Michael “Mike” Mena is running for the Group V seat on the Coral Gables City Commission in the Apr. 11 municipal election.
Mena is an attorney and partner at Akerman LLP. He earned his BA at the University of Miami and his JD at Columbia University School of Law.
He is a member of Citizens’ Transportation Advisory Committee of the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization; Jackson Health System General Obligation Bond Citizens’ Advisory Committee; Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Miami Dade County; 40 Under 40, Outstanding Lawyer Committee; The Florida Bar, Business Law and International Law Sections, and the Belen Jesuit Alumni Association, Lawyers Section.
He is married to Lisa Marie Mena, has a daughter, Aria, and another daughter on the way.
Mena responded to the following profile interview questions:
What motivated you to run for office?
As a husband and a father, I am running for Coral Gables commissioner to ensure a safe and prosperous future for my family, your family, and all of our residents. I believe we need proactive, forward-thinking leaders to step forth and lead. We need to conduct ourselves in a manner that enhances and protects our quality of life for us and for generations to come.
What do you think are the three most important issues facing the city today?
Public safety, traffic, and development.
Do you think the city does a good job of soliciting and listening to citizen input on projects?
This is an area where our city must strive to improve. Despite its efforts, there have been certain decisions where I think the commission may have acted differently had it had a better grasp on public sentiment before moving forward.
Do you think that Streetscape was the right use of resources at the right time?
Streetscape was considered and discussed for many years and the time had come to invest in this important infrastructure project.
However, the execution clearly could have been better. We now need to do everything we can to get it completed as quickly as possible, to support the businesses being impacted, and to make sure we take advantage of this improved infrastructure so that we have a vibrant and thriving downtown going forward.
Is the city managing development properly?
It depends on the project. Look, we need to be mindful and respectful of our residential neighborhoods and make sure that our development does not adversely impact our quality of life, including traffic, parking, noise, and our community’s aesthetic. However, we need to support smart development — especially in our downtown area — so that we continue to attract world-class businesses that expand our tax base. That enables us to continue providing the best services without raising property taxes for our residents.
Should High Pines and Little Gables be annexed?
We first need to make sure that it benefits the residents of Coral Gables. Recent presentations before the city commission indicated that it would cost the city more to provide services to these annexed areas than it would generate in additional tax revenues. I am also concerned about how it would impact current services to our existing residents. As it is, we need more officers on the street. However, I understand the potential long-term benefit of annexing these enclaves and I think we need to continue our due diligence to determine whether it makes sense for our city.
Why are you the best person for the job?
I have the energy, commitment, temperament, and ideas to proactively pursue new solutions to the issues that threaten our quality of life.
As an attorney, I am trained to conduct my due diligence to thoroughly understand all sides of an issue and to vigorously advocate for my clients. I intend to apply those skills as a Coral Gables Commissioner in order to advocate on behalf of the residents of Coral Gables.
Visit at www.votemena.com.
