On the one side, you have a liar and an empty suit and a one-term commissioner abandoning his seat.
On the other, you have two sitting commissioners, a former 16-year public servant who served as both commissioner and the mayor, the police, the 
firefighters and, for good measure, SAVE.
“Ralph Cabrera and I have many things in common: We both were elected to the city commission, have a proven record of service to our residents and support the renovation of historic Coral Gables High School,” Thomson says in a Cabrera email.
Read related: Coral Gables voters return Raul Valdes-Fauli, send two to runoff
“But most of all, we both have a strong love for our City Beautiful. I know that, as he has in the past, Ralph will work to preserve the values of our community. That’s why I endorse him for Coral Gables Commission.”
In the same email, Lago is quoted as to why he supports Cabrera.
“I am familiar with Commissioner Cabrera’s past service to our community 
and know he is someone who clearly understands the character and charm of our city. He has a deep understanding and passion for making Coral Gables the best in Miami-Dade County,” Lago says.
“I also know him to have a proven track record of fostering new ideas and achieving many important quality of life initiatives,” Lago continues. “I am confident he will work with our commission to ensure transparency and inclusiveness of our government’s activities, decisions and vision.”
Read related: Florida Bar investigates candidate Jorge Fors for homestead fraud
Jorge Fors has former interim city manager Carmen Olazabal, who came in third with 2,196 votes in the April 12 election — and who, as usual, said nothing of importance or substance — and former Mayor Jim Cason, who did 
nothing but cut ribbons in the six years he sat in office.
“Jorge Fors is committed to protecting our quality of life and will bring to the community a fresh perspective that will keep Coral Gables moving forward,” Cason says in an email that will likely arrive as a mailer in mailboxes this week with absentee ballots.
He might still have some pull with the older Cuban voters, particularly in North Gables, where Fors is also campaigning as the anti-annexation candidate, going completely against the city and the police chief recommendation to bring Little Gables into the fold.
The tax cheat also has Commissioner Frank Quesada, who, las malas lenguas, say handpicked him before he knew about his homestead exemption fraud, so that his campaign manager would stay in business.
Read related: Coral Gables candidate Jorge Fors had illegal homestead exemption
Quesada told Ladra that it did not matter to him that Fors had claimed an illegal homestead exemption for eight or nine years on a Little Havana condo he did not live in.
“I’ve known Jorge a long time and we’ve had cases together, he’s a great guy,” Quesada texted me last month before the first round. “When he discovered the homestead issue, he resolved it.”
Except he “resolved it” in January, after he had filed to run for office and after 
Ladra started sniffing around. In fact, las malas lenguas say that Quesada was told Ladra was sniffing around by someone and alerted Fors to it.
Fors might say it was an unintentional mistake, but it is a mistake then Fors made eight or nine individual times, as property owners have to claim their homestead exemption by March 1 every year.
Ladra can’t help but wonder if Miami-Dade Property Appraiser Pedro Garcia would endorse Fors. Or Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle, whose office is looking into mystery mailers attacking Cabrera that were not sent by the political action committee on the disclaimer.
The war of endorsements is on in Coral Gables commission runoff added by Ladra on
View all posts by Ladra →
Fors’ depiction of Little Gables is humiliating. If he happens to get elected, the new Coral Gables residents from Little Gables will certainly vote him out after his first term.
[…] Read related: The war of endorsements is on in Coral Gables commission runoff […]
Ladra, I tried posting yesterday and it was deleted.
My vote is not for Jorge Fors but against Ralph Cabrera. Ralph is an “empty suit” that commingles political favors with running for political office. His support has come from the developers that have supported him. He had his time in government and he squandered the privilege of being in office again.
Dear J.I., you must have done something wrong, maybe you didn’t get the captcha right, because nobody deleted your comment. I am the only one who can and I only trash comments that are trash — that is, that are obscene or designed only to smear someone or a group without offering any legitimate reasons or examples.
