Election endorsements: City of Coral Gables elections

The city of Coral Gables holds elections on Nov. 3.

Pedro Portal

pportal@miamiherald.com

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Miami Herald November Endorsements

See the Herald Editorial Board’s endorsements in the Nov. 3 elections:

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In the Nov. 3 elections, Coral Gables voters will elect a new commissioner and decide whether to reelect another commissioner and the city’s mayor. Here are the Herald Editorial Board’s endorsements in these races:

Group I

Mayor Vince Lago is running for a third term against lawyer Laureano Cancio and Jackson “Rip” Holmes. There are no good choices, so we have no endorsement in this race.

Lago’s biggest problem isn’t that he cannot get things done — it’s his temperament and lack of civility in dealing with dissent. As we wrote during the 2025 elections, when we also issued no endorsement for mayor, “His inability to turn down the heat in difficult interactions is an issue.” As the city’s most high-profile leader, he’s helped turn commission meetings into a spectacle.

Lago will probably win reelection. His opponents attack him vigorously but haven’t shown they are a good fit for mayor.

Holmes, who attends commission meetings often, has called himself a “perennially losing candidate” — he’s run for office several times before. He told the Editorial Board that “Vince Lago has become the dictator of Coral Gables” and has allowed over-development in the city. Cancio said he’s disturbed by the lack of civility at commission meetings, but he interrupted and shouted over others during the Board’s interview with the three candidates, and he didn’t articulate a specific agenda.

Lago touted his record of holding public office hours on Fridays, “when 20, 30, 40 residents” show up to talk to him — “Dictators don’t do that,” he said — working with Florida Power & Light to get Gables power lines underground and writing legislation to boost the city’s financial reserves.

Lago, who previously served as a commissioner, clearly doesn’t think he needs to change. He said that issues with civility only started after the 2023 election of Commissioners Melissa Castro and Ariel Fernandez, who became Lago’s frequent critics on the dais.

In a recent contentious meeting, Castro questioned whether Lago could benefit financially from a newly approved 30-year agreement between the city and the University of Miami. He’s a principal at Hammer Commercial Construction, an affiliate company of a South Florida general contracting firm that is “an approved University of Miami contractor,” according to its website, the Herald reported. He said Hammer is not “engaged in regards to this development agreement,” and pointed out that, as part of the deal, UM will give the city a six-acre property for a park.

In July, Lago voted for the controversial rezoning of a defunct church and a garden known as Garden of Our Lord at 110 Phoenetia Ave. into a nine-story mixed-use project called Crystal Residences, which will include apartments and Crystal Academy, a school for children with autism that’s currently on the site. He said he voted for the proposal in part “because I have been a supporter of Crystal Academy ever since I was elected.”

The city commission in August asked for an investigation into whether people who spoke in favor of the project during a previous hearing used fake addresses and names as part of an effort to create the impression of strong resident support for the redevelopment. Lago said that even if people lied, their testimony is not supposed to be treated as “pertinent evidence to be taken into account” by commissioners — but that doesn’t make sense. Members of the public routinely speak during commission meetings in an effort to sway commissioners. Holmes said that “there should not have been a vote on this.” Cancio said he would have voted against the project.

Lago would do better with a better attitude, but his opponents have not earned our support either.

The Herald issues NO ENDORSEMENT in Group I.

Coral Gables 2026 mayoral candidates Jackson ‘Rip’ Holmes, incumbent Vince Lago and Laureano Cancio. Provided Group IV

The races for Group IV and V are a proxy for Lago’s control of the commission. If candidates backed by him win, Lago and his allies will have control of the commission.

In Group IV, Commissioner Melissa Castro, Lago’s main rival, is seeking a second term. Her record has at times been problematic, but, unfortunately, voters have a binary choice: her or Nestor Menendez, who declined to meet with the Editorial Board to explain his positions and whether Lago or any incumbents are supporting him. Menendez has said he isn’t seeking any endorsements.

Castro is our unenthusiastic pick — mostly because dissent is important on the commission. With that said, she needs to become better at building coalitions with her colleagues and stop bickering with Lago.

Castro said her achievements include a measure to require a fiscal impact report when a resolution or ordinance comes before the commission, 25%-off resident parking meant to “bring our residents to our downtown,” creating door hangers that notify residents if a new development is planned within 1,500 feet of their home, and hosting town halls over the past two years to explain the city’s tax rate and budget to constituents. She’s also advocated for a lower millage rate.

If reelected, she said she will focus on “protecting the character” of the Gables by “pushing responsible development” and protecting police and fire. She’s known as “no” vote on many development projects.

Castro voted against the controversial rezoning for Crystal Residences on Phoenetia Avenue because the project is “not compatible with the neighborhood.”

