Kirk Menendez announces run for Mayor of Coral Gables

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Coral Gables City Commissioner Kirk Menendez has just filed to run for Mayor of Coral Gables against current holder Vince Lago.

Menendez was first elected Coral Gables City Commissioner in April 2021. His career background includes more than 40 years as an advocate for children and families at the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center, St. Theresa School, Church of the Little Flower, Knights of Columbus, and Gift Meal Project.

However, Menendez's time as city commissioner hasn't come without its fair share of controversies. In July 2023, Menendez voted against a proposal to lower the city's millage rate by 2%.

Months later, Menendez and two city commissioners gave themselves a 101% pay increase, which included $9,600 in expense allowances and $8,446 in car allowances.

The report also indicated all three commissioners splurged on themselves by purchasing new luxury cars.

Lago, who was elected Mayor of Coral Gables in April 2021, responded publicly at Menendez and the two other commissioners as being "unprepared to do the job" and asserted the trio "put their hands down the pockets of residents."

He also accused Menendez and Commissioner Ariel Fernandez of "living off their wives."

The feud didn't end there, however, as all three commissioners traded barbs or assisted in grievances against Lago and Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, which included accusing the mayor of making derogatory comments at a woman at a city event.

But the back-and-forth between Menendez and Lago was far from over.

This past February, Menendez and the same two commissioners voted in favor of firing City Manager Peter Iglesias. Maybe unsurprisingly, both dissenting votes also came from Lago and Anderson.

On top of it, Menendez originally voted in favor of retaining Iglesias but later changed his tune without giving any reason for the switch. This also was after his pick, Miami International Airport Director Ralph Cutie, retracted interest in the job.

Menendez's filing comes after weeks of consideration to run for mayor, which included discussions with out-of-town developers that previously funded a failed recall attempt on Lago in April.

At the time, despite reaching the required amount of valid signatures for the recall, Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Christina White ultimately certified fewer signatures than the necessary threshold.

Organized by the political committee End the Corruption, the petition accused Lago of misfeasance and malfeasance over the mayor's business dealings with Rishi Kapoor. According to reports, Lago rented space to Kapoor across from a development site where Kapoor's company, Location Ventures, had planned a luxury condo tower.

Subsequently, a second report indicated Lago joined a brokerage that profited from the sale of the property. While the mayor recused himself of votes dealing with Kapoor's projects, the recall accused Lago of aligning with developers despite his past criticism.

Along with his time as mayor, Lago served as City Commissioner for eight years, including as Vice Mayor from 2019-2021.

He also served on the Board of Directors of the Coral Gables Community Foundation, helping to "promote and enhance the quality of life for residents" while raising funds for the elderly, youth, and disabled in the city.

The City of Coral Gables mayoral election is scheduled for April 8.