Coral Gables Mayor Jim Cason and his dishonest campaign fooled enough people
to win re-election comfortably Tuesday.
But by a much smaller margin that shows he’s lost a lot of the voters’ faith.
Former Commissioner Ralph Cabrera conceded at 8 p.m, an hour after polls closed, when only the absentee ballots had been counted and Cason had won 62% of those. The gap was 1,070 ABs — or too wide to close with Election Day votes.
By 9:20, when all 27 precincts were counted, Cabrera had gained ground. But not enough. Cason was still the mayor — 57 to 43.
Guess that’s what lies and fake endorsements, exaggerated achievements 
and expedited sidewalk repairs gets you.
But 57% is certainly not something to crow so heartily about, as Cason did in the Miami Herald story on the race.
“I’m so happy that Coral Gables residents could see through all the lies amid all the negativity and realize that our city is on the verge of greatness,’’ Cason was quoted as saying. “We’re much better than we have ever been. I’m happy that optimism prevailed over nattering nabobs of negativism.”
Big words from someone who got less than 60 percent. And if you are just looking at Election Day, he barely got 50 percent, with Cabrera climbing up to 49.3.
And really? Nattering nabobs? Are you talking about the 3,300 people who voted for Ralph?
According to the online dictionary, the definition is “a very wealthy, influential or powerful person.” It actually comes from “Nawab,” which is someone, particularly a European, “who has made a large fortune in India or another country of the East.”
Say what?
Read related story: Coral Gables’ Jim Cason decline mayoral debates
The mayor claimed that Cabrera was using scare tactics by exaggerating crime statistics, but he was the one who ran one of the most dishonest campaigns Ladra has ever seen.
Quietly dishonest. Discreetly dishonest.
First, he selectively omitted business burglaries and auto burglaries and backyard burglaries to present skewered crime figures that indicated crime was actually down. That’s not just lying, that’s irresponsible.
He uses Cabrera’s own words out of context and lies about the ex commissioner’s track record.
The incumbent mayor, who used the bully pulpit to promote himself, was dishonest again and exaggerated his civic performance by saying he attended 5,100 in four years. We later learned it was about half of that, according to a calendar obtained by the Herald, and that those included every s
ingle meeting he had in his office — even those with his secretary or his campaign manager, of all people.
Later, he sent a poster-sized mailer that looked like it came very officially from the city, celebrating 90 years of perfection. It was subtle, and never said vote for Cason. But it was paid for by his PAC and produced by his campaign manager, Jorge de Cardenas, and the subliminal message was there: “Things are going great. Let’s keep the status quo.”
The same misleading tactic was used in a Neighbors ad that had the mayor surrounded by the commission with their thumbs up in front of City Hall. At least two of the four commissioners told Ladra that they didn’t know that photo would be used in campaign materials and did not mean that thumbs up as an endorsement.
Read related story: Jim Cason trades smooth sidewalks for votes
Cason also admitted that his campaign team was reporting sidewalks that needed repair — through the mayor’s wife — to the public works department. That could be a violation of the city charter that would call for his removal from office. And Ladra is still pursuing that.
At best, Cason’s convenient exaggerations convinced people that he was, indeed, the best thing to happen to the Gables since George Merrick. At worst, he bought votes with smooth sidewalks.
Unfortunately, most of these shenanigans became 
public just a few days before the election, which means many people had voted by absentee ballot already. They didn’t get to hear about all this shady shit until it was too late.
And that may be why the margins are so different between the AB votes and the Election Day turnout. Cason won 62 percent of the AB vote but barely got 50 percent of the Election Day vote. By then, many more voters had heard about his shenanigans.
So we can safely say that most of the people who voted for him were fooled.
And complicit in that were Commissioners Pat Keon and Vince Lago, who know better, who both said that their photos were used without permission for Cason’s campaign, but who said nothing throughout the lies and exaggerations. Tsk, tsk. They could have and should have said something. After all, they represent the residents, too. And they just let them be lied to.