That said, you calling Ralph an empty suit is the funniest thing ever. Ralph has done far more in Coral Gables than Jorge Fors, who has not even served on a single committee or board. Because you opened this line of argument, here is a “short” list of some of the things that Ralph Cabrera did as commissioner:
Lowered property taxes two years in a row (2010-2012) and never voted for tax increases in ten years; jnstituted an un-staffed police vehicle program to reduce speeding and crime; Created a “Children at Play” (CAPA) sign program to keep kids safe in their neighborhoods; Established Citywide Traffic Board; Initiated RFQ process to review lobbyists representing the city; Spearheaded initiative to strengthen City’s valet parking ordinance; Initiated review and creation of ordinances that protect historic homes from unlawful demolition; Initiated process to conduct annual performance evaluations of appointed officials; Supervised and introduced the online “Better Place” citizens’ inquiry and resolution program; Spearheaded an insurance RFP process, reducing renewal cost by 30%; Worked with the BID to introduce a wireless cloud program for Miracle Mile patrons and merchants; Advocated for the restoration of the Merrick House; Sponsored new residential zoning for single-family home regulations (McMansions and monster homes); Co-created a task force to investigate and evaluate FPL regarding power outages after hurricanes Katrina and Wilma; Sponsored legislation to improve the backup generators ordinance; Sponsored creation of a new Youth Advisory Board to assist in enhancing the quality of life for the city’s children; Revamped an outdated residential parking permit program to reduce its cost and improve availability for residential neighborhoods; Working with the BID to create the popular “Giralda Under the Stars” monthly event; Created a Local Vendor Preference ordinance to help the city’s businesses; Opened Freedom Plaza.
Meanwhile, Fors is a tax cheat. If for no other reason, he should be disqualified because he claimed a homestead exemption on a home he did not live in…not just one year, like a mistake, but for eight or nine consecutive years. Every year, he claimed the Little Havana home he did not live in as a homestead exemption.
When I spoke to him about it, he said he had a right to claim the homestead there because he had not claimed it anywhere else and it was the only property he owned. He DID NOT tell me that he had paid the back taxes and the interest and penalties, which he wouldn’t have done if he had a right to claim it.
At the very least, he is dishonest. What kind of shenanigans might he support as an elected official?
It is unbelievable to me that people would still vote for this guy. Ralph is not a sweetheart. He is not a go along to get along type of guy. But that is what you SHOULD want to protect your city. Someone who will ask the questions that nobody else wants to ask, who will initiate cost savings and residential programs that people actually want.
Love, Ladra
Ladra, copying and pasting a list of so called accomplishments that have either totally failed or are so minor. The list is actually an embarrassment and reminder of how do nothing the Gables commission has been for years (except for developers… And we know they’re supporting Ralph Cabrera).
I’ll try to respond to each “accomplishment”:
Property taxes until recently in the Gables were among the highest in the county (they couldn’t go higher).
Where are those cars now? And did that ever work? Not in my opinion.
Free signs? I guess that’s something.
City traffic board only recommends where city money should be spent on traffic circles and that alien looking public art.
City lobbyist RFQ process got us Ron Book and Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark. Basically, created a rigged situation. Did you see the millions of state funding they got from the state to buy a private home off cocoplum circle for a new fire station (that doesn’t fit and way over pays). None of that funding for canal dredging or water and sewer upgrades or resilience.
City valet service is a MONOPOLY! Did they donate to his campaign too?
This doesn’t seem to be working. McMansions are replacing properties. Caveat emptor: not every old home has historic protection.
I have never seen an Evaluation of Gables appointed officials. I mean, who dictates these people to be in charge of a massive red light camera and surveillance program. This is not working.
More reporting? Less cost? The time it takes for businesses to get permits and just for signs haven’t changed. 6 months minimum. City government still makes you wait.
BID doesn’t work other than pick up garbage and maintenance.
More public money spent.
The big houses are coming and nothing stopped it.
What did taskforce accomplish? The last hurricane showed nothing changed.
Weren’t the back up generators an unfunded mandate? How did this benefit anyone?
Youth services anyone? What was improved other than the existing veterans Park that took forever to reopen.
The city moved parking administration to pay by phone and new signage. New vendors!
Giralda Under The Stars was great for one year then the city abandoned it. Boom!
