“Time to Go!”
Those were Key Biscayne Mayor Joe Rasco’s final words to sign off Tuesday night’s Village Council meeting, the last such gathering he presided over during consecutive two- year terms (there is a Village workshop later this month, however).
Councilman Michael Bracken led a brief standing ovation by Village officials and the audience gathered in Village Chambers.
Vice Mayor Oscar Sardiñas opened the floor to thank Rasco and also Councilman Ed London, who is also termed out.
Speaking to London, Sardiñas said, “I learned a lot, about a lot … thank you for your service and for being a thorn in my side when I needed it,” he added, jokingly.
Sardiñas called Rasco an “exceptional leader. I know it’s been my greatest honor to sit by him to watch him lead.” He added that when the community had persuaded Rasco to come back and run for the mayoral role, he did. “He’s an incredible teacher, guide, friend, brother.”
Fernando Vazquez, who is running in the Nov. 3 election with Sardiñas, told Rasco, “You’ve been more than a guiding light to me,” and further acknowledged London’s contributions, saying that even they didn’t agree on things sometimes, “at the end of the day, you showed your wisdom.”
Councilman Frank Caplan said Rasco has shown the “same steady hand” as he did at the onset of the Village’s incorporation, always seemingly seeing “through the fog where you always have and shine the light where (we needed it).”
London joked that as much as he questioned on the dais, he goes home and is “questioned all over again” by his loving wife, Claire. “I’m humbled, I’m honored to have served,” said London, who said he’s heard that some people think of him at times as “disruptive, overbearing, a few other things, aggressive. … Do you have any idea what it feels like to lose every vote 6-1?”
He thanked everyone who has made his 20 years (three occasions) possible on Council.
Numerous other speakers during the public comments, including Gene Stearns, Luis de la Cruz, future Mayor Brett Moss, Louisa Conway and former Fire Chief Eric Lang (who brought two thin-crust pizzas just the way London likes it with onion, Mozzarella and jalapeños) also thanked Rasco, London, and both Sardiñas and Vazquez (in case they are not re-elected) for their service to the community.
Michele Estevez, a longtime community leader and the voice of the Fourth of July Parade Committee, presented a “blue heart” to Rasco and London, praising them for all they have done to keep the Village the paradise that it was intended to be.
Michele Estevez presenting her a “blue heart” to Rasco and London.
Stearns said, “Anyone who says this is a thankless job is wrong.”
He praised Rasco for constantly creating a consensus after “listening to people scream at you, giving you good ideas and bad ideas.”
Stearns also praised London, saying despite not agreeing with him on everything, “One thing we do agree on is the love for this community. I think you have been a perfect gentleman, sometimes alone (in a vote), but I think you’ve been an extraordinary gift to Key Biscayne. … It’s hard not to be proud of what you and Joe have done.”
At the end of the evening, Mayor Rasco departed from his traditional saying, “Anything else for the good of the order? We’re adjourned,” and instead closed it out succinctly and shared a warm hug with London on the dais.