Vince C. Lago

Mayor, City of Coral Gables

Nonpartisan

City

Since April 2025 — November 2026

⚡ Up for Re-Election — Nov 3 2026

🔵 Unverified

Promise Score

60%

2 kept · 2 partial · 1 broken

Voting Attendance

Pending

Not yet entered

⚠️

The Bottom Line

Mixed Record — 60% Promise Score

60%

Out of 5 scored promises, Vince C. Lago has 2 promises kept, 2 partial, 1 broken. The record shows partial follow-through — some promises kept, others not delivered.

2 Kept 2 Partial 1 Broken

✓

Roll Back 101% Commissioner Pay Raises

Government Reform

✓ Kept

The Promise

"Lago promised to roll back the 101% commissioner pay raises approved by the Coral Gables commission."

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The Record

Following his April 2025 re-election victory, Lago moved quickly to fulfill his pay-rollback promise. By May 19, 2025, Axios Miami reported that the commission was expected to vote that week to slash commissioner salaries by approximately 50%, with the mayor's compensation dropping 45% to $47,908 from $87,000, the vice mayor's falling 51%, and the three commissioners' falling 53% to $38,922. The $703 monthly car allowance approved by the prior commission in 2023 was also to be eliminated. Lago was the architect of the proposal. The rollback was confirmed as a carried campaign promise by multiple outlets. Further, on April 21, 2026, Coral Gables voters approved Amendment 6 with 77% support, requiring voter approval for any future elected official compensation changes beyond a CPI adjustment, locking in the reform structurally.

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✓

Move City Elections to November

Government Reform

✓ Kept

The Promise

"Lago committed to moving Coral Gables city elections from April to November to increase voter participation."

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The Record

After his April 2025 re-election, Lago sponsored a commission ordinance (passed 3-2 in May 2025) to move Coral Gables elections from April in odd years to November in even years. After a July 2025 court ruling struck down a similar Miami ordinance, Lago and the commission majority pivoted to a voter referendum. On September 2, 2025, the commission scheduled a special mail-only election for April 21, 2026. On that date, Coral Gables voters approved the election date change (Amendment 1) with 66% support and a companion measure (Amendment 2) locking in the change with 62.6% support, making it impossible to reverse by ordinance alone. The change will shorten current officials' terms by approximately four months, with the first affected election expected in November 2026.

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✗

Lower Property Taxes

Economy & Taxes

✗ Broken

The Promise

"Lago pledged to lower property taxes for Coral Gables residents as part of his third-term platform."

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The Record

Lago campaigned in April 2025 on lowering property taxes for Coral Gables residents, building on a prior 2024 attempt to cut the millage rate by 2%. However, for FY 2025-2026, the commission voted 4-1 in September 2025 to maintain the millage rate at 5.559 for the 12th consecutive year — with Lago voting in favor of the flat rate alongside Vice Mayor Anderson and Commissioners Fernandez and Lara. Commissioner Castro cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing for a phased rollback. Because assessed property values rose approximately 5% that year, total property tax revenue increased to a projected $137 million, meaning residents paid more in actual taxes even without a rate change. Critics, including Commissioner Castro, publicly called the flat millage a broken promise. Lago defended it as fiscal stewardship but did not cut the rate.

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Hiring 15 New Police Officers to Achieve Lowest Crime Rate

Public Safety

◐ Partial

The Promise

"Lago promised to hire 15 new police officers and maintain the lowest crime rate in the city's history."

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The Record

As of the August 26, 2025 commission meeting, the Coral Gables Police Department was on pace to hire 37 officers in 2025 — a record-setting figure — after beginning the year with 37 vacancies. Police Chief Ed Hudak and HR Director Raquel Elejabarrieta reported that 26 full-time officers and one part-time officer had been hired since January, with 10 more expected by year-end. If completed, five vacancies would remain — all tied to the 15 additional positions the commission had authorized roughly three years prior to expand the department's headcount. Responding to a question from Mayor Lago at that meeting, Chief Hudak confirmed that overall crime was down approximately 14% compared to the prior year, crediting the crime suppression unit, expanded downtown patrols, and drone surveillance. The 15 authorized expansion slots were thus not yet fully filled as of late 2025, warranting a Partial status.

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Inspector General Oversight for Coral Gables

Government Reform

◐ Partial

The Promise

"Lago promised to bring an Inspector General vote to Coral Gables to strengthen government accountability and combat corruption."

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The Record

After his April 2025 re-election, Lago included Inspector General oversight as a priority for his third term and as a key item on the city's September 2025 conditional referendum agenda. In September 2025, the commission voted to place an IG authorization measure on the April 21, 2026 mail-only special election ballot. On April 21, 2026, Coral Gables voters approved Amendment 5 — authorizing the city to contract with Miami-Dade County or a private firm for inspector general services — with 68% support. The IG office would have authority to conduct independent audits and investigations. However, City Attorney Cristina Suarez noted that even after voter approval, the commission would still need to vote on specifics including qualifications, defined powers, and organizational structure before the office becomes operational. As of May 23, 2026, that implementing vote has not been publicly confirmed.

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No score history yet. Snapshots are taken monthly.

Legislative record pending.

Vince C. Lago is the Mayor of the City of Coral Gables, Florida, a nonpartisan office to which he was first elected in April 2021 and subsequently re-elected to two-year terms in 2023 and 2025, making him the youngest person elected mayor in the city's history. Prior to serving as mayor, he served as a City Commission member for eight years, including as Vice Mayor from 2019 to 2021. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Construction Management from Florida International University. As mayor, Lago has been active in regional resilience and flood mitigation efforts, serving with the American Flood Coalition, and has championed arts, culture, and higher education through board roles including the Locust Projects contemporary art organization, the Coral Gables Museum, and the President's Council at Florida International University. Following a voter-approved city charter referendum on April 21, 2026, municipal elections were officially moved to November of even-numbered years to align with national contests. This structural shift shortens Mayor Lago's current term by five months, placing his seat on the ballot for the upcoming November 3, 2026 municipal election cycle.

Others from City Government

The Mayor of Coral Gables is the chief elected executive of this Miami-Dade County municipality, serving as the presiding officer of the City Commission at the city level of government. The mayor is responsible for setting the legislative agenda alongside the City Commission, representing the city in intergovernmental affairs, and providing executive leadership over municipal policy, budgeting, and administration.

Donor information pending.

Office Phone

305-460-5304

Official Email

[email protected]

Office Address

405 Biltmore Way, Coral Gables, FL 33134

ZIP Codes Served

33114, 33124, 33133, 33134, 33143, 33146