Sources say the mayor’s allies recruited the candidate
Richard Lara, executive vice president and general counsel at Spanish Broadcasting Systems, chose the Coral Gables Commission’s public comments section Tuesday to announce that he was going to run against Commissioner Kirk Menendez in 2025.
But first, he gave a traditional 305 stump speech introduction about his family fleeing communist Cuba, his father working a maintenance job at a Gables apartment building so they could live there, his graduating from Coral Gables High as a Sliver Knight, his 26-year marriage and three daughters, his private firm, his job now as VP and GC at SBS, his experience on the judicial committee, Florida Bar and Easter Seals, his service on the citywide anti-crime committee — as Menendez’s appointment, no less.
And he did this all using city resources. His self-serving “public comments” should have come with a disclaimer.
Lara owned his own boutique law firm for 18 years, according to his LinkedIn page, until he won a big case for SBS, defending executive vice president Jesus Salas against allegations of fraud and rape and sodomy and more levied by his ex-girlfriend, Latin pop star wannabe Katherine Alexander, in a Miami-Dade civil lawsuit where she sought $10 million. After just a three-week trial in the summer of 2016, the jury found no liability on Salas’ part.
By August that year, Lara was EVP and general counsel at SBS.
Lara said his candidacy is a result of the direction the city has taken since Menendez, on several key votes, joined the two commissioners elected last year over Mayor Vince Lago‘s loud objections. He said the commission voting to give themselves an increase in compensation and to fire the city manager in a “cruel and arrogant” manner were examples of “the chaos currently running rampant” on the dais.
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“As a seasoned problem solver,” Lara said, still sounding like he’s on a campaign stop, “I’ve always counseled individuals and businesses with respect, civility and professionalism throughout my career. These are the very principles that sadly are sorely missing on this commission.
“Over the past two years, I’ve witnessed the steep decline of due process, transparency and professionalism in our commission,” Lara said in his six-minute self promotion.
“Coral Gables commissioners were the gold standard, a shining example for all other communities on how to best govern effectively with dignity and integrity and professionalism. But not anymore,” Lara said, calling his decision to run “a call to action” and saying he was “overwhelmed and humbled” by the encouragement he has received.
What he didn’t say was that he received some of that encouragement from former Mayor Raul Valdes Fauli, a Lago ally who, las malas lenguas say, was instructed to find a challenger for Menendez. Which we all knew would happen, right? Commissioners Melissa Castro and Ariel Fernandez still have three years on their terms. Kirk is the low hanging fruit.
Lara was also “encouraged” (read: recruited) by former Commissioner Wayne “Chip” Withers, another Lago ally who didn’t say anything Tuesday but just happened to follow Lara out of the commission chambers when the candidate was done with his speech. Which, again, came with all the trappings of a typical campaign message.
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There was talk of “taxpayer relief” and lowering the tax rate but keeping police well staffed and protecting “green spaces” and “walkability.” Did he miss anything?
Asked to weigh in, Menendez — who has been hit with a number of text messages from an anonymous source — told Ladra it ain’t no big deal.
“We live in a democracy,” he texted. “Looking forward to the race and debating the issues that matter most to Coral Gables residents.”
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