Let’s put aside for a moment whether or not you think Mayor Vince Lago should be recalled from office. The acrimony and division Mayor Lago has sowed in the city of Coral Gables over the past year is to the detriment of all residents. Mayor Lago declaring victory over a recall effort because eighty signatures may not have matched up is as tone deaf as his demeanor over the past year.
How We Got Here
One year ago, the affable and seemingly popular Gables Mayor lost control of the city commission. The candidates he endorsed and raised money for lost handedly at the polls. The central issue was what residents saw as runaway overdevelopment. Rather than acknowledge the will of the voters, Mayor Lago took a combative position and began warring with a majority of the commission. Commission meetings in the City Beautiful have resembled those in the City of Miami, an embarrassment for a community that prides itself on civility.
Mayor Lago lost control of the commission before residents learned from Miami Herald reporting that he was entangled with Coral Gables developer Rishi Kapor. Lago did not disclose that the developer had paid him and his businesses close to $1 million dollars as a realtor and in rent. This revelation sent one-time supporters like city activist Maria Cruz over the edge.
Lago’s opponent’s leading the recall claim “Malfeasance & Misfeasance”, a claim some legal experts say would be tough to defend. Yet, by this point Lago’s habit of aggressively arguing with anyone who challenged him was well worn. The accusation of him trying to bully perceived opponents real and otherwise is real and one I have seen firsthand.
Three weeks ago, a frustrated Mayor Lago penned a letter to all residents where he personally blasted three of his fellow commissioners. The missive was poorly received by even his supporters and was seen as beneath him and the office of the Mayor not to mention strategically unsound.
The Recall
Lead by a one-time Lago supporter, Maria Cruz, the effort needed to produce 1649 petitions signed by Coral Gables voters. They turned in 1719 signed petitions and the Miami-Dade Department of Elections declared in a letter to the Gables city clerk that 1533 were validated.
The memo from Elections Director Christina White was vague and had several inaccuracies. Most importantly she does not explain why 180+ petitions were ruled invalid. Were there problems matching signatures, which we all know change over time? Where addresses, dates of birth or names not clear due to handwriting? If this is the case the public deserves and explanation and those voters deserve a chance to clarify. Why is Chairperson Maria Cruz’s own petition not being counted as valid?
Additionally, the Director of Elections writes that she followed the guidance from the city and the Coral Gables city charter. This is impossible as the city charter doesn’t address the issue of recalls and the organizers were basing their effort on a state statue.
Also concerning is that the Elections Department leaked the exact number of valid petitions on Saturday, three days earlier, to journalist blogger Elaine de Valle, before telling Coral Gables or recall committee. Even the date of the memo was wrong adding to the over-all sloppiness of the Department of Election process on this matter.
Where Do We Go From Here
In just thirty days a substantial number of Gables voters signed a petition calling for Lago’s removal. He could have shown some humility and said he would be open to meeting with those who oppose him and begin to build bridges. Humility is not his strength and he clearly chose the opposite tact.
The recall committee can ask the courts to intervene on a process that has been shrouded in secrecy and sloppiness, but that is unlikely to succeed.
Mayor Lago needs to recalibrate. On the last day of the recall both the Police and Fire Department representatives drafted a letter claiming that Lago had not supported first responders and his policies had in fact made Coral Gables less safe for residents and visitors alike.
While the recall appears to be done for the moment will Mayor Vince Lago have the self-awareness to dial back the rhetoric and offer an olive branch to his detractors? Time will tell.
