Herald endorsement: Coral Gables Commission, Group II
When Rhonda Anderson won a seat on the Coral Gables City Commission in 2021 — endorsed by this Editorial Board — she promised to fight over-development and protect the city's charm. Now, as debate continues about how much development is too much, Anderson is seeking a second term in Group II.
She faces two challengers in the nonpartisan race: Felix Pardo, who is an architect, Planning and Zoning Board member and activist, and Laureano Cancio, an attorney and a longtime resident.
The Herald Editorial Board met with all three candidates. Our choice is Anderson, who's serving as the vice mayor.
Anderson, 64, an attorney, has a solid record of accomplishments during her four years in office. Unfortunately, that time has also been marred by a commission that has devolved into competing factions. The resulting acrimony has been detrimental to the business of the citizens of Coral Gables.
Among the achievements she points to: pushing for measures to manage growth responsibly, including increasing development setbacks to require more space between the property line and new construction; helping to attract new businesses such as Apple's 45,000-square-foot office at The Plaza Coral Gables and FIFA's 60,000-square-foot office at Alhambra Circle in preparation for the 2026 World Cup; prioritizing pedestrian safety through speed bumps and traffic circles; championing the expansion of green spaces and tree canopy and facilitating the creation of a 20,000-square-foot, tree-lined, public park on Salzedo Street.
She's also a proponent of more pickleball courts at city parks and has worked to continue the city's septic-to-sewer conversion.
Unlike when she was first elected, Anderson has recently been on a sharply divided commission, often on the losing side of a 3-2 split with Mayor Vince Lago, who is also up for reelection. The results of this election will show whether residents want to end the current voting blocs that have caused such turmoil in the Gables.
Anderson said she is not closely aligned with Lago: 'I vote on issues, not on partnerships,' she told the Board. We'll take her at her word.
Anderson played a key role in approving a now-controversial height increase in May 2022 for Regency Parc, which will be one of the tallest buildings in Coral Gables at 18 stories. Anderson, with Lago, co-sponsored the initial ordinance requesting the height increase. In exchange, the city secured a 50% reduction in density — from 300 units to 128 — to address neighbors' concerns with traffic congestion. The commission approved the height increase, 5-0.
'The neighbors wanted a reduction in density, and that's what we got them,' Anderson said. 'If you listen to the meeting where we voted on the ordinance, the public was invited to voice objections at the end —and no one did.'
Anderson insists she has not become pro-development and maintains that she only supports projects and variances to projects that residents approve.
'I'm running again to try to preserve as much as we can of Coral Gables,' Anderson told the Board.
She also cast some notable 'No' votes. She voted against a 78% salary increase for commissioners — a proposal pushed by Commissioner Kirk Menendez, who is running for mayor. She and Lago declined the additional pay and pledged to donate the extra funds to charity. Anderson recently provided the Miami Herald with a list of charities she donated to — the raise meant an estimated $42,000 in extra pay — but no documentation was provided. She now says none was required at the time the issue was addressed.
And last year, she voted against the firing of City Manager Peter Iglesias and also against the rushed hiring of Amos Rojas, Jr., who has since resigned. Anderson and Lago wanted a national search for a city manager, a more reasonable approach than the surprise hiring of Rojas.
There is no doubt that along with civility, development remains the top issue in Coral Gables. As Pardo, one of Anderson's opponent told the Board, the complaint he hears most from voters is 'development, development, development, incompatible development.'
We appreciated his passion for representing Gables residents whose voices may be lost in the current debate. Anderson would be wise to remember that as well.
In the race for Coral Gables Commission, Group II, the Miami Herald endorses RHONDA ANDERSON.
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