How did the vendor preference help small businesses? So many have closed especially in the center business district.
And finally, there’s more public money spent on a monument nobody knows about.
The legacy of same names is built on taking credit for everything good yet none of the blame.
Love you Ladra. But we can do better by taking a pass on Ralph Cabrera in this election.
Dear same names, I understand that the list may not be the end all and be all, but it is a start. What has the other guy done? Nothing. He has never served a day on a board or committee. I don’t think he’s even been to a commission meeting in his life.
Also, we cannot do “better” because taking a pass on Ralph in this election means electing a man who intentionally cheated on his property taxes eight or nine years in a row. You might prefer someone who circumvents the law as your elected. I don’t think it’s a good idea. It indicates that he will break the rules if it suits him.
Also, Fors is likely behind the mystery mailers that attacked Ralph in the general, the one with the INTENTIONALLY bogus disclaimers. We don’t know who paid for those. Maybe it was developers. Maybe the hourly motels on 8th Street. We just don’t know. Ralph has been transparent.
Also, not all his money is development money. It is just a small fraction. And he can take it and laugh and not do anyone’s bidding. Did you vote for Raul Valdes-Fauli, who had more development money in his bank?
Admit it. You just don’t like Ralph. He sometimes rubs people the wrong way. Precisely because he is not pay to play and doesn’t just “go along to get along.” He doesn’t kowtow.
Just because a guy is new, doesn’t make him better.
Love, Ladra
Ladra, let’s get down to the core argument of yours and the other Cabrera apologists:
EXPERIENCE is overrated. In fact, EXPERIENCE is what got us here.
It is precisely the experience and history that the Gables has gone thru that people like Cabrera should be grooming new people to be involved rather always being the voice of “experience.”
It’s applying the same frustrating argument of requiring a college grad to have 2 years of experience for an entry level job. It’s no wonder people don’t see anything positive about politics when the same names are always the same names (and same spendthrift, me me me, poo poo politics).
This applies to Valdes-Fauli too. More surprising was the incompetence of the Slesnick team to register and turnout 200 new voters. There’s a same names attitude that doomed her campaign with same names helpers (talk about not growing your base of support). Someone commented about her not running on a robust platform which should be interpreted as a failure to connect to voters in neighborhoods outside her team’s comfort zone.
Dear, J.I., your SECOND comment WAS deleted just now because you included a baseless accusation with absolutely no backup. Not a date. Not a timeframe. Not a name. Not an address. Not a subject. Just a general aspersion with no real truth to it. You cannot use this space for that.
It’s like hearsay in a court of law.
You ask me to investigate but give me nothing to go on.
Meanwhile, Fors violations are clearly documented. They are not baseless accusations. They are based in facts and backed up with records. The very opposite of hearsay.
Vote for him if you want, but don’t post your accusations here.
Love, Ladra
How low can anyone get when attacking a candidate? Well, I guess when you do not use your name, and hide behind anonymity, anything is possible. Oops, I forgot, using a Political Action Committee without their consent, also rings a bell!
As I have said many times, I only say what I can prove by documented reality. I do not bring up information that may, or may not be true.
1. Jorge Fors was never involved in any City of Coral Gables committee, board, volunteer organization, etc., etc. (Just read his campaign literature)
2. Fors’ campaign placed political campaign signs on peoples’ lawns WITHOUT their consent!
3. Fors admitted commiting Homestead Exemption FRAUD by paying the imposed fines. (Presently under investigation by the Florida Bar)
4. Fors was registered to vote in Coral Gables, even when he DID have Homestead Exemption in Little Havana.
5.Fors did get an extraordinary number of traffic violations, not all of them when he was a college student. (check his driving record.)
Now what I haven’;t been able to get documents to prove:
1. Fors’ Political Advisor or Campaign Manager, is a lobbyist for the “one hour” motels on S.W. 8th Street. (No wonder Fors is against annexing that area! Our ordinances would not allow that!)
2. State Attorney’s Office is investigating the use of the Political Action Committee. (Funny that it is the same PAC that Steve Marin, Fors’ advisor has used for other campaigns!!)
