Javier Baños
Baños is the Editor of Gables Insider
Over the last several months, residents of Coral Gables have received a steady stream of text messages, emails, and mailers from an organization called Coral Gables First, which describes itself as advocating for resident interests. However, a closer look at this organization raises questions about whether it truly prioritizes the needs of residents or if its primary focus lies elsewhere. As the April 8, 2025, election approaches—with Commissioner Kirk Menendez challenging Mayor Vince Lago for the mayoral seat—these questions become all the more pertinent.
Coral Gables First was established in October 2016 and has had a long history of aligning itself with city mayors, starting with Jim Cason, followed by Raul Valdes-Fauli, and now Vince Lago. Neither Cason, nor Valdes-Fauli have any present involvement. During a City Commission meeting last year, Mayor Lago referred to Coral Gables First as “My PAC” when questioned by Commissioner Melissa Castro. This remark highlights the close relationship between Lago and the political action committee. While political committees often play a role in shaping campaigns, it is worth exploring the extent to which Coral Gables First reflects broader community interests versus specific agendas.
Since Castro and Fernandez’s election, the balance of power has shifted in the City Commission, with a shift away from a push for more out of scale development to a push for resident priorities like sidewalk repairs, street repaving, public safety and historic preservation. However, Coral Gables First’s repeated attacks of Casto, Fernandez and Menendez have become the norm, along with attacks on anyone who dares question any policies advocated by Mayor Vince Lago and Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson.
A look into the funding sources of Coral Gables First provide some insight into its priorities. Developers and special interest groups dominate its donor list, contributing significant sums. While these contributions are legal and common in political fundraising, they underscore the influence that development and related industries have over the committee. Since its inception, Coral Gables First has raised $1,590,469.85. It currently shows $120,242.92 available for use. Key contributions include $555,875.00 from real estate development, investment, sales, or management; $100,000 from construction companies or contractors; $71,199.55 from other Political Committees; $42,250 from engineers or engineering firms; $47,050 from government affairs or consulting; $25,000 from Agave Holdings (owners of the Plaza); and $15,000 from lobbyist Les Pantin’s firm. These figures prompt a reflection on whether the committee’s priorities align more closely with the interests of its donors than with those of the residents.
Click here to see a full list of those who have contributed to Coral Gables First.
One of the more notable contributors to Coral Gables First was the late Sergio Pino, a prominent developer. Pino’s involvement in Coral Gables politics was significant, as he was also a financier of Accountable Coral Gables, a separate committee linked to Alex Bucelo’s campaign against Commissioner Ariel Fernandez. While Pino’s tragic death during an FBI raid sheds light on the complexities of his business dealings, his financial influence raises broader questions about how development interests have shaped political narratives in Coral Gables.
Coral Gables First’s expenditures also warrant examination. The committee has spent $368,967.24 on political consulting and services provided by Berthier Group, owned by Jesse Manzano. Manzano, who also manages Mayor Lago’s campaign through another firm, Trident Strategies, exemplifies the overlapping relationships within Coral Gables First and Mayor Lago’s politics. While such arrangements are not unusual, they do raise questions about the transparency and accountability of campaign funding and expenditures.
Since the elections of Commissioners Melissa Castro and Ariel Fernandez, and with the support of Commissioner Kirk Menendez, the City Commission has shifted its focus toward resident-centered policies. These priorities contrast with the pro-development agenda historically associated with Coral Gables First and its key supporters. The divergence in priorities raises an important question: should the city’s governance center on resident-driven policies, or should it prioritize the interests of developers and special interest groups?
As the April 2025 election heats up, Commissioner Kirk Menendez’s campaign against Mayor Lago highlights a broader debate about the future direction of the city. Menendez has positioned himself as an advocate for residents, emphasizing the importance of transparency and community priorities. Conversely, Mayor Lago’s reliance on Coral Gables First and its developer-backed funding invites questions about whether his administration’s policies adequately reflect resident concerns.
