The endorsements are multiplying in the Coral Gables election, which ends next Tuesday. And just in time, too — as the vote-by-mail or absentee ballots are mailed to voters.
Three Group 2 candidates who didn’t make the runoff in the April 13 vote, Tania Cruz-Gimenez, Alexander Luis Haq and Claudia Miro, each endorsed Rhonda Anderson at a press conference in front of City Hall Tuesday. She already had the endorsement of the Miami Herald.
“After months of battling on the campaign trail, Rhonda Anderson won the April 13 election, and I’m proud to stand beside her today and say that I intend to do everything I can to ensure that she wins in the April 27 runoff, because she is the right person for the job,” Cruz-Gimenez said.
“I ran for the Coral Gables City Commission because I believe we need elected officials who will listen to residents’ concerns, govern transparently, and always act in the best interests of our community,” she added. “I have no doubt that Rhonda will do just that.”
Read related: One and only Coral Gables runoff debate will have ‘hard questions’
“I will work with all of them for the betterment of Coral Gables,” Anderson said at the press conference. And in Spanish.
“Today’s press conference was symbolic of something far more meaningful than traditional endorsements,” she told Ladra. “It was about bridging divides and seeking unity. We may have been running for the same seat, but we shared common fundamental beliefs.
“For Coral Gables to prosper and improve the quality of life for all residents, we need to work together and our government must treat residents with civility and respect,” Anderson said.
That’s exactly what Miro told reporters at the press conference that she was looking forward to. Anderson would bring “much needed civility” to City Hall, she said. “She will raise the standards so that all Coral Gables residents are respected when they go to the commission.”
Anderson’s 16 years of civic involvement in the city — including a post on the planning and zoning board — and her positive campaigning is what sold Cruz-Gimenez, who came in third.
“I know she earned every single vote. As I was walking and knocking, so was she, going to every single neighborhood, to speak to voters personally about her vision for the City,” said Cruz-Gimenez, the daughter-in-law of Congressman Carlos Gimenez (which, no doubt, hurt her). “Rhonda has a proven record fighting against overdevelopment and protecting our neighborhoods, and has shown that she has the courage to stand up for what she believes in.
“Rhonda has demonstrated that she is willing to respect and listen to all residents.”
The Coral Gables firefighters who endorsed Cruz-Gimenez in the first round followed her to Team Rhonda.
Missing from the kumbaya picture of collegiality Tuesday was Mayra Joli, who still thinks that Anderson was the one who called the cops on her at the library during early voting when she was blasting music from her mobile sign truck. It wasn’t just Latin music, either. Joli pumped up the volume on Whitney Houston and did a Singing in the Rain duet with Rip Holmes. Anderson has denied calling the police and Chief Ed Hudak told Ladra a resident called him direct to complain. But Joli is unconvinced.
“I’m not going to support anybody,” Joli told Ladra. “I’m not one of those players who shakes hands after the game.”
She said that she will write her own name on her ballot for round 2.
Meanwhile, Jose Valdes-Fauli — the brother of the current mayor, running in the same group — has the endorsements from Miami-Dade Democrats, Coral Gables Democrats, the Victory Fund, Equality Florida and SAVE. He said he didn’t seek any endorsements from any former or current elected officials.
Read related: In snobby Coral Gables, ‘not one of us’ plagues some candidates at election
“Those can work for you or against you,” Valdes-Fauli said. Yeah, maybe more so against you if it was brother Mayor Raul Valdes-Fauli.
He told AmericaTeve reporter Adriana Navarro that the three former opponents who endorsed Anderson were bitter because he won “the Latin vote,” seeing as how Anderson was the only non-Hispanic in the group. He sounded a little snippy. Guess the disdain is in the DNA.
Some voters also got a mailer from Group 3 candidate Kirk Menendez that has him flanked by photos of Commissioners Mike Mena and Jorge Fors. Like, does he think that’s a good thing?
“Kirk cares deeply about Coral Gables and has been involved in our community for many years. I am confident he will represent the residents of Coral Gables honorably and effectively,” Fors is quoted as saying.
“From his years of volunteering at the Youth Center to his service on the parks board, Kirk Menendez has been a leader in Coral Gables,” says Mena. “I am proud to endorse him and look forward to serving with him on the Coral Gables Commission.”
Yeah, Ladra bets he does. Menendez is going to be much easier for these two to control than Baños.
Not mentioned is the fact that the three men share the same political consultant, Steve Marin and could become a majority voting block. Might they make a Gables version of the Three Amigos, like there was in Miami? (Remember, that didn’t end well.)
Javier Baños, meanwhile, has gotten the endorsements of former Commissioner Ralph Cabrera, South Miami Vice Mayor Josh Liebman and former State Rep. Javier Fernandez, as well as The Miami Herald, SAVE, Equality Florida and Miami’s Community Newspapers.
“During these challenging times, we need a commissioner who will represent the residents and be a voice against unbridled development,” Cabrera said. “Javier has made it clear. He will be that voice to ensure our city’s special quality of life and charm will never be compromised.”
Liebman said that Baños’ experience on the neighboring city’s pension board will serve the Gables well.
Read related: Kirk Menendez vs. Javier Baños is not as easy a decision as voters may think
“Under his leadership, our city was able to address our unfunded liability and bring our pension from 70% funded to 105% funded,” Liebman said. “He did not bow down to outside pressures.
