Lago Elected Coral Gables Mayor; Commission Races Go To Runoff

CORAL GABLES, FL — Vice Mayor Vince Lago won the Coral Gables mayoral race Tuesday, but with no decisive winner in the two commission races, they’ll go to a runoff election.

More than 10,000 residents voted in this local election, the highest voter turnout in more than 20 years, the city of Coral Gables said in an email.

In the mayoral race, Lago won 6,004 votes, according to the Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections. His opponent Patricia “Pat” Keon took home 3,887 votes, while Jackson Rip Holmes earned 463.

In the Group Two commission race, voters will decide between the two highest vote-earners in a runoff election. Rhonda Anderson, who earned 4,307 votes, will go up against Jose Valdes-Fauli, who won 2,671 votes.

In Group Three, Javier Baños (3,208 votes) and Kirk Menendez (3,088 votes) will go into a run-off race.

Early voting in the runoff elections will take place April 24-25 at the Coral Gables Branch Library at 3443 Segovia Street. In addition to early voting, people can also drop-off their mail-in ballots on those dates. Election Day is Tuesday, April 27.

Lago and the winners of the runoff commission races will be sworn in April 30, the city said.