Coral Gables elected officials are increasingly aligning along ideological lines and it’s taking a toll on the city’s image. Yes, Coral Gables politics are officially nonpartisan, but it’s hard to ignore how local leaders are behaving as if they are—and the damage it’s causing.
In recent years, a troubling trend has emerged: city commissioners are actively campaigning for and fundraising on behalf of their colleagues. This shift, which began around 2017, marks a stark departure from the city’s previously upheld standards of elected officials’ neutrality and civility, at least publicly.
Coral Gables had been insulated from the divisive forces that plagued many other political arenas. It was a place where elected officials maintained a posture of neutrality—at least outside City Hall. This distinction helped the city avoid the rancor that so often accompanies divisive, destructive and unproductive battles elsewhere. But that was then.
Gone are the days when the late city commissioner Jim Barker proclaimed, “We’re the commission that gets along.” And later erstwhile Mayor Don Slesnick and Commissioner Ralph Cabrera actively and vigorously debated on the dais but were long-time friends. They never disparaged one another publicly, nor did they allow personal differences to cloud their commitment to the city’s wellbeing. Their friendship and respect for the will of the majority were paramount.
Today, such civility feels like a distant memory. The looming special election for the Commission, Group III seat has only highlighted the shift. Mayor Vince Lago, in support of “his” candidate Richard Lara, is proclaiming all will be lost if Lara doesn’t win. Similarly, former commissioner Kirk Menendez, who failed in his bid to unseat Lago, has made comparable claims on behalf of his candidate of choice, Tom Wells.
While this trend cannot be reversed in the current election cycle, we hope for the future. In two years, candidates should pledge to remain neutral in each other’s races, focusing solely on their own campaigns. While it may seem idealistic to expect elected officials to put the interests of Coral Gables above their own personal or political alliances, it is possible.
We must ask ourselves: Do coalitions and caucuses benefit the residents? Or are they a hindrance to the city’s progress? Is it too naïve to believe that elected officials can still prioritize the city’s wellbeing over personal ambition and put Coral Gables first?
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Those were the days…
When Vince Lago publicly supported and openly campaigned for commission candidates Alex Bucelo and Ivette Arango O’Doski in the last election cycle, he set the precedent for what we’ve seen this election cycle.
When his preferred candidates lost even with his full support, he introduced the animosity we’ve witnessed for the past two years on the commission. His blatant disrespect of Commissioners Castro and Fernandez are embarrassing. That was the root cause of the discord that upsets the few residents who actually watch the commission meetings and who see for themselves what a poor loser looks like. If he had stayed out of the commission races two years ago, he wouldn’t be so put out and needing to save face by lashing out at the winners. As this election runoff unfolds, it’s obvious he didn’t learn from his mistakes.
And Rhonda Anderson has compounded the situation by obediently endorsing Richard Lara (one of the most unqualified candidates ever) along with the mayor. The goal should be to work together for the good of the city, regardless of who is sitting on the commission.