After weeks of speculation and guessing about a switcheroo scenario in which he could run for commissioner, Coral Gables Mayor Jim Cason — who 
originally said he was only interested in one term, then two when he said he thought one term was four years — has called a press conference this morning to announce, in just a few hours, that he’ll run for re-election after all.
What happened? Two words: Ralph Cabrera.
For months, Cason has been rumored to have entered into a deal with Vice Mayor Billy Kerdyk, who is termed out this year, in which they would switch seats and continue their alliance on the dais. But now, a month after Cabrera announced that he would run for mayor and days after a poll done for either Kerdyk or Councilman Frank Quesada pitted the former 12-year commissioner against each of the three incumbents, the mayor has decided he wants a third term.
Read related story: Ralph Cabrera to the rescue in Coral Gables
Was he the best positioned, in that poll, to beat Cabrera? Stands to reason. Cason beat him by 50 points in 2013. He may think he has the best odds. He would be wrong, of course, since Ladra (who is helping Cabrera with his website and social media) believes that the shine on this former state department official has worn off some.
“I have nothing against Mr. Cason personally. I have thanked him myself for his service to our country when he was head of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana,” Cabrera told Ladra, adding that whatever obligation or debt Cuban-Americans may have felt in voting for Cason has been paid already.
“However, his service in Coral Gables has not been marked by courage. In fact, it has been marked by a lack of leadership and vision. A lack of transparency. A lack of initiative. A lack of responsiveness to our community.”
But the question is not “Why is Cason running?” Rather it is “Why is Cason running?”
Here is a mayor who is so disengaged that he allowed a corrupt city manager to run the city instead of directing him through the commission in the best 
interests of the city. Here is a mayor who looked the other way while crime increased and the quality of life slid in Coral Gables. Here is a man who is absent from the community conversations about the city’s real concerns.
Was Jim Cason at the recent government in the sunshine city meeting with parents who want the school board to expand the enrollment at Westlab Elementary and turn it into a K-8 so that their kids have more public education options? No.
Was Jim Cason at the county meeting last month to discuss plans for a pedestrian bridge across U.S. 1 in the spot where a UM student was run over and killed 10 years ago? Un-uh.
Was Jim Cason at the meeting Tuesday night where residents raised objections to the proposed site for the Coral Gables trolley garage next to the fire station on U.S. 1. Nope.
So why is this man, who is so absent from civic life and out of touch with the people, so intent on remaining in office after the last couple of years he’s had? And without former City Manager Pat Salerno — who helped his re-election efforts in 2012 — there to guide him through it?
It may have something to do with his work in Central and/or South America, where Cason’s business can only benefit from the title of mayor of, any town really, but Coral Gables is a plus.
It may have something to do with the bids coming up for the two giant parking garages downtown.
It may have something to do with his pure hatred of Cabrera, which everyone says is more extreme than it needs to be.
But you know what it won’t have anything to do with: Public service. Because if his track record is any indication, that’s not what interests Jim Cason about the job.
Coral Gables’ Jim Cason will run again after all — but why? added by Ladra on
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