By Melissa Castro
Ms. Castro is a Coral Gables City Commissioner.
Coral Gables residents are already worried about one thing more than anything else: overdevelopment. Now imagine giving the people who profit from development more influence over who gets elected to decide it.
That is what is at stake in the proposal to move Coral Gables elections from April to November.
In my conversations with Coral Gables residents at commission meetings, at community events, and in neighborhoods across the city one concern comes up more consistently than any other: overdevelopment. Close behind it: corruption and transparency. Residents are not asking for more development. They are asking for accountability and control over what happens in their neighborhoods.
So why change the rules now?
Because election rules do not just determine when we vote. They determine who has the most influence over the outcome. And in Coral Gables, those outcomes shape everything.
According to the Florida Bar Journal, local governments control zoning, land use approvals and development processes. These are the decisions that determine how quickly growth moves forward and how it affects neighborhoods.
In Coral Gables, that pressure is already real. Recent reporting from the Coral Gables Gazette (ANALYSIS: New density, old strains – Concurrency and the future of North Gables) has highlighted a concentration of planned and proposed development in North Gables totaling more than 900 residential units within just a few blocks, raising concerns about traffic, infrastructure, and neighborhood character.
City commissions ultimately decide whether those projects move forward.
That is why election timing matters.
Political science research from the University of Chicago Center for Effective Government shows that when local elections are held alongside national elections, campaigns become more expensive and outside spending becomes more dominant.
In those environments, grassroots candidates struggle to compete.
But well-funded interests do not.
And in local politics, some of the most well-funded and organized interests are tied to real estate and development.
Research from Harvard Kennedy School has shown that real estate industry contributions to local candidates are associated with increases in building approvals and development activity.
In simple terms:
When big money influences elections, it influences development decisions.
And changing election rules can shift who has that influence.
There is also a transparency issue.
November ballots are long and crowded with presidential, congressional, and statewide races. Many voters never reach the local contests at the bottom of the ballot. Researchers at Citizens Union call this ballot roll-off, where voters participate in high-profile races but overlook municipal contests that directly affect their communities.
That means decisions about zoning, development, and neighborhood preservation could be determined by fewer engaged local voters, while organized interests remain highly focused on those races. For a community already concerned about overdevelopment and corruption, that should raise a simple and urgent question:
Who benefits from changing the rules?
Coral Gables residents deserve elections where local issues come first. Development. Infrastructure. Traffic. Parks. Neighborhood preservation.
This referendum is not just about when we vote. It is about who controls the future of Coral Gables.
Before supporting this change, residents should ask themselves one simple question:
Will moving our elections strengthen the voice of residents, or strengthen the influence of those who profit from faster development?
The answer will shape our city for years to come.
This opinion piece reflects Castro’s research, her personal views only and does not represent the official position of the City of Coral Gables. No city resources were used in the preparation of this article.
The Gazette contacted all sitting members of the Coral Gables City Commission and offered equal space for responses representing differing views on this month’s referendum. Mayor Vince Lago, Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, Commissioner Richard Lara, and Commissioner Ariel Fernandez did not respond to the Gazette’s invitation. The Gazette remains open to publishing their viewpoints should they be submitted.
This Post Has 27 Comments
As a longtime resident of Coral Gables, I strongly oppose moving our elections to November.
We already feel the pressure of overdevelopment, traffic, and decisions that don’t always reflect what residents want. Shifting elections to a crowded November ballot only makes it easier for big money and outside interests to influence outcomes, while local voices get lost.
Our city elections should stay focused on local issues—our neighborhoods, our infrastructure, and our quality of life not buried under national politics. Lara is just kissing up to the mayor but he also knows this is BS.
This change doesn’t serve residents. It risks taking control away from the people who actually live here.
Let’s see how long this stays up 👀
Funny how “democracy” suddenly gets flexible when more voters show up. November elections mean more voices, unless that’s the problem?
And the developer angle… come on. Those of us who’ve been in Coral Gables long enough (and pay the taxes to prove it) know that’s just a convenient distraction.
Plenty of residents support November elections. This commissioner just doesn’t represent them.
No we do not. Do not speak for others. We want a straight forward ballot that has to do with our City, and only our City. Vote no to move elections. BTW your indirect Commissioner Castro zinger shows you are a Lago puppet.
Commissioner Castro thankfully
presents references supporting the
opinion of many residence. We need
to maintain our unique and focused
April election. Vote NO on referendum
No 1.
Ask yourself who supports the move of election dates and what’s in it for them? Why the move? Why now? Just look at what is happening to our beloved City!!
Vote No on all the questions. If Lago is in favor of them, that means it’s bad for us.
Before money controlled who got elected in Coral Gables, we elected candidates such as Mayor Dorothy Thomson who in 1980 cast the tie-breaking vote to save and renovate The Biltmore rather than razing and replacing it with condominiums. That VOTE AGAINST DEVELOPMENT was instrumental to preserving our history and quality of life. Moving elections to November and eliminating runoff elections will create tribal, partisan politics that will give even more control to real estate developer and PAC money to determine who is elected in Coral Gables. I want to encourage all residents to participate in our local government and our elected officials to listen to all residents – not just groups that make large political donations. These referendums are important for our future. Please VOTE NO to these referendums!
going back to issue one of this publication i take that they like fernandez ,castro and the other one that become on of the trio .and as media they are , and i place it in the same spot as nbc cbs and abc’ in leaning to a mindset that i may not agree with . Regarding Lago and others i think that yes they may be in cohorts with developers but ??????proof ???
Coral Gables has become a developer playground. Ponce, Miracle Mile, US1 corridor, Live Local, same pattern every time: residents ignored, density pushed. The “no” votes are just political theater when projects are already guaranteed to pass. Look at Thesis and The Plaza! The only one consistently calling this out and actually standing up for residents is Commissioner Melissa Castro.
