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In his latest Op-ed, Mayor Vince Lago mentioned me by name and portrayed me as the problem. I believe the residents of Coral Gables deserve to hear directly from me because my record, my votes, and my priorities tell a different story.
I don’t run from criticism, but I do believe in correcting the record when the public is given a one-sided version of events. My only motive is to serve this community with transparency, responsibility, and respect for the people who live here.
What the mayor sent out was drafted in a very misleading way, not to inform residents, but to lay the groundwork for breaking yet another campaign promise. He campaigned on lowering the millage rate. Every “fact” he cites now was known to him long before the election. These were the same numbers and circumstances he used to convince voters he could and would lower the millage. If they were not an obstacle then, they are not an obstacle now.
What has changed is not the city’s finances, It’s his willingness to keep his word. Rather than admitting he has no intention of delivering on his pledge, he drafted this Op-ed to shift blame and create an excuse. This is not fiscal responsibility. This is political damage control, a calculated attempt to mislead residents into believing he cannot fulfill a promise he never intended to keep.
Public Safety: Not “Too Rich for My Blood”
Mayor Lago has described the police and fire contracts as “too rich for my blood.” I see them as overdue investments in the people who protect our families.
For the first time in history, Coral Gables has had 40 police officer vacancies. This didn’t happen overnight, it happened under his watch, despite repeated warnings. Officers are working mandatory overtime to cover basic shifts. Our fire department is still working toward meeting the high-rise fire safety standard. For years, our pay lagged behind surrounding cities, and that’s why we’ve lost so many trained professionals.
Last year’s contract improvements weren’t luxuries, they were necessary steps to make Coral Gables competitive and to retain our first responders. Even with these adjustments, neighboring municipalities still pay more. But we’ve started to close the gap, because for me, the safety of this community is never “too rich”, it’s our responsibility.
The Wawa Lawsuit: A Cautionary Tale
Mayor Lago dismissed my reference to the $556,000 in lawsuit costs as “cherry-picking.” He then said, “The Wawa lawsuit, which makes up the bulk of that figure, was a response to a lawsuit filed against us.”
What he leaves out is that the court ruled the City’s actions (under his administration) were “blatantly illegal” because they approved the project without public input and without notifying the school across the street. He put us in that position in the first place. Residents shouldn’t have to hire lawyers to force the city to follow its own laws. And they certainly shouldn’t have to see their tax dollars spent fighting their own neighbors, only to have a judge confirm the city acted illegally.
No public input then. No public input now, just like the recent court ruling on the illegal election date change. My position is simple: public input isn’t an obstacle, it’s our job.
City Manager Hiring: Promises vs. Reality
For a year, Mayor Vince Lago criticized how the prior City Manager was hired, attacking the lack of a search, the process, and the salary, while insisting a national search was essential. He then played a role in forcing the prior City Manager out.
Instead of conducting the search he insisted was necessary, he had a resolution drafted and kept it off the public agenda: ensuring no notice, no transparency, and no opportunity for residents to speak. Once again, breaking the very promises he made to residents.
Response to the Mayor’s Misleading Statement on the Hiring of Former City Manager Amos Rojas Let’s set the record straight with verifiable numbers from the City Clerk:
- Salary Claims: FALSE
- When Peter Iglesias was fired in February 2024, he was making $282,000. • Amos Rojas was hired at the exact same $282,000, as clearly stated in the resolution approved by the commission.
- In September 2024, Amos received a standard CPI increase to $294,137.17, not a special raise. The entire city workforce receives this adjustment.
- When Amos left in January 2025, Albert Parjus was hired at $295,000, immediately making him the highest paid City Manager in city history.
- When Peter Iglesias was later rehired, he received the same $295,000 and will also receive a CPI increase in September, making him the highest paid in history.
The truth: For the short period Amos served, his salary was in line with his predecessor’s and lower than both Albert’s and Peter’s current pay. Calling Amos “the highest paid” without acknowledging the salaries that came after is manipulative.
- “No Resume” and “No Background Check”: FALSE
- Amos came in on February 28 to fill out paperwork and tour the city, and on February 29 we conducted a background check.
- He had already been appointed by the White House: under both the Obama and Trump administrations as South Florida’s U.S. Marshal, a role requiring the highest level of clearance.
- The hiring process may not have followed the mayor’s preferred method, but it was proper and thorough.
Bottom Line: This is a case of selective facts and wordplay. The mayor knows the numbers, they are on record. The real issue here isn’t salary; it’s trust. If he will distort something as simple as payroll history, what else is he willing to twist?
Taxes and Spending: A Balanced Approach
Mayor Lago says he is for fiscal discipline, yet under his leadership, the budget has grown. He stated that last year, 26 new city positions were added. He failed to mention that this year, 27 more are proposed; not counting reclassifications with substantial salary increases.
I have introduced and supported a responsible millage reduction because I believe we can give residents relief while still maintaining services and protecting public safety. Last year, I hosted a town hall on the millage to educate residents. This year I plan to do the same.
The mayor now says, “Coral Gables residents deserve a full audit and a sober financial plan for the next decade.” I agree, which is why it will be easy for him to support the legislation I am drafting to bring DOGE to our city for exactly that purpose.
A Pattern of Targeting
In just the past month, Mayor Lago has publicly attacked our fire union president (resulting in a cease and-desist letter), the Gables Gazette, the War Memorial Youth Center, decades-long community serving resident Felix Pardo and now me.
He claims we have achieved “civility.” That is not civility. It is an ongoing pattern of turning disagreement into personal attack.
My Commitment
I ran for office to represent the people of Coral Gables, not to protect any political ego. My votes have always been guided by one principle: what is best for residents. That means:
- Prioritizing public safety over political talking points.
- Ensuring every major decision includes public input.
- Keeping promises to taxpayers.
- Spending responsibly and transparently.
Mayor Lago may see me as an obstacle. I see myself as a defender of this community: its safety, its trust, and its right to honest government.
The residents of Coral Gables deserve a city that belongs to the people, not to career politicians entrenched for more than a decade in politics as usual. My commitment is and always will be to you, the residents. Together, with transparency, accountability, and the courage to challenge the status quo, we can and we will move our City Beautiful forward.
