The Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust has dismissed complaints filed by Gonzalo Sanabria against Coral Gables Commissioners Melissa Castro, Ariel Fernandez, and Kirk Menendez. The complaints alleged procedural and ethical violations in connection with the dismissal of former City Manager Peter Iglesias in February 2024 and the appointment of the current City Manager, Rojas. After review, the Ethics Commission concluded that the allegations lacked legal sufficiency and did not constitute a violation of the ethics ordinances under its jurisdiction.
Background of the Complaint
Gonzalo Sanabria, a frequent participant in City Commission meetings and a past commission candidate, filed the complaints on November 12, 2024. Zanabria alleged that the three commissioners violated the Coral Gables City Charter and procedural rules during the decision to remove Iglesias and appoint Rojas. This leadership change, which drew public and media scrutiny, had been a focal point for criticism, particularly by Iglesias himself in memos and interviews, as well as by Aesop’s Gables, a local newsletter closely associated with Mayor Vince Lago and his political allies.
Aesop’s Gables often critiques the decisions and actions of Commissioners Castro, Fernandez, and Menendez, while framing Mayor Lago and Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson in a favorable light. The newsletter published multiple pieces questioning the commissioners’ motives in replacing Iglesias, further fueling public debate about the issue.
Sanabria’s complaints alleged ethical breaches and conflicts of interest tied to the commissioners’ handling of the matter. However, the Ethics Commission dismissed the complaints at its December 11, 2024 meeting, finding no evidence of ethical violations or legal impropriety.
Ethics Commission’s Decision
The Ethics Commission determined that the complaints lacked the legal sufficiency required to proceed under the Miami-Dade County Code of Ethics. It emphasized that the Coral Gables City Charter grants the Commission broad authority over the hiring and dismissal of the City Manager and that such actions fall outside the jurisdiction of the Ethics Commission unless they violate specific ethics ordinances.
In its dismissal order, the Commission stated: “The three complaints fail to allege a violation of the Miami-Dade County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics ordinance or any matter within the jurisdiction of the Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust.”
While the Ethics Commission’s decision may appear to exonerate the Commissioners, the ruling does not necessarily address the broader concerns raised by the complaint. Instead, it underscores that the actions taken by Commissioners Castro, Fernandez, and Menendez were firmly within their legal authority and did not constitute ethical misconduct under the governing standards. Supporters of the Commissioners see this as validation of their governance and a clear indication that the contentious decisions regarding Iglesias and Rojas adhered to procedural norms.
Political Undertones and Allegations of Smear Tactics
The filing of these complaints has raised questions about whether they were part of a broader political strategy orchestrated by Mayor Vince Lago to discredit his colleagues on the City Commission. Critics suggest that Gonzalo Sanabria, often seen as one of Mayor Lago’s staunch allies, may have been acting as a surrogate in an effort to tarnish the reputations of Commissioners Castro, Fernandez, and Menendez—particularly in light of Commissioner Menendez’s candidacy for mayor. This theory gained traction following contentious debates earlier this year, including one over a modest tax decrease proposal, where political divisions on the Commission were on full display. Some view these complaints as pretextual, designed to create controversies that could serve as talking points for attacks on Lago’s colleagues. Such tactics, part of what many describe as the Mayor’s increasingly “scorched earth” approach to governance, with the full endorsement and complicity of the Vice Mayor Anderson, have only deepened the animosity and dysfunction within the Commission. Ultimately, voters will have the final say in April 2025 as to whether these tactics will succeed or backfire.
Section 11 of the City Charter provides as follows:
The Manager shall be appointed for an indefinite term, but may be removed at the pleasure of the Commission. It is the intention of this Charter to vest in the Commission all authority and fix all responsibility for the suspension or removal of the Manager. As such, the action of the Commission in suspending or removing the Manager shall be final.
I hope that we all (local government and residents) can return to what we had a few years ago – neighborly civility in addressing issues and avoiding personal attacks. We all get to vote for the Mayor every 2 years and a Commissioner every 4 years. The next election is April 8, 2025. All residents should vote, respect the outcome of such vote and move forward.
Bravo, Humberto M.!
You are absolutely correct on all counts
Tired of all this drama, and sick of being in the middle of it.
Meanwhile Gables citizens have to suffer the consequences of people too busy with drama and vendettas to do their job.
I am happy to read the comments from Manuel Menedez, Wolves In Sheeps Clothing and Melvyn Miller. Little to no experience from the three newer commissioners and the constant negativity needs to be voted out. We must have new candidates with real knowledge and experience, not those on a vendetta.
Commissioners Castro, Mendendez and Fernandez should not be re-elected because they doubled their salaries and auto allowance without sufficient notice to the voters and they hired a political crony to be City Manager without first conducting a nation-wide search for the most experienced and professional candidate.
I live directly across from the Crow-Trammell project now on going for some 2.5 yrs. The concessions I have seen granted here are unfathomable from parking to trucks taking over the roads, cranes swinging over the homes when not in use, intense vibrations on homes when the land was getting elevated-filled in, water-sewer, electric installation deep holes holes on road multiple times making them unusable. Rich developers first & citizens last is my point here. This commission consist of 2 very pro developers vs a more moderate version of 3.
