Coral Gables Vince Lago is running slate of candidates in April election

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Even though qualifying ends next month, it looks like Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago has got himself a slate for the April election already.

Lago, who is so far facing only a nominal challenge from Jackson “Rip” Holmes, and attorney Alex Bucelo in Group 5, who lost two years ago to Commissioner Kirk Menendez, are having a joint fundraiser at the end of the month. And last week, Ivette Arango-O’Doski, lawyer/lobbyist and interior designer, announced she had Lago’s endorsement in the Group 4 race.

Yes, that Ivette Arango, of Arango Interiors. Well, the designer’s namesake actually. Arango-O’Doski is an attorney lobbyist who once got a letter of instruction from the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust after she failed to report.

Read related: Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago breaks with board, backs Kevin Cabrera

Probable Cause was found against her as an employee of a company that designs and manufactures products for traffic control after she lobbied without following the proper registration requirements. According to the Ethics Commission records (C 18-30-07), Arango-O’Doski represented the firm Trafficware when she organized a meeting between company executives and various elected and appointed Miami-Dade County officials in May 2017.  She had registered to lobby, but failed to file an authorization form and affidavit specific to Trafficware.  Once notified of the requirements, Arango-O’Doski filed the required forms. “Because of her swift compliance, the Ethics Commission dismissed the complaint.”

Her website stresses “shared priorities, shared values,” and lists her six priorities:

• Investing in public safety to keep streets safe
• Family-friendly amenities for for our children and families
• Protecting our pristine environment
• Support for our senior services
• Responsibly grow to combat traffic and overdevelopment
• Promote and defend small businesses

“I know Ivette will listen to our community and not to the special interests,” Lago said in a statement. He did not return a call and texts from Ladra. “With her help in the City Commission, we will be able to face some of the most pressing issues facing our city, especially fiscal responsibility, union negotiations and future annexations.”

Currently, Arango-O’Doski, who has raised $76,000 as of the last campaign finance reports submitted is the only candidate running in Group 4 to replace former Commissioner Jorge Fors, Jr., who ran for county commission and lost to Kevin Marino Cabrera, who has also endorsed Arango-O’Doski.

Qualification ends Feb. 24th so there could still be a challenge.

Bucelo, on the other hand, is facing a tough run against longtime city activist Ariel Fernandez, who founded the Gables Insider website after years of fighting City Hall on one thing or another. Fernandez has been an ally and a critic of Mayor Lago, who has reportedly vowed to spend all his money — since he has no real race — to defeat him.

An inside source also told Ladra that Lago has been pressuring Miami-Dade Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera to endorse Bucelo, too.

There is a third candidate there. Sean Patrick McGrover, an investment advisor and mortgage broker, is also running in Group 5. He has raised $500 while Fernandez has raised $12,960 and Bucelo raised $22,950, according to the latest campaign finance reports.

The Lago/Bucelo fundraiser Jan. 31 is at the Amenity Deck on the 7th floor of the Plaza Coral Gables, the largest mixed use design project in the city.