By Coral Gables Gazette staff

Citing a new appellate court ruling against the City of Miami, Coral Gables Commissioner Melissa Castro has renewed her push to repeal the city’s election ordinance and submit any rescheduling to voters. But her request for a special meeting was denied after she failed to secure support from the required majority.

In a letter dated July 31, Castro asked City Clerk Billy Urquia to schedule a special meeting to revisit the city’s May ordinance moving municipal elections from April in odd-numbered years to November in even-numbered ones. The letter was copied to City Manager Peter Iglesias and all commissioners.

Castro confirmed that the clerk informed her the commission would not convene the meeting, citing her failure to secure support from at least two other members—a City Charter requirement.

The denial effectively stalls her effort to bring the issue back before the city commission before its next regular session. Castro, one of two dissenting votes in the May approval, sharply criticized Commissioners Vince Lago, Rhonda Anderson, and Richard Lara, who supported the change.

“Despite a clear and binding appellate court ruling that moving elections without voter approval is unconstitutional, Commissioners Lago, Anderson, and Lara have chosen to bury their heads in the sand—again,” Castro said in a public release. “They not only passed an illegal ordinance in May, stripping voters of their voice—they’ve refused even to hold a meeting to fix it.”

She added: “This is exactly what’s wrong with politics. I stood alone to do what was right. I opposed the ordinance. I sought legal guidance from the Attorney General and was censured for it. I warned that what they were doing violated the Florida Constitution and the County Charter. Now, the courts have confirmed it—and they still refuse to act.”

Castro’s appeal follows a ruling also on July 31 by Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal, which upheld a lower court ruling that found the City of Miami had violated state law when it postponed its November 2025 election to 2026 via ordinance instead of referendum. The delay, challenged by mayoral candidate Emilio González, was struck down by a three-judge panel, which ruled that any change to election timing must be approved by voters under the state constitution and Miami-Dade County Charter.

While Coral Gables’ ordinance shortens current terms by five months rather than extending them, Castro acknowledges that distinction but argues the core constitutional principle still applies: elections may not be rescheduled without voter approval.

“I have retained election law attorney J.C. Planas to issue a formal legal opinion,” Castro said. “Their refusal to call a meeting is not just a dereliction of duty—it’s an assault on the rule of law. They may be gambling on their own political maneuvering, but this ruling is a turning point. The court sided with voters. It sided with the Constitution—and it validated everything I’ve said from the beginning.”

The ordinance at issue was adopted in May by a 3–2 vote. It ended nearly a century of April elections and aligned Coral Gables municipal elections with state and federal races starting in November 2026. Supporters argued the change would increase turnout and reduce costs. Detractors—including Castro and Commissioner Ariel Fernandez—argued it circumvented voter input and violated legal safeguards.

City Attorney Cristina Suarez defended the ordinance previously, asserting that the commission acted within its legal authority under Florida Statute 101.75, which allows municipalities to reschedule elections via ordinance when aligning them with other election cycles. Suarez stated: “We are confident that the ordinance adopted by the City Commission is legally valid.”

Public sentiment remains sharply divided. In a Coral Gables Gazette reader poll last month, approximately 51 percent supported the switch, citing higher turnout and efficiency; roughly 48 percent opposed it, citing lack of democratic input and concern over procedural precedent.

For now, Coral Gables’ next municipal election remains slated for November 2026. But with new legal scrutiny and escalating political pressure, the ordinance could be revisited—either through legislative repeal, voter referendum, or judicial challenge.

“While they hide behind power, I will stand with the people,” Castro said. “Coral Gables deserves better, and I intend to deliver it.”

Whether that happens through legislation, litigation, or public vote remains to be seen—but the scrutiny on the ordinance has intensified.