Herald endorsement: Coral Gables Commission Group III | Opinion
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Miami Herald Editorial Board Endorsements: Coral Gables Election
Ahead of the April 8th Coral Gables election, the Editorial Board interviews candidates to understand their views and policies. The goal is to give voters a better idea of who’s the best candidate for each race. Read our endorsements below:
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Three candidates are vying for the Group III open seat on the Coral Gables Commission that was vacated by Commissioner Kirk Menendez when he decided to run for mayor.
City residents are fortunate to have some solid choices in this nonpartisan race; our pick is Claudia Miro, a 20-year resident of the Gables and former member of the city’s planning and zoning board who ran for commission in a crowded 2021 race. Current Commissioner Rhonda Anderson won that seat in a runoff.
The other candidates for the seat are Richard Lara, executive vice president and general counsel for the Spanish Broadcasting System, and Thomas O. Wells, an attorney and Gables resident for more than 30 years. Neither has run for office before. Both candidates stressed the need for transparency and independence on the commission.
Those are popular topics for many aspiring officials but in Coral Gables, where civility and factionalism in city government have become serious problems, the call for independent, thoughtful voices on the commission is particularly important. We think Miro, 49, vice president for Freebee, the on-demand, micro-transit company, would be the best choice, bringing a strong pro-resident focus to bear on the city’s issues, especially the questions of over-development and good manners on the dais.
“You don’t have to like each other, but you do have to respect the office, which each one of you hold,” she told the Editorial Board.
In her interview, Miro demonstrated a grasp of the big picture but also displayed granular knowledge of the city’s issues. For example, although she approves of the city’s rigorous permitting processes that keep Coral Gables beautiful — “I love our rules,” she said — she objected to putting residents “through the ringer” when they want to make the slightest change in their homes.
She said residents pay enough in taxes to hire additional police officers and firefighters — the city needs more of both — and she talked about the need for more traffic calming devices, like speed bumps. She discussed the needs of seniors, including her desire to fix crosswalks signals that don’t coordinate with the traffic lights, and to install audible pedestrian signals. The city should have a hot meals program for seniors, she said, who may be in homes they bought decades ago while still struggling to make ends meet.
“These folks built Coral Gables, and we need to do better by our seniors,” she said.
Like the other candidates, she focused on development, the defining issue in Coral Gables recently. She’s for “responsible development,” she said, and added that the commission should help businesses on Miracle Mile and bring in new stores while also addressing the cramped parking situation that hampers economic development.
Miro started her career as a legislative aide in Tallahassee and has worked for worked for elected officials including former Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff. She isn’t a perfect candidate. She was a member of Coral Gables Planning and Zoning Board for a little over two years, appointed and then re-appointed by Anderson, before she was removed by the commission in what Miro says was a politically motivated ouster. The official reason was that she was absent too often, though she maintains she only had one unexcused absence.
Handling a commissioner’s responsibilities if elected wouldn’t be a problem, she said, adding that her employer backs her run for office. For four months in 2021, she also was a member of the Herald Editorial Board’s Community Advisory Board, volunteers who help us better understand community viewpoints.
In the race for the Coral Gables Commission Group III seat, the Herald Editorial Board endorses CLAUDIA MIRO.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWho 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 March 25, 2025 at 3:54 PM.