Now the party’s getting started.
There were no big surprises or sudden jumps from one group to another in Coral Gables as candidates qualified for April 13 election by the noon Friday deadline.
Perennial candidate Jackson “Rip” Holmes, who has no chance of winning anyway but keeps running and really cares about the city, moved from the commission cluster bunch race in Group 2 to the — why not? — mayoral race, which was going to be a head-to-head between Vice Mayor Vince Lago and Commissioner Pat Keon. Well, actually, it still is. Ladra doesn’t think Rip’s 400 or 500 votes can force a runoff. And neither does he.
In a video posted on YouTube Friday, he basically admitted he has as much chance as he has money — which is nada — and that he is only running because it gives him a platform for his message, which has always been to bring an anchor department store to Miracle Mile.
“If nothing else my candidacy for mayor helps me get the correct information out,” he says.
There could be a Round 2 in both commission races, however, especially since another perennial candidate, Phillip “PJ” Mitchell, jumped in at the last minute into the Group 3 contest. There’s no way that any of the first three candidates can take it in the first round now. Not Javier Baños, whose been campaigning forever. Not Kirk “Mr. Coral Gables” Menendez. Not the good looking Alex Bucelo, who has his father’s friends bankrolling his bid. Already, it was going to be tight. Mitchell secures the runoff. Thanks, PJ.
Read related: Coral Gables group 2 race goes from cluster bunch to 3-way along ethnic lines
The cluster bunch race in Group 2 got smaller with Jackson’s jump to the mayoral race. But everyone else qualified: Rhonda Anne Anderson, Tania Cruz-Gimenez, Mayra Joli, Claudia Miro and Jose Valdes-Fauli, heck, even Alexander Luis Haq, who hasn’t raised a dime, filed all his paperwork. Ladra says it’s still a race between Anderson, the Gimenez girl and the mayor’s brother.
Now things really get going. Already, there was a terse exchange between Valdes-Fauli and Anderson on her development votes on the planning and zoning board, where she was apparently all for the zoning update.
Soon, the political action committees get involved. So far, there are three.
Coral Gables First is the old PAC that consultant Jorge de Cardenas used for Raul Valdes-Fauli‘s mayoral campaigns, which collected $65,000 in contributions just in the last two months, with almost $200,000 in hand.
Read related: Miami politics creep into Coral Gables election via Javier Baños, Claudia Miro
Friends of the Gables, formed last year by friends of Bucelo’s, raised its first contributions last month, for a total of $32,500.
Keeping Coral Gables Beautiful was formed by consultant Luis Mata, who is supporting Tania Cruz-Gimenez, so it’s probably on her behalf. There are still no contributions reported there.
But we won’t start seeing the real PAC attacks until right before absentee or vote-by-mail ballots are sent around March 22, which is almost two weeks after the planned Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce debate March 11.
It’s on! Coral Gables candidates qualify with no big surprises; PACs get ready added by Ladra on
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Our family supports Rip Holmes! He has the guts to tell the truth and stand up to big money developers.
I am for Rip Holmes too. I asked Lago why voted to set aside the zoning, height, set-back and building codes to approve the Paseo towers on U.S. 1 and he arrogantly replied, “What difference does it make if a building is 7 stories or 20 stories high.” I have asked Keon more than once how she proposes to reduce property taxes and she looks at me like what a silly question.
If you want City Beautiful to be in good hands and wanting for a Mayor to be devoted to the residents of the City of Coral Gables and not beholden to the special interest groups and lobbyists, then this is a no brainer. Jackson Rip Holmes is your person. Every other candidate is raising funds and spending it to fabricate lies and spreading them. Don’t be fooled by the cosmetic touch ups. A pig with lipstick on is still a pig.
That is just the Truth. My vote is for Jackson Rip Holmes for Mayor of the. City of Coral Gables.
It’s amazingly hard to learn about where/when candidate debates will be held before they actually happen. Take for example the upcoming Chamber Debate – is it on the Chamber’s website? Not that I can see.
It would be a real public service if someone would post a list of upcoming debates and how to watch them. (Hint.)
Dear All:
In this day of starving journalism/journalists, any reporting on Coral Gables issues is good reporting. For real.
Witness this very article providing us INVALUABLE information on PACS involved in this Election. Thank you Ms DeValle.
Nonetheless, I said in the video that Ms DeValle mentioned, that my opponents are lying to Coral Gables voters about the Zoning Code Rewrite, which rewrite I have previously asserted said will ultimately cause the end of Coral Gables as a suburb.
The fact that it is impossible for one journalist to reside everywhere, has opened the door to Gables Insider — Coral Gables residents — to feel the alarm Coral Gables residents are feeling.
Due to Citizens United, that it is fair to say Coral Gables has a “government for the developers”, as opposed to for the people, and change is needed.
Sincerely,
Jackson Rip Holmes
http://www.ripholmes.com
Dear All:
Coral Gables, I submit to you, is in a fight for its life.
The Zoning Code Rewrite will end Coral Gables as a suburb.
Voting for either of my opponents is voting for developers. I am making efforts to enable myself to win.
Sincerely,
Jackson Rip Holmes
Candidate for Mayor
Make that 501 votes for Mr. Holmes. He is the ONLY one in the race for mayor telling the truth about how to keep MMile low —- DO NOT allow remote parking! It’s as simple as that. And yes, he really does care about the city.
Rip Holmes has the same Chances as The Rest , Maybe even Better Unless The Donations/Bribes Counts as Voters. Other May have more Donations But DO NATIONS are like a Layaway for favors owed, and pay Back could be Costlly to Residents as in the past ?
Surprised that any member of the Gimenez family has made it this far .
IMO pretty sad .