The role of political committees like Coral Gables First in shaping the city’s political landscape underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in local governance. While political fundraising and campaign strategies are integral to elections, they should not overshadow the voices and priorities of the community. Residents deserve to know whether their elected officials are making decisions based on their needs or influenced by outside interests.
Ultimately, the April 8, 2025, election will serve as a referendum on the city’s priorities. Voters will decide whether Coral Gables continues to pursue a path of rapid development or embraces a more balanced approach that prioritizes the needs of its residents. This decision will have lasting implications for the community, shaping its character and future for years to come. The outcome of this election will provide clarity on whether the city’s leadership is truly aligned with the interests of its people or remains tied to the priorities of political committees and their donors.
A commenter here espoused the opinion that George Merrick knew best to schedule elections in April. (This opinion has been voiced by KFC and KFC-adjacent candidates.)
This falls apart on even a cursory examination:
Merrick was a land promoter, not a James Madison. He almost certainly didn’t ponder local vs. national elections or how city politics would evolve in a century.
The April elections are championed by partisans who believe that the only way to win council seats is to discourage turnout. Some have outright said that the slim turnout is preferable because it winnows out the less-informed.
If we carry this reasoning to an extreme, Coral Gables should institute poll taxes to suppress turnout even further.
This thinking is in-American and anti-democratic. With a new rebalancing of the council’s membership this will be the last time we residents pay $200,000 for the deliberate purpose of keeping the riffraff from the polls.
Lago is divisive and has to go! Him wanting to move our elections to November says it all! George Merrick knew it was best to keep our City elections away from National elections for a reason….special interest groups would interfere and hijack our elections! Yet, this is what he wants. We aren’t stupid Vincent Lago – your reign is coming to an end!
… lago takes money from criminal developers like Pino and Kapoor… but others are unethical…. hires city manager iglesias without a process… but now we need a process for amos and new city manager… says others raised their own salaries… but voted for spending our money on his bloated staff and office improvements… lago is a hipocritcal lier that lacks leadership… the mess coral gables is in was created by him… and he blames everyone else… time to #drainthelago
I agree with everything stated in this article. the name Coral Gables First tries to align with Trump logo.
Mayor Vince Lago’s developer-funded machine, Coral Gables First, isn’t just attacking Commissioners Castro, Fernandez, and Menendez—it’s relentless. The attacks happen everywhere, even when their children are present. This is not politics. This is harassment.
Lago and his allies are using over $870,000 in developer and special interest money to silence the only commissioners fighting for residents—pushing false narratives and intimidation instead of addressing real issues like public safety, infrastructure, and historic preservation.
It’s time for transparency. We demand police reports—both inside and outside the city—to expose the full extent of this behavior. Coral Gables deserves leaders, not bullies.
The lesser of the 2 evils is Lago!
I am a long time resident and our City has been damaged by KFC!
NO to Menendez !
I will NOT vote for V. Lago.
mxtr55…I bet you don’t watch the commission or budget hearings.
The second budget hearing on July 10, 2024 has a clear explanation of how the salary increase was absolutely not “like someone coming into your house at night and taking your money without permission”. You might want to check it out yourself. Lots of inaccurate rumors being spread, but the truth is there if you want to hear it.
Discussion begins at the 2:22:48. With Lago and Fernandez…followed by Menendez at 2:23:35, citing Section 1, Article 1 in the City Charter.
It’s on YouTube.
If you want your commissioners to not be influenced by lobbyists and developers, then giving them a living wage is a good first step (although $60k is hardly that in this city and these times).
Transparency and accountability are meaningless words when uttered by the insurgent faction.
The salary boosts, whether justified or not, were buried in the budget. They were not presented as a free-standing item.