The breaches of ethics by developer-ocracy supporters — including Mr Iglesias and Vince Lago — are so legion they exceed 100.
It is beyond belief.
A curious mere possible example — worthy of analysis re ethics violations — is the astounding admission by master engineer Peter Iglesias, and by construction company employee Lago, that they both COVERED UP major structural flaws, endangering Coral Gables City Hall, for years !!!
https://youtu.be/yY48n7NACAw?si=FRXaR2ImYz1hKkjV
https://youtu.be/bvPUD7ojbr0?si=3EkD8niCPT-aTwZ8
This is an overwhelming, incredible, disgrace for Peter Iglesias.
He can never be trusted to return as City Manager. He has incriminated himself as to engineering malpractice, and as to, in practical effect, endangering the public.
Sincerely,
Jackson Rip Holmes
PRAISE GOD!
The unethical ones are Gonzalo Sanabria and others trying to destroy democracy in Coral Gables !!!
Jackson Rip Holmes
Make no mistake, KFC are here because of all the crap Lago has pulled over the years – which have gotten worse with moral missteps recently. Lagos candidates were squarely beaten because of their association to him. Hoping for a happy new year and can’t wait until April.
Seems the Lago-Anderson astroturfing operation was up-and-running early this fine holiday morning – they must monitor 24/7. That’s the corrupt holiday spirit! Can’t wait to see your pscyhologically-decompensated boy L’ego and his loyal lap-gal Anderson voted out soon in spite of your redundant creative fiction.
The comments on this article are nothing but a smear campaign fueled by misinformation and cowardly attacks. Let’s set the record straight: the Ethics Commission dismissed Gonzalo Sanabria’s complaints because they were entirely baseless, lacking any legal or factual merit. Commissioners Castro, Fernandez, and Menendez acted firmly within their authority under the Coral Gables City Charter, and no amount of whining or conspiracy theories can change that. These accusations were nothing more than a desperate attempt to stir controversy, and they failed.
Regarding accusations of salary increases and perks, these claims are not only exaggerated but also fail to acknowledge the context of compensation adjustments.The tired narrative about salary increases and perks is outright distraction designed to mislead residents. The commissioners’ compensation is determined through established processes, which are transparent and publicly available. Do your homework. Let’s be clear: some on this commission has worked tirelessly to govern responsibly and address the real needs of Coral Gables. Unlike the commentators hiding behind their keyboards, these commissioners have shown up and made tough decisions for the betterment of our community.
As for the attacks on the Ethics Commission itself, calling it “toothless” is just another weak attempt to discredit a body that followed the law and exposed these complaints for what they were—empty and politically motivated. If the critics have a problem with the truth, that’s on them. The facts don’t care about your political grudges.
The most disgraceful part of this discussion isn’t the work of the commissioners but the vile personal attacks in these comments. Questioning someone’s private life or integrity without a shred of evidence is nothing but cheap, malicious gossip. It’s a tactic used by those who have no argument and no solutions, just bitterness and resentment.
If the people making these comments want to talk about accountability, they should start by holding themselves accountable for spreading lies and dividing our community. The voters of Coral Gables deserve better than this circus of baseless accusations and smear tactics. Let’s focus on facts, not fiction, and reject the toxic noise being perpetuated by those with personal vendettas.
As a long time resident of Coral Gables, I have never seen such disfunction as the one shown by this commission. Menendez, Castro and Fernandez are disgraceful. They doubled their salaries and gave themselves perks as soon as elected. They are a source of continued controversy pretending to fight for the citizens. As far as I am concerned they will be voted out in the next election
There is no one as blind as the one that chooses not to see. Smoke and mirrors are reality for some people. Just see the level of the dirty political ads and you may see the desperation of those who can’t handle reality. It’s so bad that even during the holiest of seasons it raised its ugliest head. Perhaps it’s not just politics, sometimes our political persona is a reflection of our private life and viceversa.
Cant wait for the next election to get these 3 impostors out of here.
We have buyers remorse after voting for these 3 clowns. This does not mean Lago and Anderson are great, but these 3 were wolves in sheeps clothing. The residents of Coral Gables have woken up to your shenanigans. As for the Ethics board, they actually have no teeth. They have let others in neighboring Cities who have done unacceptable, blatant activities, go without punishment. I do not know how bad you need to be to get Ethics to do anything, but don’t hold your breathe. They have been useless in the past.
Each resident of Coral Gables has but one vote in each local, county, state, and federal election but some of us devote significant time and funds to political activities and thus are familiar with the election issues and tactics employed by the very best politicians and their staffs.
Even allowing for the (rapidly declining) supposed cultural differences in some South Florida jurisdictions, this continuing Coral Gables Commission clown show implies that none of the elected participants and none of their staffs have any of the skills or talents needed for higher political office campaigning.