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

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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.

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33 Responses to "Coral Gables Vince Lago is running slate of candidates in April election"

  21. Legit question: What the hell is the point of voting in Miami-Dade elections? Absolutely EVERYONE that runs for elected office here is a spineless, conniving venal scumbag. Bucelo is a momma’s boy with his head firmly planted in the worst culos. Lago yearns to be a Gables Fidel. Fernandez seems to be motivated by spite in all that he does. Arango is so full of crap, it’s a wonder she doesn’t sprout daisies. As far as I can tell, this is a rogues’ gallery masquerading as qualified candidates. Not to mention this is the GABLES, one of the “elite” communities in the county. Perhaps we should change our county flag to a plantain and a raft with a Star of David on top to more accurately reflect the power dynamics in this farce of a community.

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  22. Fernandez is not ideal, but would you rather have someone that votes with Lago all the time? Unless someone runs soon, we’re going to be stuck with little Vinny for two more years.

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  23. I agree. No one should vote for anyone Kevin Marino Cabrera is allied with. He is a big Trump-supporter and therefore a disaster. We must stand up for our democracy and reject election deniers.

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  24. So now Ariel Fernandez’s “news” blog is working on getting out the vote for an election in which he is running? And his political yard signs say “Gables Insider” on them? Is that even legal? This is Banana Republic stuff.

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  25. Berta is 100% correct. Everything she claims about Ariel Fernandez is true. Mr. Fernandez’s small stakes blog channels the yellow journalistic techniques developed by William Randolph Hearst. I have heard it referred to as the Gables Inciter and I agree with the moniker. Mr. Fernandez incites division in the community to fuel his ambitions and satisfy his petty self-interests. He trades in misinformation and toxicity. Given the choice between Alex Bucelo and Ariel Fernandez, I will hold my nose and vote for Bucelo in the hopes that he will have a conscience and not be a rubber stamp for Mayor Lago’s agenda of ego, should he be re-elected. On that, given the widening chinks in the Mayor’s armor, will a viable opponent declare? One thing is certain, the next three months in the City Beautiful will be interesting times.

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  26. Ariel Fernandez is a David Rivera crony (his former staffer). He pretends to be a journalist but unlike Ladra, he is not. He had no real job, so he started a blog where he twists and misrepresents the facts relating to his stories to the residents to further his own political ambitions. The man is running a political blog WHILE running for office in the only City he covers. Ever heard of a conflict of interest? He routinely harasses and humiliates city employees and has openly threatened to re-install Frank Fernandez as Chief Ed Hudak’s supervisor. Now he is also in bed with the unions which will lead to increased taxes. He bad mouths Lago because he didn’t get his endorsement even though he worked on his last campaign (getting work on a campaign while your covering it as a journalist? Shady.). Will he continue operating his blog if elected or just live off the $20,000 salary? Fernandez ran before and LOST badly. He also ran the campaign of Joe Carollo crony Javier Banos last election and of course LOST again. Birds of a feather. Residents need to support ANYONE that runs against Ariel Fernandez and once again reject his City of Miami politics in Coral Gables. How can anyone trust the “reporting” of a political candidate? I pray Ladra helps expose Mr. Fernandez.

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  27. Any One But “Lago” Will the SAO K Fernandez Will Look at The Rampant CORRUPTION in #OURPOLITICIANS in Miami Dade County and The County Boards like COE & OIG ?

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  28. Three votes. That’s all it takes. Rhonda is not a guaranteed third vote as he had hoped for. He will essentially be a strong Mayor. Well played.

    Like other comments here, I would never vote for Lago or anyone he endorses- I will do my part and vote. I judge people by the company they keep and if he’s your company, take a good look at yourself.

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  32. If it’s connected to Lago, i will not vote for them. He is supporting them because he wants a voting bloc, including politicians that will support him when runs for higher office.

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