Read related story: Coral Gables precedent height can be undone Election Day
Cabrera kept his campaign clean and honest. Even the negative mailers and emails — which pointed out Cason’s la
ck of leadership and precedent-setting vote on the Mediterranean Village height (which also happened after many absentee ballots were cast) — were 100 percent truthful. He won both debates with more ideas and more knowledge of Coral Gables than the absent mayor. And he created more buzz in social media.
I helped with that part of the campaign and I know that I am not alone when I say that I hope Ralph stays active and starts campaigning for 2017 right away. He owes it to the 3,301 people who voted for him and believed in him, like Ladra.
Because one thing is for sure: Cason, who trounced Cabrera in 2013 with 71 percent of the vote, did not get a mandate this year with 57 percent. His big margin with the absentee ballots (62-38) dropped every time a precinct came in.
And at the end of the day, his 42-point lead from two years ago shrunk to 14.
So he didn’t fool everybody.
Coral Gables: Dishonest campaign nets Cason smaller win added by Ladra on
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To Steven,
Thanks for your analysis. However, if that is your reasoning behind elections, Hillary Clinton might as well “through in the towel” now.
“Porque lo que le va ha quaer encima, var ser un piano de cola” with all her scandals.
Let’s microwave some popcorn!!!
In regards to winning Miami Springs…. I would like to enlightened you.. two incumbents lost. The reason why people showed up to vote by a 30 percent increase is not a “secret”. When people are upset at wasteful spending, they go out a vote…and it showed. The people that voted won!
Well, Well…
The Ralph Cabrera described by “I Know You” is not the person with years of tenure who worked as a commissioner. Insulting comments to discount the man who championed traffic calming, bike paths, additional police presence, anti-crime, additional lighting, etc. Well, enjoy Mayor Cason’s upcoming term in office. Expect higher density and increased traffic and he parties with the well-heeled and influential.
No one could argue that the prez elections of ’08 and ’12 were near run things and Obama didn’t crack 52%. The ’84 dismantling of Mondale by Reagan? Reagan managed to get 58%. So yeah, 57% is a beat down. Perhaps it isn’t the ass whooping of 60+ but you have to be a pretty awful candidate to cede 60%. Honestly if you cede that number in one election, trust me, you shouldn’t run against that same person a second time. You will make up ground but you will NEVER make up enough unless he’s screwing interns (maybe) or engaging in bestiality and there are photos to prove it.
“Nattering nabobs”? Really? The first — and only other — public official to use that phrase was Spiro Agnew, and we all know what became of him. Resigned the vice presidency in disgrace to avoid likely indictment, conviction, and a stay in the pokey.
Perhaps the same fate may yet befall Cason. Perhaps prosecutors and a grand jury ought to now weigh in. From what you & others have told us about him, Ladra, there looks to be some sleazy, possibly indictable offenses he’s committed.
Somebody ought to slip him the # for Ben Kuehne (renowned lawyer to embattled local mayors). Who knows? Cason may need his services one day.
Thoroughly enjoying this dirty laundry show and basking in Cason’s drubbing of 2-time-loser Cabrera who showed some really weird behavior to many prominent people as using the “FU” and middle finger with gusto and alacrity
We all said his ridiculous phrase “Im a competitive biker” whenever we wanted a quick laugh and his white mascara makeup and dark-dyed matted hair made him look like “Freddy of the Munster Family”
OMG, who in their right mind, no matter how hard Fred Balsera tried; can imagine this candidate to really carry the day and be Mayor?
Nobody in his team knows how to really do a campaign and rumor has it that panic set in three weeks before election with histrionics and dissension amongst the inner circle as Balsera realized he made a fatal mistake when Ralph came to him to sell himself
Truth is, none of you in your team will ever again work together once more and that could be a good thing for you
So Ladra, you can’t win any elections you ever tried to work on in the Gables and neither will Dario or that AB-loco-man
57 % is a blowout and being pissed off about it is music to our ears
Ladra,
So all you are doing here with your blog is playing politics, not reporting it?
