What’s on The Ballot

THE CITY WILL CONDUCT A SPECIAL MAIL-IN BALLOT ELECTION THIS MONTH

Coral Gables residents who have registered to vote by March 23 will be eligible to participate in the city’s special election, which will be conducted via mail-in ballot with an April 21 deadline. Residents can only vote by mailing in their ballots or dropping them off at the Office of the Supervisor of Elections in Doral (2700 NW 87th Ave.) before 7 pm on April 21. There is no cost associated. All voters MUST sign inside the red box on the back of the envelope and MUST provide their complete residential address in the indicated area. For questions regarding voting, visit coralgables.com, call 305.499.8683, or email votebymail@votemiamidade.gov.

THERE WILL BE EIGHT QUESTIONS ON THE BALLOT:

1. Shall the City Charter be amended to change the month and day when the City of Coral Gables holds its general elections from April of each odd year to the date of the national election in November of each even year commencing in 2026, resulting in an approximately four-month reduction of current elected official’s terms and adjustment of associated dates with the intention of increasing voter turnout and decreasing the cost of general elections?
2. Shall the City Charter be amended to prohibit changing the City’s municipal general election date away from November of even-numbered years through the adoption of an ordinance by the City Commission, in so far as that prohibition is not in conflict with state law?
3. Shall the City Charter be amended to allow the City Commissioner, or appointed official, who appointed a member to a City board or committee, to remove that member from that position prior to the expiration of their term, for any reason, in so far as that removal is not in conflict with state law?
4. Shall the City Charter be amended to require that the City Commission convene a Charter Review Committee every ten (10) years beginning in 2035, to review the Charter and provide recommendations on potential amendments, with the Committee consisting of seven members with the Commissioners and City Manager each appointing a resident of the City and the City Attorney appointing a current or former municipal or county attorney?
5. Shall the City Charter be amended to authorize a contract with Miami-Dade County or a private entity to provide inspector general services, as needed, to the City to investigate, audit, and oversee municipal matters in order to identify efficiencies and investigate and prevent fraud, waste, mismanagement and abuse of power, and who can subpoena witnesses and require production of documents, and whose appointment, term, functions, and powers shall be established by ordinance?
6. Shall the City Charter be amended to require that any change to the compensation of the City’s elected officials, beyond the annual adjustment to compensation based on the Consumer Price Index as set forth in the Code, requires an affirmative vote of the electors prior to adoption by the City Commission?
7. Presently the City Charter requires a runoff between the two candidates with the highest vote totals where no candidate received a majority (50 percent plus 1) in the general municipal election. Should the runoff provision be eliminated so that a mayor or commissioner may be elected with a plurality vote (the most votes) even if this does not constitute a majority, understanding that the runoff would be eliminated regardless of when general elections are held?
8. Shall the City Charter be amended to require that the City maintain a General Fund Reserve at twenty-five percent (25%) of the City’s operating budget and that a four-fifths vote of the City Commission is required to otherwise amend the fund reserve policy adopted in Ordinance No. 2025-05 or to expend funds from the General Fund Reserve, except in those emergency situations outlined in the Ordinance?

Coral Gables Magazine’s political coverage over the last few years has provided important context to these questions, including where certain members of the Commission stand. Many of these questions are in response to issues raised under the previous Commission, which included then-Commissioner Kirk Menendez. (Menendez was replaced by Commissioner Richard Lara last April.) Together, he joined with current Commissioners Melissa Castro and Ariel Fernandez to push an often-controversial agenda, which included blocking the election date change, making so far unfounded allegations of corruption – though seemingly without supporting the hiring of an inspector general – raising Commission salaries by 101 percent, and accessing reserve funds generally set aside for emergencies to fund capital improvement projects.

Now, a new majority has emerged, with Commissioner Lara voting mostly in conjunction with Mayor Vince Lago and Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson to support the election changes, hire an inspector general, undo the salary increases, and generally require the Commission to exercise more fiscal responsibility.

The Commission seeks voters’ opinions on these matters, given the vast differences in opinion on the dais. For more information on this and other issues, visit coralgablesmagazine.com and navigate to the Streetwise page.