To The Editor:

As someone who was born and raised in Coral Gables and worked as a professional in the city for over 40 years, I have had a birds-eye view into our city politic. I worked on various city-boards for nearly 12 years so I know my way around City Hall and what goes on there. I know what a stellar candidate looks like when I see one; there’s never been anyone better than Felix Pardo to lead our city as a city commissioner.

As Coral Gables continues to grow and evolve, it is imperative that we elect leaders that possess certain characteristics, skills, background, and knowledge to take us through the next decade and beyond. We must elect candidates who will represent and actually protect the true “stakeholders” of our community: the residents! The one candidate who will do this is Felix Pardo.

There is no other candidate who has served on so many city boards and various other civic committees, foundations, and service organizations. It is no wonder that Felix has acquired endorsements from groups and organizations like the Fraternal Order of Police, the Coral Gables Professional Firefighters Association, and the Teamsters Union to name a few. He has a proven track-record of understanding and supporting the foundational, historical and institutional aspects of Coral Gables.

Felix is the one person who, if elected, will always stand by and stand with the residents. He won’t feel compelled to play “let’s make a deal” with developers. Under Felix’s leadership, developers, just like residents, will be held to abide by the city codes and ordinances so that our residential neighborhoods won’t be threatened with over-development and the negative consequences that go with it! Felix Pardo believes in “level playing fields”; he is a man of impeccable integrity.

I know Felix Pardo. His knowledge of Coral Gables is unrivaled. He’s a gentleman. He’s fair, and he’ll remain “unbought” by developers. Felix Pardo will bring with him a level of transparency, integrity and values that are rarely found within city government these days; no one could ask for a candidate better than this! Please, do Coral Gables a favor, do yourself a favor, and vote for Felix Pardo.

Gordon D. Sokoloff, DDS
Coral Gables, Fla.