Even more flagrant were the backroom maneuvers in the city manager debacle(s). First the attempt to poach Cutié from the airport, then the abrupt ouster of Iglesias, the hiring of Rojas, then the hiring of Parjus: all reeked of backroom dealings
This article is a step in the right direction, as it avoids attacking and labeling the elected officials as has been done in the past—congratulations on that. However, I would appreciate some clarification regarding your statement: “Since the elections of Commissioners Melissa Castro and Ariel Fernandez, and with the support of Commissioner Kirk Menendez, the City Commission has shifted its focus toward resident-centered policies.”
Could you please explain how the following concerns align with this shift toward policies that truly benefit the residents?
Cost Savings: Why was the decision made not to move the elections from April to November, especially when doing so could save Coral Gables taxpayers money?
Compensation Increases: How do the immediate pay raises, increased expense accounts, and auto bonuses for commissioners, implemented soon after the election, serve the residents of Coral Gables?
City Manager Appointment: What was the rationale behind appointing an inexperienced city manager with a high salary, particularly when the position wasn’t adequately vetted? (There was the appearance of petty emotional attacks against the previous city manager by Fernandez.)
Communication and Collaboration: Why did the commissioners allow the former city manager to refuse to meet with the mayor, when meeting with a third party could have been a simple and effective solution for the residents? While I have not agreed with all Lago’s legislation, he is our elected official and the city manager should be open to input from each officer and should never place his selected position over those officials voted in by residents.
Search for City Manager: Why wasn’t a comprehensive search conducted to find the best-qualified candidate for the city manager role, which would benefit the residents?
If “Menendez has positioned himself as an advocate for residents, emphasizing the importance of transparency and community priorities,” his actions seem more self-serving.
I understand that some may view the pay increases as justified, but they might have been better received if implemented with more transparency. Given that commissioners are not full-time employees, it is difficult to see how these actions best serve the interests of the residents. Fairness to all residents is paramount.
We live in the City Beautiful, where progress and change are essential—regardless of who funds the candidates. Our offices, restaurants, and businesses—large and small—must remain vibrant, thriving, and welcoming for all.
KFC need to be thrown out with the garbage of burnt promises and self-serving moves!!
Castro does not even own property in Coral Gables – sure any resident can vote but to serve on our Board[Commission] she needs to have skin in the game & she does NOT!!
It appears that the often-cited commissioner pay raise issue is more of a PAC talking point rather than a true issue – but I am concerned about ever-increasing traffic, government spending transparency, and support for emergency services and recreational facilities to name a few. Most of us are also tired of attack ads and as previously mentioned, “this is not the Coral Gables way”!
As Aurelio Durana says, “good to have you back, Mr. Banos”. Very good reporting. People should learn and understand the back-story of the pay raises, something that was initiated by the City Manager at the time, since there had not been a pay-raises offered to the Commissioners and the Mayor for DECADES! Their current salaries, while “double” are still not a wage that a family could live on, especially in Coral Gables. Double a $5.00 salary, and it’s still only 10 bucks…That’s what happened here. ALL of the commissioners, including the Mayor, deserve getting paid something commensurate with their workload, – since their workload has increased multiple times over the years. It’s clear that Menendez, Castro and Fernandez work “for the residents”…the true stakeholders of Coral Gables. Higher salaries mean that there’s less temptation for alternative ‘ways’ for our Commissioners and Mayor to line their pockets (wink wink). This article touches that nerve. Again, thanks Javier!
There is a lot of baggage and malfeasance on both sides of the commission spectrum. Supporters of Lago and Anderson need to recognize their faults and failures. Supporters of Castro, Fernandez and Menendez need to do the same. Just because you have your positions does not mean you need to drink the Kool Aid peddled by those who claim to support your interests. Only a fool aligns herself or himself with a politician, and only a moron accepts what any politician says at face value without doing some homework.
Really look at the candidates before you vote. Then make an informed decision.