“Javier has helped secure the financial stability of our city for years to come,” Liebman added.
Baños does not, despite a carefully cropped photo on a mailer, have the endorsement of Mayor Elect Vince Lago, who told Ladra he is staying out of it. Last election, Lago supported Cabrera over Fors and, he said, it has taken him a while to mend that relationship.
“I have to work with whoever gets elected,” Lago said.
Well, that didn’t end well for your pal, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez when he refused to endorse Alfie Leon. He ended up getting Joe Carollo.
Endorsements fly in Coral Gables runoff election, as VBM ballots arrive added by Ladra on
View all posts by Ladra →
Why is his nickname bathroom? I don’t remember a bathroom controversy
Coral Gables residents are suffering from election fatigue. It began in the summer of last year with the August state, congressional and county commission primaries. This was followed by the November Presidential elections, Trumps post election court cases alleging election fraud in December, and culminated in the January 6 raid on the Capitol. Just when Coral Gables residents thought it was ok to answer the phone, check the mail box and open the front door, the political robo calls began again, the mailboxes were stuffed with political mailers and the knock on the door was from one of the city’s biennial election candidates or their loyal supporters asking for their vote.
In the Group 2 Commission race Jose Valdes –Fauli is trying to distance himself from his brother Raul the outgoing Mayor but his list of financial donors includes generous donations from developers who supported his brother’s campaign. He also suffers the negatives of his brother because to date several voters still mistakenly believe Raul is the one who is running in Tuesdays run-off election. Like his brother he can be abrupt to others and voters I have talked to have often said say they know Jose and his brother personally but are not convinced they will be voting for him.
The best choice for the open Group 2 Seat is ”Rhonda For The People”. Rhonda Anderson’s grass roots organizing of her neighborhood is an example of her activism on behalf of the community. Anderson has gained a strong reputation against the over development going on in Coral Gables. Having served on the city’s Planning and Zoning Board she speaks the language of the developers and is well versed in Floor Area Ratio , Density and Setbacks. From developers whose projects have come before the board she has successfully negotiated important concessions like, adding green spaces, height restrictions, increased setbacks and wider sidewalks. As the Beautiful City grows some development is inevitable but Anderson can be a trusted guardian to keep the new construction in scale with the rest of the city. She previously served on the Public Safety Board which will help as the Nation and the city try to modernize community policing
Hopefully, after Tuesdays runoff Coral Gables residents suffering from election hangover will be able to answer their cell phones in peace , find only normal junk mail and bills in their mailbox and be relieved to find the person knocking on the door is a good friend or neighbor.
Why didn’t Bathroom use Crazy Joes picture as he endorsed him and raising 40k
I still think the Bathroom vs. Menendez choice is the lesser of the two evils… Do you really want a “Crazy Joe Carollo mini-me” on the CG commission? Trust me, you don’t.
Menendez has all those responsible for the irresponsible approval of large development projects behind them. No Thanks.
Baños…… that’s the way to go. Most qualified by far.
I feel for Menendez and his recent troubles in the press but this isn’t a sympathy campaign.
So, let me get this straight. Menendez has the endorsement of Mena, Fors Quesada, Withers, Cason, Mitchell, and Buselo and Mr. Bathroom has the endorsement of the Democrats and trash bag Ralph Cabrera. Thanks for the info. This tells me everything I need to know.
I’ve been an Anderson supporter from my first meeting with her to discuss how she views the city and its future. Anyone who speaks with her gets clear answers and a sincere interest about the topic at hand.
As for SAVE – they are biased based upon sexual orientation. The exact thing that they fight against, they picked based on the person who is most like them, not upon ideas.
As for the Democratic parties that endorsed: SHAME ON YOU! Whenever there are two Democrats versus each other in a campaign, it is WRONG to take a side. WRONG! Anderson deserves better than this snub.
As for Menendez versus Banos, my husband and I are flipping our votes to Banos. It is based on the Menendez flier that you are pointing out in this blog. His allies are not the people I want making decisions.
Positive endorsements on behalf of Rhonda; negative endorsements on behalf of Kirk. Will vote again for Rhonda; am seriously reconsidering my initial Kirk vote and going with Banos at the runoff (I respect Ralph and Javi).
I found a great wealth of quality in the Candidates, the majority of whom sacrificed greatly in causes not reaching the runoffs.
This is a Good Sign for Coral Gables, that we have — in the basketball analogy — a good bench. I urge all to run again. Please. Coral Gables needs you.
Sincerely,
Jackson Rip Holmes
Very grateful to you for your reporting.
Great insight and help.
I believe Rhonda Anderson is infinitely preferable to Jose Valdes Fauli.
Sincerely,
Jackson Rip Holmes
Mayra Joli – Trumpian to the end. “I’m not one of those players who shakes hands after the game”? Really? We don’t need that attitude in Coral Gables. Good riddance.
Menendez seems absolutely tone deaf to public perception. Baños might actually be the way to go to protect against a consultant-controlled majority on the commission. If Menendez makes such bad decisions in campaigning, we should really fear what he could do once elected and his commission buddies and political consultant are leaning on him to vote a certain way. I’m really beginning to doubt his independence.
Steve Marin is a creep. Voters should always vote against Steve Marin’s clients. Remember scumbag Marc Sarnoff? Voters and residents got screwed by that duo.