Coral Gables voters will return to the polls on April 22 to decide the outcome of the Commission, Group III race, after no candidate secured a majority in Tuesday’s election. Richard Lara led the field with 47.2 percent of the vote (4,719 votes), followed by attorney Tom Wells with 39.2 percent (3,921 votes), forcing a runoff between the two top finishers.
Claudia Miro, a former Planning and Zoning Board member who previously ran for a commission seat in 2021, placed third with 13.6 percent (1,356 votes). Her presence in the race prevented neither Lara or Wells from reaching the threshold needed for an outright win.
Although much of the attention during the election season focused on the high-profile mayoral and Group II commission races, the Group III contest may prove most consequential for the political direction of City Hall. The seat was vacated by Commissioner Kirk Menendez vacated to run for mayor, whose decision to run for mayor opened a swing vote position that had played a pivotal role in recent commission decisions.
Lara, general counsel at the Spanish Broadcasting System, emerged as the early frontrunner in fundraising and organization. As of the most recent campaign finance reports filed March 7, he had raised $144,930—significantly more than either of his rivals. Wells raised $1,000 in outside contributions and invested nearly $16,000 of his own funds into his campaign.
Lara also won 11 of the city’s 16 precincts, suggesting broad support across Coral Gables. However, the runoff sets up a competitive and possibly contentious two-week sprint for control of the seat—and potentially the commission’s balance of power.
Wells, speaking Tuesday night, said he was undeterred by the runoff and ready for the next phase. “I’m disappointed, but I can work with anybody,” he said when asked about the mayoral result. He acknowledged the challenge ahead, especially facing a well-financed opponent with the backing of Mayor Vince Lago, who used his own victory speech to rally support for Lara.
“The work is not done,” Lago told supporters at his election night party, calling the Group III seat critical to moving his agenda forward.
The Gazette was unable to reach Lara for a comment on Election Night.
The outcome of the April 22 runoff will help determine whether Lago and Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson build a working majority.
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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 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.) Adding Richard Lara to our commission would be a huge mistake, disastrous even. We have enough division, disrespect, and dishonesty on the dais already. No need to add any more.
Luckily for us, we have an excellent option.
The choice is clear, and the absolute best choice is a 30 year resident (without an 18 year gap) of Coral Gables, Tom Wells. Wells is a long-time contributing, engaged member of our community, presently serving on the Charter Review Committee, frequently speaking up on local issues at commission meetings (he didn’t announce his candidacy at any of them.) He is a civil, respectful, family man, 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 tiny tax break ($30 in my case) 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, on April 22. And make the smart choice, the only real choice that helps Coral Gables, vote for Tom Wells.