The upset was not a surprise. The margin was.
Melissa Castro won the commission runoff race in Coral Gables Tuesday against the better funded, establishment backed Ivette Arango O’Doski by 18 points, 59% to 41%. That’s an even wider margin than the mandate given to Commissioner Elect Ariel Fernandez on April 11.
“Residents are tired of what’s happening in the Gables and they saw me as a door to getting their city back,” Castro told Ladra Tuesday night as she celebrated the victory at Bulla Gastrobar with more than 100 or so supporters, including Commissioner Kirk Menendez — who had endorsed Arango O’Doski — and former commissioners Ralph Cabrera and Jorge Fors.
Read related: In Coral Gables runoff, establishment lobbyist faces grass roots resident
“I’m not going to let them down. I’m 100% for the residents,” Castro said.
Castro’s victory Tuesday is another slap in the face to Mayor Vince Lago, who had endorsed Arango O’Doski in Group 4 and attorney Alex Bucelo in the Group 5 race. Lago likely had a hissy fit Tuesday night. He no longer has an easy ride on everything he does before the commission.
The election is definitely a referendum on Lago. People were voting against him, not necessarily for Castro. In fact, if Lago were to run today, if he had been challenged, he would have lost.
Like the April 11 outcome that saw Fernandez elected, the end result Tuesday is yet another sign that (a) money doesn’t necessarily win races in Coral Gables — Castro raised less than 10% of what Arango O’Doski pulled in — (b) partisan politics don’t play well here either and (c) negative attack ads almost never work in the City Beautiful. In fact, they may backfire.
“The dirty campaign turned people off,” said Sue Kawalerski, the president of the influential Gables Neighbors United umbrella group of homeowner associations, reportedly representing at least 16,000 residents, which had endorsed Castro and Fernandez.
Arango supporters hoped that texts about Castro’s non-existing voting record would suppress voters — and they did. They suppressed her own voters. They also came too late, after more than half the voters had already cast their ballots via mail.
Read related: For independence in Coral Gables, vote Melissa Castro and Ariel Fernandez
The Arango O’Doski camp raised $223,600 just in her campaign account, according to the latest finance reports. Just counting that, she spent almost $95 per vote. But it was more. Unknown amounts of dark money funded the same kind of misleading and negative texts that were sent on Bucelo’s behalf against Fernandez.
“I’m just glad all the dirty tricks didn’t work,” Castro said Tuesday. “People are tired of not being heard. And that’s exactly what I intend to do. I’m here to represent them. I’m here to make sure this city is a resident city once again.”
The huge margins in their wins are a mandate, both commissioners elect said. “It’s a cry for help,” said Castro, a psychologist who inherited her mother’s permit expediting service.
Said Fernandez: “This is a mandate from residents to change the direction of our local government.
“This wasn’t close.”
Kawalerski said that residents are hopeful that Menendez and/or Commissioner Rhonda Anderson — who was reportedly out of town Tuesday — will join the two newcomers and forge a residents’ fire wall against overdevelopment on the commission dais. She said it’s different from the hope felt two years ago when they elected Anderson as a “voice for the residents,” which has not really turned out that way.
“There’s a tremendous difference,” Kawalerski said. “This is a mandate by a super majority of the voters. Hopefully, it will open the eyes of the city staff and administration and some commissioners.
“It’s time to hit reset.”
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Dear Ms DeValle:
Thank you for info on financial differential.
WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO WRITE ABOUT THE CITIZENS UNITED ENABLED DEVELOPER OCRACY, AND ITS PART-CURE, AMENDMENT OF THE CITY CHARTER?!
Sincerely,
Jackson Rip Holmes
[…] Read related: In Coral Gables, Melissa Castro wins runoff with huge mandate margin […]
[…] Read related: In Coral Gables, Melissa Castro wins runoff with huge mandate margin […]
Hey, Pedro Churches, how’s your Communications plan going?
Is it better than two years ago? It’s been fun to watch this recent election smackdown, which is a humiliating, deflating, reality-check referendum about your administration. Remember when you said you didn’t read the “blog”? Oops, I bet you’re reading what your new boss is writing about you, your enablers, and your protegees. Did you foresee this when you hired your AP Style-obsessed corporate comm buddy? The one that killed the videos, all the social media influence, and the parks publication – you know, the lady nobody likes. But I hear she delivers pretty flowers, expensive catering at your party openings, and nicely punctuated speeches. So, what’s going to happen to your inside posse? I heard you moved Baby Boss out of sight to protect her and promoted La Pelada to improve the entire economy. Will HR’s “I wrote the Hudak speech” betray you like she did your predecessor, and how will your buds Tsunami Cannabis, or PW’s “Palacio de los Jugos” be able to survive without you? Such a fast-and-furious burnout in such a short time. Whoomp, there it is! Shaka-laka-shaka-laka
Congratulations on a well earned victory to Melissa and Ariel. As others have noted, us CG residents have won with both of these candidates. And the fact that both candidates won using a grassroots campaign with no endorsements and no money from developers or special interest groups sends an awesome and huge message: We residents and these candidates will not be bought or be corrupt. Now the real work starts for both of them. And our job as residents is also not over. Vote out Menendez, he is a coward and only cares about himself. Let’s get a true leader that is not beholden to developers or special interest and vote him for Mayor while we vote Lago out. Peter Iglesias should also be asked to leave. This is a good first step, I am very happy we voted for these two and let’s keep it going to take back our city.
I’ve never been more proud of my fellow CG residents!!! This goes to show everyone, especially Mayor Vinny and his cronies, that the City Beautiful is ours, not theirs. And even though my vote for Ariel and Melissa was a vote for them, it was also a warning shot for Anderson and Menéndez: do what you have to do to put the residents’ priorities before anyone else’s or you will lose out come the next election cycle. Now we realize it is a shame nobody wants to run against Mayor Vinny… Like Ladra said: he would have lost, fair and square.
p.s. Has the Chief of Police resigned yet? Didn’t he promise to do so if Ariel won the election? Now Melissa has won too. We are waiting for the Chief to show he’s got what it takes and go. Maybe he can get a gig in the Miami Beach PD…
I have a “rule”, and like most of my rules, I follow it 95% of the time: If you use nasty, disparaging ads, I don’t vote for you. The reason is simple: to throw excrement at someone your hands have to be filled with it. It worked, even if I could fill my recycling bin with stuff from the losing parties.
God bless Coral Gables.
The Emperor has no clothes!!!
To our new commissioners, congratulations. It certainly was a referendum on Lago (or should I say his handlers).
Be careful of special treatment or favors to anyone. No one should have prioritized access to elected officials. Each voter should be treated the same especially if you claim you are for the residents- all of them. The CGNA does not represent 16,000 people. They don’t even have meetings for the “members” so don’t let that “scare” you.
Mark my words, if you give prioritized access now you will realize the moment you do not feed the beast, it will turn on you and eat you alive. It’s what happened to Lago. He created the monster.
Again a Finalist Underdog is Elected , Showing That Developer$, Consultant$, and Lobbyist/Attorney$ Where NOT allowed to Buy The Votes ? Maybe Because They Don’t Have or Want Public Housing ? CONGRATS !
“People were voting against him, not necessarily for Castro.“?
My vote was 100% FOR Melissa Castro!
It’s a great day for Melissa, Ariel, and the Residents of Coral Gables!
Congratulating Gables residents for electing young, Hispanic independent officials.
Wish rest of Dade county voters would do the same.
The people have spoken. Finally, we will be heard. Two very capable, caring and honest candidates have won. Coral Gables residents saw through the smoke and made their choice known.