The above back and forth clearly shows how disfunctional the Cabrera campaign was. The attention and money hungry neophyte Ladra, the overpaid and overrated Balsera, the tactical spaghetti thrower to see what sticks, Moreno, the yo! Ill do anything, dark horse Anutnez couldn’t do much with over 100,000 dollars…. So the blame game begins. BTW, loosing to 57 percent in the real world is an ass whipping Ladra.
A gracious winner, Jim Cason is not.
To an outsider, Ralph ran a solid campaign and made up a lot of ground, but it was too much to overcome.
Ladra, will you be posting your thoughts on Group V or do I post my comments here?
Well, now that it’s over, we can go ahead speak freely, without the accusation of election smearing. Cason and Quesada are both in with developer sponsors and friends, and it’s not a hard trail to follow. If only for that reason, voters should have chosen otherwise. As it stands now, anyone that greases a palm or two will have fast track approval for development in the city commission for the next two years. Big business won this election, and it’s a disservice to the city and most of the residents. Sadly, we’ve also learned that there is no one to police election misbehavior, and no consequence for ethics violations, intimidation, or for that matter, debates clearly aimed at favoring the incumbent. I would have never guessed that this city was really so “small town” in that respect.
I always thought the beauty of Coral Gables was how different it was from the surrounding areas. Oh well, now we’re really like everyone else around us. We have “City of Miami-like” political shenanigans, crime like Coconut Grove, and soon, we’ll have more Mary Brickell villages than Brickell. Sounds great!!
PS – If someone would be so kind as to explain why Vince Lago was campaigning for Tony Newell at the polls. I knew Lago was supporting Newell, but to actively sit there and campaign? Why is the tie so strong?
At least it’s only a two year term.
This was a race that I was watching very closely, unfortunately, sitting on the sideline. I am not here to tell you “I told you so” just wanted to go back and remind Elaine about the time we spoke on the phone after I met with Cabrera and you dismissed me and went on about how the AB’s were no secret and not so difficult, all you have to do is this, this and that. As you can clearly see, there is ALOT more to a successful and LEGAL AB Operation. I am the first to admit, I’ve lost many campaigns due to the AB’s in my time being a consultant – but ive learned from my mistakes and have developed a LEGAL and SUCCESSFUL strategy. Everyone has to stick to what they’re good at and not spread themselves out too thin. In my opinion, there are many wannabe “strategists/consultants” that see campaigns as a cash cow and dont care about the residents/voters theyre affecting by cashing in with the campaign and leaving the campaign with little to no money to execute strategy and inform voters about the candidates message and platform.
Unfortunately, the losers are the residents of Coral Gables.
Pedro Diaz
Pedro, mi amigo, while I admit the campaign was a little dysfunctional at times, we did have people doing what they knew, including folks with AB experience. I did not do that part. I stuck with what I know: messaging. Plus, if I remember that call correctly, I told you to call Freddy.
And you are right about consultants/operatives rushing to get into a campaign because they think they are cash cows. As I remember, you were looking to get paid as well.
And I’m glad you admitted to losing more races than winning… in fact, you’ve won one, correct?
Everybody learns from their mistakes. Or most of us do, anyway. I’ve already been Monday morning quarterbacking since, well, Monday morning.
Love, Ladra
Elaine, not to go back and forth on your blog, but you not once mentioned anything about contacting anybody. What i do remember very clearly is you going off on how I as many other people were reaching out to help Cabrera and the more people involved means the less money for you.
RE: the consultants using campaigns as cash cows, it is very true. Anybody that knows me and has met with me to assist in their campaigns, can tell you Im not in it for the money. I want a W. The money will come later. Now, im not telling you ill do things for free, but i will charge a much smaller margin of what the usual suspects are charging.