Let’s stop pretending. These projects are lined up with the votes before they even hit the commission. A “no” vote is meaningless when the outcome is already decided. And the constant connections between developers and City Hall (especially around figures like Rishi Kapoor and Mayor Vince Lago) are exactly why residents have lost trust. It’s embarrassing for the city. The only real voice pushing back for residents is Commissioner Ms. Castro and for that she gets slammed and humiliated.
Accurate! Also, all corruption patterns need to be exposed now and ongoing so that residents are fully aware of who provides funding for info manipulation and control.
I strongly oppose moving our elections to November.
Vote “NO” to the referendum.
Why listen to interested officials who only care about their wallets. Please, please go out and vote….
As a longtime resident in Coral Gables, we have to make certain that this overdevelopment stops and transparency is proven to be in force!!
There’s a no confidence feeling around our beloved city of Coral Gables! We can no longer trust the actions of city commissioners whom are in lock step with developers and big money businesses… How on earth are residents and citizens to be protected and properly served here on in!!!
Developers like Lago are strictly after the money they make holding hands with developers. They are ruining our city. Vote NO!
Well said Melissa!! Thank you!!
Why move it I am opposed to move it.
And enough for so many building in the city, to big and the same infrastructure of streets for so many new cars. Not enough parking.,
AMEN, MELISSA!
Calling this about “voter turnout and saving money” is a smokescreen. The savings are basically nothing, but the real goal is clear. This has been pushed for years to change the system and make it harder for everyday residents to have a real voice. Grassroots candidates who actually represent the community become harder to elect under this setup.
The ballot language is written to sound positive so people vote yes without understanding what it really does. Most residents are not being told the full story, and that is not by accident.
The reality is, educating residents on this takes money, and no developer is going to fund a message that works against their own interests. So what happens? The version with big money behind it wins. Elections will most likely get pushed to November, not because residents asked for it, but because the messaging was funded to make sure it passes.
Numbers don’t help your point, Melissa.
33,000+ registered voters in CG. ~10,000 vote in April. I’m really not comfortable with 1/3rd the voters making decisions. “local stuff drowns in November” assumes we’re not paying attention to local stuff in November, but somehow we are in April? whaaat? . either we are or we’re not paying attention, which is it? “campaigns are too expensive in November” is the other argument. I’ve never politically campaigned so no idea of media costs during political season. I do know by Law politicians pay lowest rate card available in any medium they use. guess who passed that law?! Money is important, I get that, but not the ultimate election determinant. You and Ariel were outspent, if I recall correctly, you won. Kamala outspent DJT, how that work out for her? sorry, more registered voters voting is a good thing, not a bad thing. I’ll be marking YES on that question.
Go ahead and vote yes. The 2 commissioners that have been out-spent are due to the sell-out of our city by Lago, Anderson and Lara to developers. Who do you think is financially supporting them for favors. Go ask Lago and Lara how much their PACS got from the Chicago developer who wants to destroy the Garden of the Lord. Then ask these 2 why they did not disclose it. Underhanded crooks. We are the grassroot citizens and we are going to take our city back. No to destruction of precious sites for development, no to dog parks next to homes, no to 1M in artwork for a parking garage, and NO to more construction and concrete. Most of all NO to moving elections. We want a clean election that only concerns our City. If 1/3 votes then 1/3 makes the decisions. You are just a Lago crony. Anything he wants we will vote against.
Residents of Coral Gables must keep elections as always on April 21,2026 and not to change to November. we must be independent about different elections.
Jorge Soler
April elections in Coral Gables have worked for 100 years. That keeps the focus on our local issues, not drowned among National, State, County and numerous other items before finding our municipal items on the last page of a long ballot. While all items on a ballot are important, the ones that directly impact our lives are our Coral Gables ítems. Keep our elections in April for the benefit of our city and residents.
Why is Lago pushing all of these changes in direct conflict with the recommendations of the Charter Review Committee?
Vote NO.
Whatever Lago wants, vote the opposite. The guy is a snake! Developers and his cronies voted him in, not the residents. More people need to know this! Spread the word!
Couldn’t agree more with you! It’s all about what benefits their pockets. Lago has spent millions attacking Ms. Melissa and trying to change the election to November. She’s the only voice against overdevelopment. Put the pieces together people.
Stop Lago and his cronies moving elections to November. Vote NO
Many people have been voicing concerns about the current mayor, increased development in the city, worsening traffic, and decisions that don’t always reflect what residents want.
Some worry that moving city elections to the busy November ballot could make it easier for big money and outside groups to influence results, while local voices get overlooked.
I understand the concern and also believe city elections should stay focused on local issues. Therefore, voters who care about these issues, will pay attention regardless of when the election is held. Most people will take the time to inform themselves and vote in what they believe is their best interest.
At the same time, the reality is that out of more than 33,000 registered voters in Coral Gables, only about 10,000 showed up to vote in April. The outcome was that Mayor Lago was elected to a third term.
There are also ongoing concerns that large financial interests are shaping elections and that Coral Gables is becoming too heavily influenced by developers—especially in areas like Ponce, Miracle Mile, and the US-1 corridor—while residents’ voices are not being fully heard.
To address this, residents should have a stronger, more direct role in major decisions. For example, there could be public votes on significant zoning changes and on the long-term vision for how Coral Gables should develop. These decisions shouldn’t rest solely with the city commission.
In addition to regular elections, giving residents the opportunity to vote on important issues would help ensure the community has a real and ongoing voice in shaping the city’s future.
Commissioner Melissa knows what is good for Coral Gables: no more overdevelopment and politicians/developers.