Nestor Menendez thanked his family, his campaign team and his supporters in his election-night victory speech. He saved his warmest words for two people: Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson and Mayor Vince Lago.
Anderson’s ties to Menendez date to 2023, when she nominated him to the first of two city board appointments. Lago endorsed his campaign to unseat Commissioner Melissa Castro.
Menendez spoke to supporters Tuesday night at Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe on Miracle Mile while his race against Castro remained too close to call with certainty. By Thursday evening, he held a 119-vote lead, with 10,034 votes to Castro’s 9,915, according to the Miami-Dade County Elections Department. The difference, about 0.60 percentage points, placed the race just outside Florida’s threshold for an automatic recount. The results remain preliminary and unofficial.
In his speech, Menendez credited campaign adviser Nicolas Cabrera, son of former Commissioner Ralph Cabrera, and other members of his team with helping carry him through the election. Then he turned to the vice mayor and mayor.
A tribute to Anderson
Menendez said Anderson’s support “never wavered” and that she believed in him “more than I believe in myself sometimes.” She had always made sure he was prepared and positioned to succeed, he said.
Their association in city government predates his campaign. Anderson nominated Menendez to the city’s Transportation Advisory Board, and the City Commission unanimously approved the appointment on June 13, 2023, with Castro among the five members voting in favor.
Anderson later nominated Menendez to the Planning and Zoning Board, an appointment the commission approved in June 2025. Menendez subsequently resigned from that board to run for the commission.
‘We go back a long way’
Menendez spoke just as personally about Lago, who endorsed his campaign against Castro.
“My friend, the mayor, we go back a long way. You have been a true friend every step of the way,” Menendez said. “When I doubted myself, you reminded me of my fighting spirit. You never let me quit.”
Anderson, Lago and Commissioner Richard Lara attended the celebration. Lago had also endorsed Dominique “Nikki” Whiting, who won the open Group V commission seat.
Menendez became visibly emotional as he thanked his family.
A message to his opponent
Menendez also acknowledged Castro, calling her a worthy opponent after a hard-fought campaign and expressing respect for anyone willing to seek public office.
“Coral Gables is better when people who are willing to serve step up, and I wish her well,” he said.
He pledged to approach commission service with openness and respect, stressing dialogue and common ground.
“The city is greater than any campaign, any election or any one of us,” he said. “We are one community, and I believe we can move forward together.”
Castro, elected in April 2023, has often opposed Lago and his allies on development, city management and spending. If the results hold, her departure would change the makeup of a commission that has frequently split over those issues.
Castro called Menendez on election night to congratulate him, according to the Miami Herald. She told the newspaper Wednesday that she wanted all ballots counted before ruling out a recount.
She had not responded to the Gazette’s questions about the election or the incoming commission as of press time.
The recount question remains open
The Group IV margin shifted throughout election night. An earlier Tuesday tally with all 16 participating precincts reporting showed Menendez ahead by 93 votes, about 0.47 percentage points. That margin would require a machine recount if reflected in the official unofficial returns.
A later Tuesday tally widened his lead to 123 votes, or about 0.62 percentage points. Updated results Wednesday trimmed it to 121 votes, and Thursday’s additional count reduced it to 119.
Under Florida law, an automatic machine recount is required when the margin between candidates is 0.5 percentage points or less. The canvassing board makes that determination from its first unofficial returns, which are due Saturday, Nov. 7.
Provisional ballots and mail ballots awaiting corrected affidavits remain subject to review. The Supervisor of Elections told the Herald Wednesday that 11 Coral Gables mail ballots were awaiting cure affidavits. Even if all 11 had gone to Castro, they would not, by themselves, have brought the race within recount range. The number still awaiting review after Thursday’s update was not immediately clear.
Lago addresses the incoming commission
Lago, reelected Tuesday with 56.8 percent of the vote, used the celebration to reflect on recent victories and address the colleagues who will serve alongside him during his final two-year term as mayor.
Both commission candidates he endorsed led their races, but voters split on four charter amendments he sponsored.
They rejected proposals to extend the mayor’s term from two years to four and raise the threshold for formally soliciting public-works contracts from $25,000 to $300,000. They approved stricter candidate residency requirements and a measure requiring 60 percent voter approval for certain sales, transfers and long-term leases of city-owned parkland, as the Gazette reported in its referendum coverage.
Lago described the candidate victories as a win for the city.
“Not my win, not Nestor’s, not Nikki’s. It’s the city’s win,” he said.
He then addressed Anderson, Lara and the two incoming commissioners, reminding them that he cannot seek another consecutive mayoral term in 2028.
“The future is yours,” Lago said. “Stay true to yourself, always put the city first. Never forget how important the city is.”
If Menendez’s lead survives the canvass, Lago will begin his final term with a commission whose other four members have either governed alongside him or won election with his endorsement.
Author: Coral Gables Gazette News Staff
Originally established in 1996 and relaunched as a digital publication in February 2025, the Coral Gables Gazette is an independent local news organization dedicated to factual, objective and accountable community journalism. Our newsroom reports on the people, policies, institutions and events shaping Coral Gables, Florida, providing residents with timely, informative coverage of the issues affecting their community. Our reporting includes City Hall, local government, municipal elections, public spending, real estate development, business, education, arts and culture, and neighborhood affairs throughout the City Beautiful. We follow City Commission decisions, examine public records and report on the businesses, organizations and individuals contributing to Coral Gables. We believe informed residents are essential to a healthy, engaged community. Stories published under the Coral Gables Gazette News Staff byline are prepared or compiled by the publication's editorial team. We strive for accuracy, fairness, transparency and clear distinctions between news reporting, opinion and advertising. Readers are encouraged to submit news tips, corrections, editorial inquiries and story suggestions through our Contact page and learn more about our standards through our Editorial Policy.
Menendez should thank Lago. He got to be the Kumbaya candidate while Lago and his agencies did the dirty work against Castro. Menendez got to keep his hands clean because others were willing to get theirs dirty. Menendez spoke of green spaces, restaurants, sidewalks and listening. Lago, Big Tuesday Media and those low-rent influencers did far worse. Lago should be embarrassed that he brought people that speak that way anywhere near this city. It was a very ugly campaign, but you wouldn’t know that if you only followed Menendez. I won’t hold my breath for Nestor to be anything but another Richard Lara, who talked just like he did, but ended up being nothing but the mayor’s inside voice echo. When Coral Gables First gives you that kind of aid, you’re going to pay that back with interest. And that payment is due every two weeks.