RE: wining one election, yes your correct, ive won one election this month (Miami Springs) which was actually won with record high numbers. Ive included a link to my website where you can see the previous campaigns we’ve managed and im sure youll see a few familiar names. 😉 (http://diazcg.com/what-we-do/campaigns/)
Any questions, let me know.
Pedro Diaz
Gotta give a little back to that forth, because you are wrong on several points.
I did tell you to call Freddy, because he was deciding who would be on the team and had already “vetoed” my first suggestion moments earlier, which is why I was frustrated when we spoke.
I also never said it meant less money for me and you have lost all credibility saying that because guess what? My rate was set and it was NOT for AB chasing. It would not have been less if you or anybody else had joined the team or if you had gotten your $5,000 for your special AB operation. I would have made the same amount, which after expenses, is not all that much.
Also, unlike you, I really did not do it for the money. The amount of time and work was worth much more. I did it because I believe in Ralph. You don’t even KNOW Ralph. And he lost the previous election by more than 40 points. He was a total underdog and many never gave him a chance. So forgive me if I don’t think you did it for the W, which was a long shot, and of which you now have two, not one. I stand corrected.
Love, Ladra
Ok. 🙂
Cabrera lost because he squandered 100k on Dario Moreno, Freddy Balsera, Antunes Dark Horse Staregies, Ladra and many more political hacks and consultants.
Great piece of information. Dario Moreno plays the role of the “good professor” at FIU but he is knee deep in absentee ballot fraud. He is part of the rotten absentee ballot fraud machine headed by our infamous lobbyists, campaign managers and corrupt Miami-Dade County mayor.
Mayor Cason is showing his age (and so am I by writing this). “Nattering nabobs of negativism” was penned by President Nixon’s speechwriter William Safire and spoken by Spiro Agnew (later VP under Nixon).
The quote is: “In the United States today, we have more than our share of nattering nabobs of negativism. They have formed their own 4-H club — the hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history.”
All in all, I am happy that Jeannette Slesnick is in office.
Those AB’s they get you every time. Sounds like Cason had a better AB operation than Cabrera. The better man lost. Hope Cabrera runs again.
You have gone from a credible Journalist to a close minded activist.
57% is a big margin – Coral Gables has spoken and rejected Cabrera twice. Next time around we need fresh faces and a more civil campaign.
I thought of Cabrera as a viable candidate until I saw an endorsement letter he received from Mayor Carlos Gimenez in which Gimenez praised Cabrera and criticized Cason for a recent rash of burglaries that occurred in Coral Gables. It dawned on me at that time that Cabrera is just another string puppet pushed by Freddy Balsera and willing to fall in line with the established corruption that nauseates South Florida. Had I lived in the Gables, Gimenez’s endorsement of Cabrera would have been enough for me to vote for Cason.
While I am sure that was exactly as it was intended to look, the email blast endorsement letter was NOT from Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez.
It was from Carlos J. Gimenez, his lobbyist son who happens to work for Cabrera’s campaign manager, Freddy Balsera, who never clued Ladra in to much of what he produced, including this piece. Maybe intentionally. I would have told him it was a boneheaded idea. Not just because it is misleading and borders on shady — I mean, who the heck is CJ Gimenez to be endorsing anybody — but also because I’m not so sure Mayor Gimenez would be a good endorsement to have these days. Just saying.
I’m almost certain it cost him votes. I just don’t think it cost him 1,000 votes.
Love, Ladra
Sounds like sour grapes Ladra. As predicted, Cabrera was not going to win. And as predicted, you are going to play the blame game.
Facts are stubborn things, Mr. Matters — or should I say Sen. Matters? Truth also includes standing publicly for your position instead of hiding behind anonymous names and fake emails.
Cason did, in fact, slip from 71% approval to 57%. He did, indeed, only get just barely over 50% on Election Day. He did, actually, lie and mislead voters — as well as promise sidewalk repairs and maybe deliver on them.
Truth, indeed, matters.
Love, Ladra