Two of Castro’s biggest mistakes were voting to abruptly hire a city manager in 2024 without a formal search (that city manager, Amos Rojas Jr., later resigned) and to nearly double commission salaries, to $65,000, in 2023 without public input.

Her permit-expediting business has been under scrutiny after state ethics investigators found probable cause that she violated ethics laws. The probe stemmed from a complaint that Castro’s company continued to do business in Coral Gables after her election, creating a conflict of interest. She said that clients seeking permits in the city go through a separate entity run by a former employee and that she has “zero involvement” in it.

The probe raises questions, but the investigation by the Florida Commission on Ethics is ongoing, and no final determination has been reached, the Herald reported in September. At a recent meeting, Lago and other commissioners grilled Castro on whether she used a taxpayer-funded trip to Tallahassee meant for city-related business to also attend a hearing with the Commission on Ethics. She told the Herald she paid for part of the trip and said the allegations, first reported by an anonymous blog, are meant to hurt her reelection.

The Herald endorses MELISSA CASTRO for Coral Gables Commission Group IV.

Commissioner Melissa Castro is running for reelection against candidate Nestor Menendez. Courtesy of the candidates Group V

With Commissioner Ariel Fernandez not seeking reelection, two candidates are running for his open seat.

Dominique “Nikki” Whiting has lived in the Gables since 2017, worked for several Miami-Dade Republican officials and Gov. Ron DeSantis in the past decade and currently is a fundraiser for Florida Internation University’s foundation.

Gonzalo Sanabria is a 26-year Gables resident and owner of real estate brokerage company Real Estate Works Inc. He’s served on different local boards, such as the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority, and currently sits on the city’s Planning and Zoning Board.

Whiting is a young, polished candidate with an extensive political resume who promises to focus on restoring civility and fiscal conservatism. She’s endorsed by Lago and Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson and several other Miami-Dade officials. But our choice is Sanabria because of his independent streak, deeper Gables roots and because he’s running a more grassroots campaign. “I’m local knowledge,” he told the Editorial Board.

“I’m a doer. I don’t have any personal ambitions,” he said. He’s also a past member of the Coral Gables Waterfront Communities Homeowner’s Association Board and ran for the commission unsuccessfully in 2009 and 2011.

Coral Gables Group V candidates Gonzalo Sanabria and Nikki Whiting. Courtesy of the candidates

Among Sanabria’s reasons for running this time was the commission’s hiring of Rojas, whom he called “unqualified,” as city manager in 2024. Sanabria said that because he’s been civically involved for so long, “I have no learning curve needed.” He said he wants to bring different businesses to Miracle Mile to increase the city’s tax base. However, he needs more specific proposals to counter Whiting, who’s got her talking points better defined.

On the Planning and Zoning Board, Sanabria said he opposed the Crystal Residences development, citing the loss of the Garden of Our Lord. “It seemed to be a political move, and I didn’t like it. I sided with the neighbors, and I voted against it,” he said.

Whiting said she would have approved the project because it provides an opportunity for Crystal Academy to expand and “there are big buildings already across the street” on Ponce de Leon Boulevard. She said “development has to be measured, thoughtful and very compatible” and that “I don’t think I could blanketly say, ‘Oh, I’m pro development.’” She rightfully noted that young people cannot afford to live in the city. If elected, she said she will focus on streamlining permitting, which she said currently takes too long.

Both candidates would likely make good commissioners, but we’re going with the more independent one.

The Herald endorses GONZALO SANABRIA for Coral Gables Commission Group V.

BEHIND THE STORY MORE Who decides the political endorsements?

In advance of local and state elections, Miami Herald Editorial Board members interview political candidates, as well as advocates and opponents of ballot measures. The Editorial Board is composed of experienced opinion journalists and is independent of the Herald’s newsroom. Members of the Miami Herald Editorial Board are: Amy Driscoll, editorial page editor; and editorial writers Isadora Rangel and Mary Anna Mancuso. Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.

What does the endorsement process look like?

The Miami Herald Editorial Board interviews political candidates to better understand their views on public policy and how their policies will affect their constituents. Board members do additional reporting and research to learn as much as possible about the candidates before making an endorsement. The Editorial Board then convenes to discuss the candidates in each race. Board members seek to reach a consensus on the endorsements, but not every decision is unanimous. Candidates who decline to be interviewed will not receive an endorsement.

Is the Editorial Board partisan?

No. In making endorsements, members of the Editorial Board consider which candidates are better prepared to represent their constituents — not whether they agree with our editorial stances or belong to a particular political party. We evaluate candidates’ relevant experience, readiness for office, depth of knowledge of key issues and understanding of public policy. We’re seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points. 

This story was originally published October 9, 2026 at 1:34 PM.