Feel free to contact me if you would like to read the documents that prove what I have said, 305-323-2154 or [email protected]
For Mr Fors to get the endorsement of Carmen Olazabal is not really a badge of honor. It is a stain of shame.
I agree with Mr Sanabria
1. Experience, winner Ralph
2. Ethics, winner Ralph
3 Track Record, winner Ralph
I am not willing to put my future and the future of this city in the hands of a man that lacks scruples and integrity. Words hardly used anymore but they represent two of Mr Fors deficiencies.
Ralph has the endorsement of Dorothy Thomson, Vincent Lago, Pat Keon. You can’t ask for more decent endorsements.
Ralph Cabrera must be elected. The alternative? There is no alternative. Just a terrifying nightmare that must be avoided.
How sad that some people do not see through the smoke and mirrors. If Carmen Olazabal did such a wonderful job, how come she was not selected to be the City Manager, not once, but twice. She wanted to follow Salerno, but did not get it. She went to City Hall to talk with the elected officials about getting appointed after Swanson-Rivenbark, what happened? She did NOT get the job!!!
Well, something to be said that neither the Commission headed by Jim Cason, not the present one would touch her. Perhaps because they knew she was not the wonderful acting City Manager, or even the Assistant City Manager, that she wants people to believe she was!! Interesting that she is now an asset to Fors’ campaign! I guess she understands well how to re-write history and since Mr Fors was not involved with anything having to do with Coral Gables, or any other municipality for that matter, he chooses to believe her smoke and mirrors story.
Looks like The Running of The Bulls ! Not Pamplona But Coral Gables , Who is the biggest B.S. ? Bologna ,Salamy ?Who Will Pay back Their Donors First ?
Ladra: Looks like you are running out of steam. Fitting to your name, you are only bark and no bite. You keep rehashing tired smears that everyone with half a brain knows are complete BS. Perhaps you would be taken more seriously as a “journalist” if you act as an honest broker and call both sides instead of being a shill for lowly Cabrera.
As to Canyon’s comment above, there is only one candidate bought and paid for by developers and their lobbyists in this race. Over 70% of every dollar raised by Mr. Cabrera has come directly from a developer or a lobbyist representing a developer.
Las malas lenguas also speculate that Mr. Cabrera’s personal finances are suffering substantially and that he is desperate to return to public office to replenish his coffers on the backs of residents. I can’t say this is 100% accurate but I will use the same standards of journalistic ethics that ladra uses and put it out there for your reading pleasure.
God willing, this is the race that rids Coral Gables of Cabrera once and for all.
Ralph Cabrera was an excellent commissioner. He was very responsive to his constituents. I voted for him.
Quesada is a two-term commissioner. He was elected April 12, 2011.
My goodness, you are right. I guess I thought since he hasn’t done anything at all it had only been four years. It really seems like less.
Love, ladra.
I voted for Carmen, but agree with the comment above “we need a new face!” Go Fors!! Ralph is no good for Coral Gables he has too much baggage!
Analytics always unmask the best choice based on the 3 FACTORS
1. Experience, winner Ralph
2. Ethics, winner Ralph
3 Track Record, winner Ralph
Bundling up repectable friends of mine vs Ralph is their option and I’m not faulting them
But, again; cold blooded Analytics makes it crystal clear to me that Ralph is the most worthy by simple default of anyone’s vote for continuity and good clean Coral Gables government
Coral Gables has too many high rises. Coral Gables has too many new buildings approved with no set backs. Will either candidate oppose over development?
Run-off politics are new to the city of Coral Gables, but I think Jorge Fors’ campaign has it figured out. Combining Fors’ 30.73% of the vote with the support of Carmen Olazabal who received 26.29% for a combined 57.02% of the total vote in the first round is a winning combination.
On the other hand, Ralph Cabrera failed to connect with a majority of voters (39.75% not even breaking 40%) despite him and his supporters (read: same names club) doing their best to highlight the opposition’s flaws (granted, they exist but none as so glaring to me as membership in team same names).
Although I can’t see Carmen Olazbal supporters voting for Cabrera, victory will depend on where these votes go and who comes out to vote in a low turnout election.