I feel I am reliving the Presidential election, having to pick the best of 2 evils. No matter what, We would never ever vote for Kirk and that includes Fernandez and Castro. The 3 amigos have grouped together to do some damage to our City and promote their own agenda. FIRST is how they have handled the City Manager’s position. First round they nominated someone who was totally incompetent for $1000/day. They never supported a search. When called on the table for it THEY DID IT AGAIN with the new manager. This is totally unacceptable and shows lack of honest leadership. As for the raise, they needed an increase but not to $60,000 / year AND an $8000 car budget. Kirk is an opportunist and joined them for his own agenda. I would never vote for him if you paid me, as he is truly underhanded. Isn’t there someone willing to run for Mayor who we may vote for, who is outside this mess? I may not like some of Lago’s dealings but I surely despise Kirk, Fernandez and Castro’s behavior. Adios 3 amigos.
Glad to have you back. And they thought the bogus lawsuit would help silence you.
Keep it up! Great reporting.
As a former supporter of Castro and Fernandez and an opponent of Lago in the previous election I can’t square how they have conducted themselves. I would love to see money removed from elections. It concerns me that Lago and other candidates receive large sums of money from anybody. But that concern was not in evidence when a paid canvasser came to my door seeking signatures for Lago recall. Lago and Anderson have been on the right side of three important issues which are central to accountability and democratic governance. Moving the elections to November. Proper vetting for the new city manager. Proper handling of a significant pay raise for sitting commissioners. Castro, Fernandez and Menander got these very important issues wrong. I’m voting for and Anderson and Lago because they got those questions right not withstanding my previous opposition to Lago or my previous support for Castro and Fernandez.
Knew, from the beginning, Coral Gables First was a Lago tool to spread his many lies. I no longer receive ANY communications from them. Lago has been, and will always be, FOR DEVELOPERS! The people woke up a while ago and we’re not stopping until we get the representation we deserve! Vote Lago out!
Cannot wait to vote for anyone except Vince Lago. The man has a fragile ego and relies on insane social media personalities in a sad attempt to boost his reputation.
Also not surprised in the slightest by the donors behind Coral Gables First, lmao
Great work, Mr Banos!
THANK YOU!
JR Holmes
Thomas Parker is absolutely correct. And by the way, the alignment of Lago and Pino tells us everything we need to know regarding honor and integrity.
Mea Culpa – I voted for three people that I now call “False Prophets” – think about it for a moment the meaning of that.
Kirk Menendez is an opportunist. He was following the Coat-Tails of Lago and Rhonda then he was swayed by money via a salary increase. Mind you, I do not find a $60k salary exorbitant, but it was the way they awarded themselves the increase. Like someone coming into your house in the middle of the night and taking your money w/o permission.
We all need to read between the lines and see what is going on. The Soiare they created will soon come to an end.
Coral Gables First is focused on the same three issues attacking Menendez , Castro and Fernandez constantly. It’s a turn off and frankly it’s not the Coral Gables way. Lago is the closest Coral Gables has ever been to city of Miami with his close relationship to the mayor and commissioner over there. It shows! Restore the Legacy and Prestige of coral gables and vote Lago and Anderson out !
Castro, Fernandez and Kirk most go!
Disappointing to see Vince Lago’s continued reliance on a PAC like Coral Gables First, which seems more aligned with developer interests than the needs of Coral Gables residents. Transparency and genuine community-driven policies are essential for our city, yet the funding sources and actions of this committee tell a different story. Residents deserve leadership that prioritizes their voices, not the wallets of special interest groups. The April election is a chance to shift focus back to the people who call Coral Gables home.
The 101% increase was $30k to $60k. That does not seem to represent an agenda for money. We elect 5 people to manage a $200 million plus dollar budget. $60k a year seems reasonable if they represent citizens interests and keep our city beautiful.
It is time for those Commissioners, who gave themselves a 101% compensation increase, to go.
FYI, we are talking about Kirk, Fernandez and Castro (also known as KFC). They talk about pursuing a high moral agenda, but in the back is about the money they can get for themselves. They talk about being ‘Resident First’, but when they vote they are ‘KFC First’.