission—eight as a commissioner and the past four as mayor—will begin his new term with both renewed authority from the voters and continuing questions about how effectively he can govern amid lingering divisions.
This Post Has 3 Comments
No, no mandate Mr. Lago – it was a pathetic turn out. You are no Donald Trump.
Would like to know if all the absentee ballots were counted??? Every time I kept checking in-line it wasn’t updated. Just know that we will be watching you!
That’s right! What mandate?
A very sad day for Coral Gables. Lago says he’ll bring back civility, respect and dignity to this community? How’s he going to do that, when he’s the one that killed all three. He doesn’t know what civility, respect and dignity mean. Two years ago, with his mistreatment of new Commissioners Melissa Castro and Ariel Fernandez, he created the toxic situation we have witnessed at commission meetings. Besides his disrespect toward them, his public meltdowns are embarrassing. Watching commission meetings has become painful for those of us who remember when there was a congenial working relationship between the commissioners, even if they didn’t agree with one another. Those days are gone. Lago isn’t the one who will be able to bring them back.
Anderson regularly talks down to the other commissioners, especially to Melissa Castro. With an arrogant, know-it-all attitude, she also won’t be uniting the commission members. Her berating of employees during commission meetings is painful to watch, even if we aren’t the ones being shamed.
God help us all if the 25 year non-voter Richard Lago wins the runoff. He’s Lago’s plant, there to be his “yes man”, regardless of what Lara says his goals are. He has never been a involved member of our city. He attended the commission meeting where he was allowed by mayor Lago to launch his campaign, but it’s surprising that he even knew where the commission chamber was located. If he really cared for the city, he would have voted in our municipal elections. His last vote cast was in 1999! Maybe he broke that record voting for himself, Lago and Anderson in this election…but residents who are informed and attuned to city issues, don’t vote ONCE EVERY 25 YEARS. What a disgrace. How can Lara ask for our votes? Don’t count on mine.
We should also have no trust in someone who lies about his residency. His campaign materials state that he has made Coral Gables his home since the age of 14. He conveniently leaves out the 18 years when he lived in Westchester from 2003 to 2021. (Somehow his wife voted in the Coral Gables elections in 2005, while living in Westchester…hmmm, there is a name for that, and it’s an arrestable offense.)
The choice is clear, and the absolute best choice is a 30 year resident (without an 18 year gap) of the Coral Gables, Tom Wells. Wells is a contributing, engaged member of our community, presently serving on the Charter Review Committee, speaking up on local issues at commission meetings (he didn’t announce his candidacy at any of them), a civil, respectful resident with a background in accounting and many years of experience in corporate, tax, and business law, which are valuable skills to bring to the dais. His understanding of fiscal responsibility will be crucial for the city. It was sorely lacking when Lago and Anderson wanted to lower our millage rate without considering how that would result in a loss of city services across the board. Tom Wells will bring clarity to those muddled ideas. Wells has self-funded his campaign, so he is beholden to no one. That’s a breath of fresh air when compared to the long list of developers on both Lago and Anderson’s campaign contributors. Check out his campaign website, http://www.VoteTomWells.com and see for yourself. Then, please vote in this very important runoff. And make the smart choice, the only real choice that helps Coral Gables, vote for Tom Wells.