It is a sad state for the Coral Gables voter that the most exciting part of Tuesday night’s debate was when Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez — on a mayoral campaign of his own in the neighboring city — popped in unexpectedly.
Suarez came in during the second debate, a little late but there to support his friend, Vicente “Vince” Lago, who is one of three candidates (and a sure thing) to replace termed-out Gables Commissioner Ralph Cabrera, who is running for mayor. That Group 2 race will also briefly feature one-time state rep candidate Ross Hancock, who has the neatest little car and should have run in the wide open other group, and community activist Marlin Ebbert.
Suarez stuck around to watch the mayoral debate between Cabrera and Mayor James Cason, though he spent a bit of that time chatting with Lago and texting (to Lago?).
Suarez later told Ladra that he was staying out of the contentious mayoral race. But he then spontaneously volunteered that he liked Cason.
“I think the mayor has done a fantastic job,” he said, choosing a much more generous adjective than he needed to. He said his opinion of the mayor also had to do with the up-to-now freshman on the dais. “He is part of the coalition that Frank Quesada also belongs to,” Suarez said, reminding Ladra that Commissioner Quesada, “The Cuban Kerdyk,” was also his pal.
Lago, who is basically a shoe-in, would be his second friend on that commission, and part of what Ladra calls the new guard of Cuban politicos.
“I’ve known him my whole life. He is a loyal friend, a family man, which is important to me. He comes from a family with tremendous integrity and work ethic,” Suarez told Ladra, adding that the candidate’s construction business background (read: job as a project manager with a developer) is a plus.
“He brings a fresh perspective, a unique perspective. As the city appropriates funds to projects, it is good to have an expert.”
And two friends in one bush are better than one. My words, not his.
Miami’s Suarez surprises at snoozefest Gables debate added by Ladra on
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