By Coral Gables Gazette staff
The now long-running political rivalry between Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago and Commissioner Melissa Castro is once again on full display—this time not on the dais but in dueling memos that sharpen their feud over the city’s controversial change to election dates.
At the heart of the clash is the commission’s May vote to amend the city charter and shift municipal elections from April to November without a referendum. The move aligns Coral Gables with state and federal election calendars but raises both legal and financial risks. Just weeks earlier, a similar charter change in the City of Miami had been struck down in both trial and appellate courts. Castro opposed the change from the start, warning it could invite unnecessary litigation and steep costs. Lago supported it, framing the change as a matter of efficiency and fiscal prudence.
In July and August, the fight shifted to the written word. Castro released a memo on July 16 laying out her case against the ordinance and the broader practice of litigating governance issues. Two weeks later, Lago issued a four-page rebuttal, dismissing her arguments as misleading and countering with his own financial grievances. Together, the memos underscore not only their policy differences but also a deeper breakdown of trust on the commission.
Castro warns of litigation pitfalls
In her memo, Castro detailed more than $556,000 the city has spent in recent years on three high-profile legal battles. She likened the election date ordinance to those cases, calling it another “wasteful and unconstitutional” venture that could easily be avoided.
“As elected officials, we have an obligation to weigh not only the merits of a case, but also the realistic likelihood of success and the financial impact on our residents,” Castro wrote. “We should not champion litigation as a substitute for governance, especially when alternative solutions exist, such as binding ballot questions that invite residents into the process and minimize financial risk.”
Castro’s critique did not stop at dollars and cents. She framed the legal gamble as a governance failure, accusing the commission of sidelining residents by refusing to allow a public vote. She also closed her memo with a pointed jab at Lago’s consistent brand as a budget hawk: “I urge us all to adopt a more pragmatic, fiscally responsible lens when legal action is proposed, and to ensure that any litigation strategy is grounded in clear legal standing, achievable outcomes, and measurable public benefit.”
Lago’s rebuttal: Casting Castro as reckless
On Aug. 1, Lago fired back with his own memo, which sought to flip the fiscal responsibility narrative back onto Castro. While conceding the legal expenses she cited, Lago argued they “pale in comparison” to what he described as her pattern of reckless spending and unsound decisions—often in partnership with Commissioner Ariel Fernandez.
Lago’s rebuttal listed a series of decisions he said had long-term financial consequences: the hiring of former City Manager Amos Rojas without a background check or résumé at a cost of $368,000 in total compensation; the addition of 14 non-public safety positions at a 10-year cost exceeding $11.5 million; $41,000 allocated for an ADA ramp at the Miracle Theatre despite favorable lease terms; approval of a 4% cost-of-living adjustment to the city’s pension system despite a $169 million cumulative loss; and the doubling of commissioner salaries in 2024—a raise rescinded only after a shift in commission membership.
“The cumulative effect of these catastrophic financial decisions is expected to cost the city approximately $27 million over the next ten years,” Lago wrote.
Back-and-forth intensifies
Castro quickly countered, calling the mayor’s memo misleading on several fronts, particularly his claim about Rojas’s salary being the highest ever paid to a city manager. She noted that it matched that of his predecessor. “If he will distort something as simple as payroll history, what else is he willing to twist?” she asked in response.
The mayor declined to answer Gazette questions about his rebuttal.
The exchange of memos is only the latest flashpoint in a commission that has grown increasingly divided. In June, Castro was formally censured by her colleagues after she sought an opinion from the Florida Attorney General on the legality of the election change without commission approval. Commissioners said she had undermined city process; she defended the move as a way to secure clarity for residents.
This Post Has 5 Comments
Like current national politics, local partisan politics needs a perceived enemy to divide our community and distract voters from what is actually happening. In Coral Gables, we have incompatible development (e.g., request to pave over the Garden of Our Lord) without addressing traffic, police, fire and other concurrency and compatibility issues. The current Commission regime (LAL) illegally eliminated our right to vote on a Charter amendment that prevents voters from choosing our voting date and the term of our elected officials. Continuing to focus of past personal grievances is an intentional distraction. Sadly, a few former Coral Gables leaders are enabling this conduct in exchange for a token appointment to a board or committee. This current partisan regime divides our community and hurts our quality of life. IT IS TIME TO CHANGE. Instead of focusing on your next Instagram post or anonymous blog, provide leadership that brings our community together and focus on the future of Coral Gables and all of its residents rather than prior personal petty grievances.
Oh my dear Mr. Wells, there is a somewhat comedic irony in how well you fit into the mold of the deceived voter! Or perhaps, it is you that seeks to create a perceived enemy with which you seek to distract the citizenry. Have you no shame? Your words are plagued by your own personal grievances. Might it be a deep sense of disappointment for not having sought the office of the Mayor instead of Commissioner? It is certain that would not have changed the outcome of your failures, but let it be of no surprise to the citizenry when you declare your candidacy once more. THE PROPHECY HATH BEEN SPOKEN! Election loss is once again in your future my dear friend, heed thy warning. You speak for few and the few do not speak strongly enough for you.
LOL – Mr. “Nimoy” – tell your friend, Mayor Lago, to stop posting anonymously. And by “few”, I guess you are referring to political contributions from PACs and real estate developers. Lago has many more of those than anybody else has ever had in Coral Gables. How is that possible for somebody who campaigned against overdevelopment? Maybe they know the difference between Candidate Lago and Mayor Lago. And his Coral Gables First PAC sent out another spam email this morning about a perceived enemy lying – welcome to Bizarro World!!!
How long is Lago going to keep beating a dead horse?
Or actually several dead horses???
The commissioners’ raises, the hiring of a city manager, the ADA ramp at the Miracle Theatre, the COLA, and on and on and on. He will continue to drag it out, while he tries to distract the residents from the real issues which will permanently damage our city, instead of demonstrating the leadership required of a mayor.
It’s like a bait and switch scam with Lago.
Also, Leonard Nimoy’s writing sounds an awful lot like the very verbose anonymous blogger who uses lots of big words but has no real substance to back up his lengthy linguistic postings.
Both Lago and Aesop should give it a rest.
Don’t listen to Prince Nimoy, Mr. Wells. He can’t seem to put together a cogent argument. All he knows is personal attacks – semi-anonymously since we know who he is -while kissing Vinnies ass. He really should go back to Aesop and battling windmills.