In the end, the attack mailers on Coral Gables Vice Mayor Vince Lago didn’t work. His signature on a letter to Carollton School from parents and alumni protesting new curriculum on race relations didn’t sway voters. The withdrawn Miami Herald endorsement didn’t matter much.
Lago was elected the mayor of Coral Gables Tuesday in a race against Pat Keon that had gotten pretty heated in the last week or so. And by a very comfortable lead — 58% to 38%, a near perfect reflection of the polls done before any of the Carrolton stuff came to light. Jackson “Rip” Holmes got 4% (Ladra thought he would do better this year).
That means that 2,117 more voters chose Lago over Keon, despite her benefitting from more than $100,000 worth of mailers trying to taint Lago as the development darling, which is really her own label.
Remember, the last two times current Mayor Raul Valdes-Fauli was elected, it was by less than 200 votes. So this is a mandate.
Read related: Despite one stupid, preachy letter, Vince Lago deserves to be Coral Gables mayor
Lago was particularly gratified at the victory in light of the “adverse situations” in the mayoral race. Voters who chose him said they did so because of his accessibility and work ethic.
“The city made a statement today: We want someone who is transparent, someone who is ethical and who represents this community,” Lago told supporters, which included Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and his father, former Miami-Dade Commissioner Xavier Suarez, former Gables commissioners Ralph Cabrera and Frank Quesada, and Miami Commissoner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, who has forced himself on Lago in an effort to distract from his back-to-back scandals in the neighboring city.
“I’m honored,” Lago told Ladra. “I’m grateful to the voters for their trust.”
Asked how he plans to unify the community and represent those that did not vote for him, Lago said he was going to stay accessible to anyone and everyone. Engaging the community, he said, is important to him.
Read related: Pat Keon hits Vince Lago with dark money lies in Coral Gables mayoral race
“We can move forward by continuing to do what we’ve been doing, opening our door and ensuring that our residents have a voice, have a seat at the table,” said Lago, who was the residents’ champion in their fight to slow the upzoning of Miracle Mile and the Crafts Section. He was the sole no vote.
In his victory speech at the Brew 13 Brewery and Kitchen at Alhambra Circle, Lago said he would make Commissioner Michael Mena his vice mayor.
“Mike Mena is a very competent individual,” Lago told Ladra afterwards.
“He serves well. He votes his conscience. And when we disagree, we disagree on the merits. This is not about the commissioners. It’s about the community. And I think he knows that,” Lago said.
Keon did not return a call or text to her cellphone. But she did make some classic Pat comments to the Miami Herald about her loss.
“People vote. Vince won. He is the next mayor,” Keon said, according to the Miami Herald. “I am going to go back to traveling and spending time with my family and grandchildren. And I look forward to playing more golf.”
And that’s exactly why she didn’t win.
(Editor’s Note: Keon sent a text at 11:30 p.m. that said “Congratulations to Vince. I wish the very best for him and the city.” Not our city. The city.)
Vince Lago is the new Coral Gables mayor in heated and divisive election added by Ladra on
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