After months of swearing up and down that they had the authority to move Coral Gables elections to November without asking anybody, a majority of the commission suddenly got religion this week and voted to let residents decide. But don’t be fooled: it’s not exactly democracy at work.
Instead of putting the question on a regular ballot where most people actually vote, the commission scheduled a special mail-only referendum for April 21, 2026 — guaranteeing that only a sliver of the electorate will weigh in on an issue that affects everybody. If this is really about turnout, why pick the one path that ensures turnout will be tiny?
Ah, because then it’s easier to affect the outcome.
Read related: Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago caves on election change; wants public vote
Mayor Vince Lago, Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, and Commissioner Richard Lara — the same trio who passed the ordinance in May to unilaterally shift elections — spun this as giving voters “the final say.” What they really did was load up a special April 2026 ballot with a bunch of their pet charter changes, hoping to turn a political setback into a political jackpot.
Among them: setting up an Inspector General’s office, forcing the charter review committee to meet every 10 years, and requiring voter approval for commission raises. And, of course, a measure that says future election-date changes must go to the voters — which is rich, considering these very same commissioners already voted to do it themselves without asking anyone. And then defended that vote.
The whole thing was conditional, though. The referendum would only happen if Miami lost all its appeals in the parallel election-change case. And they did. If Miami had prevailed in changing their election from November in odd-numbered years to even-numbered years — effectively extending terms by an extra 12 months — Coral Gables would have stuck with the ordinance already passed and move elections to November of next year anyway, without having to get the pesky voters involved.
So, L’Ego’s sudden change of heart is less about giving the voters a “final say,” and more about giving himself a political insurance policy.
Read related: City of Miami drops legal fight to change/cancel election, takes it to voters
Commissioner Melissa Castro — who has been the only consistent voice for a real referendum — voted no. Not because she opposes asking voters, but because she opposes doing it this way. She argued for putting the question on the April 2027 ballot, instead of rushing into a mail-only vote in 2026. She even showed a slide deck with all the extra printing and mailing costs, which adds up to almost $80,000.
“Let’s do it the right way,” she urged. “Don’t do it just to get me out of office.
“You said I wouldn’t win an election. To be honest, you don’t know if I’m going to run again. I don’t know if Im going to run again,” Castro said. “But I could guarantee you one thing: If I’m going to run, I’m going to win. There’s no fighting that.
“So, don’t be so worried. Don’t be so preoccupied,” she told the mayor. “I would never get into something I can’t win.”
Lago brushed it off, claiming long-term savings once April elections are gone. But it’s pretty obvious that the change is about making it harder for independent candidates like Castro and Commissioner Ariel Fernandez, who were elected against the mayor’s wishes in 2023, L’Ego has made it clear with statements about “special interests” not controlling the election outcome.
But while she voted against the move on principle, Castro was thrilled that the commission voted to put the election change on the ballot. “This is a complete victory but not for me,” Castro said. “For the people of Coral Gables.”
Well, maybe. But right now, it feels more like a victory for Lago and company, who get to reframe their blunder as magnanimity — while still making sure the vote happens under their terms, on their timeline, with their question on the ballot. The mayor even suggested that the city do some “educational outreach,” which he said lacked for the Little Gables annexation referendum that city voters rejected overwhelmingly (63%) last year. And Ladra suspects Lago is going to bring that annexation attempt back (more on that later).
Read related: Coral Gables voters reject annexation of Little Gables — and Mayor Vince Lago
Y por supuesto they want a mail-only referendum in April of next year. They can control the smaller turnout. But it undercuts the whole “increase turnout” excuse that LALala campaigned on. If increasing participation from 20% to 30% in odd-numbered years to 80% with state and general elections is the true goal, why not wait and do it when the most voters will actually vote?
There is a perfectly good alternative that won’t cost as much: Having the referendum on the November 2026 midterm ballot. That would guarantee a higher turnout and would also allow the city to make the change after the April 2027 election, because voters would know that the candidates they elect for mayor and commissioner will serve a term that is five months shorter. If it’s true that he’s polled Castro’s seat five times and she is “underwater,” as he said in last week’s commission meeting, then he should be confident that his candidate, whoever she may be, will beat Castro in April. No? Or would she only lose in November?
Could it be that this isn’t really about turnout or saving money at all, but about controlling the process and future elections?
The post Coral Gables puts election year change on the ballot — a mail-in only ballot appeared first on Political Cortadito.
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