Loyal readers of Political Cortadito have come to expect our “winners and losers” post in the wake of every local election, highlighting those people and entities who scored or got hammered, other than the candidates.
After the April 8 re-election in Coral Gables of Mayor Vince Lago and Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, there were already some obvious winners and losers. But it was only safe to wait until after the runoff, where Lago got his handpicked candidate, Richard Lara, over the finish line, to be sure. And thorough.
Read related: Vince Lago scores with Richard Lara’s Coral Gables commission runoff win
So, without any further blah, blah, blah, the winners and losers from this year’s biannual Coral Gables election are:
WINNERS
- Jesse Manzano and Brian Goldmeier, Lago’s campaign manager and professional fundraiser. These two have another notch on their belt and a fatter bank account to show for it. Manzano overcame some heavy negatives with consistent messaging about how bad Commissioner Kirk Menendez would be because of the decisions he’s made in the past (raises, city managers, November vote, etc.). It was brilliant. Evil, but brilliant. Goldmeier is just richer.
- The sick anonymous trolls who like to attack on Lago’s behalf with vulgar language and inappropriate images on social media. They have been having a field day.
- Developers, real estate investors and construction industry people who donated to the Lago and Lara campaigns like it was buying precious eggs, and now stand to benefit from a consolidated 3-2 vote that seems development friendly.
- Chelsea Granell, the mayor’s chief of staff of none, who gets to keep her job and her $91,165 annual salary plus benefits.
- Former Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, a Lago supporter, who is likely to tell people that he was the one who got the mayor and his slate elected. Some may have heard he had breakfast recently with Manzano, so they’ll believe it.
LOSERS
- The Coral Gables Fraternal Order of Police and firefighters unions and the rank and file, too, who will be retaliated against. Members, who supported Menendez and architect Felix Pardo against Anderson, must be shaking in their boots right now. Las malas lenguas say that Lago had told them to watch out if he wins. He is a vengeful guy. There might be many cops and firefighters dusting off their resumés Wednesday.
- Commissioners Melissa Castro and Ariel Fernandez, who are going to be on the losing side of the 3-2 vote now. But
that’s not as bad as the constant ribbing and rubbing-in-the-face they’re going to get from Lago and Anderson. Send them Excedrin. They’re going to need it. - Opponents of the annexation of Little Gables. Neither Lago nor Anderson would commit to leaving this unincorporated Miami-Dade enclave on the northern border alone after the City Beautiful’s voters rejected the proposed annexation — which would cost the city $23 million just for the first five years — by a 63% vote. Lago, particularly, has been obsessed with this idea, and it could have something to do with the fact that his brother was once the lobbyist for the owner of the trailer park, which is the neighborhood’s largest property and the potential site of a future Gables Moorish Village.
- The Coral Gables Neighborhood Association, which had endorsed and supported three losing candidates, Menendez, Pardo and Tom Wells against Lara. This is a stark contrast to the 2023 election, when both of the commission candidates the group endorsed were elected against much better funded candidates that were also backed by Mayor Lago.
- The Coral Gables Democratic Club, who helped Wells — knocking on doors, delivering palm cards calling voters — even though it was a non partisan race.
Did I forget anybody? Please feel free to add them in the comments below.
Some might think that Ladra loses also, but they would be wrong. While it is true that Political Cortadito advocated against the incumbents and their handpicked puppet vote, this doesn’t hurt the blog. If anything, now there is more reason to keep a watchdog’s eye on the commission and their actions because there will probably be some really good stories coming. I’m excited.
Maybe Ladra should be listed as a winner. She doesn’t live in Coral Gables.
The Coral Gables commission is going to need as much scrutiny as ever, now that the mayor has a three-vote majority and the power shifts. Keep Ladra on top of the City Beautiful’s government with a contribution to independent watchdog journalism today. Thank you for your support!
Ladra’s traditional winners and losers from the 2025 Coral Gables election added by Ladra on
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