Ariel Fernandez Wins

Ariel Fernandez Elected to Coral Gables City Commission

Ariel Fernandez, the editor of the Gables Insider blog, defeated lawyer Alex Bucelo on Tuesday to win one of two open seats on the Coral Gables City Commission.

Fernandez won the Commission Group V seat with approximately 58% of the vote, while Bucelo received about 42%.

The race was centered on concerns about over-development in Coral Gables. Fernandez, who has been a vocal critic of development, pledged to fight for residents’ interests on the commission. Bucelo, who was endorsed by Mayor Vince Lago and other city officials, said he would work to balance the needs of residents and developers.

Fernandez’s victory is a sign of the growing discontent among Coral Gables residents with the current state of development in the city. In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile development projects that have been met with opposition from residents.

Fernandez’s election gives residents a voice on the commission who is willing to stand up to developers and fight for their interests. He will be a valuable asset to the commission and will help to ensure that Coral Gables remains a livable city for all residents.

Run Off for Group IV

In the four-way race for City Commission Group IV, candidates Ivette Arango O’Doski and Melissa Castro are headed to a runoff later this month after neither candidate managed to secure over 50% of the vote.

O’Doski led with about 47%, followed by Castro with approximately 39%. The other two candidates in the race, former Coral Gables Mayor Jim Cason and real estate agent John Zucco, received about 10% and 4% of the vote, respectively.

The runoff election is scheduled for Tuesday, April 25. The winner will replace former Mayor Jim Cason, who was appointed to the commission in December to fill a vacancy.