Commissioner Ralph Cabrera speaks with his children Amanda-Rose and Nicolas by his side during his campaign kickoff. Photo by Allison Diaz / For The Miami Herald

For months Coral Gables commissioner Ralph Cabrera has made no secret of his intentions to wrest the mayor’s seat from Jim Cason, who was elected nearly two years ago.

On Thursday evening, before about 350 supporters, Cabrera, 54, kicked off his campaign for mayor at the Hyatt Regency in the Gables.

As guests in the ballroom nibbled from spreads of chorizo, garlic sausage, Spanish pesto and gourmet cheeses, Cabrera borrowed a quote from McDonald’s founder Ray Croc to illustrate why he wanted to continue his 11-plus years in public service — first as a commissioner and next, should he defeat Cason, as mayor.

“When you’re green you’re growing and when you’re ripe you’re beginning to rot. I’m still green and growing and I’d like to continue to grow as your next mayor,” Cabrera said after former mayor Don Slesnick and Cabrera’s children, Nicholas, 14, and Amanda Rose, 12, gave introductions.