Commission candidates surpass $525,000 in campaign fundraising

March 11th, 2013

Coral Gables City Hall

Coral Gables voters will elect a mayor and two commissioners on April 9.

During the first two months of 2013, candidates for Coral Gables City Commission raised $194,040 for their campaigns, bringing their fundraising totals to $528,141, according to documents filed Friday, March 8, at the City Clerk’s office.

Coral Gables residents will choose among 10 candidates when they go to the polls on April 9 to elect a mayor and fill two City Commission seats.

In the mayor’s race, City Commissioner Ralph Cabrera received $41,600 in campaign donations between Jan. 1 and March 1 for a total of $80,690, according to his latest campaign treasurer’s report. Elected to the commission in 2001, Mr. Cabrera has termed out as city commissioner and is now running for mayor.

Mayor Jim Cason, seeking a second two-year term, has now raised $118,730 since filing for re-election in March 2012. That total includes $47,680 that came in between Jan. 1 and March 1, according to his latest treasurer’s report.

Three candidates are running for the Group II seat being vacated by Commissioner Cabrera:

Marlin Ebbert, a longtime community volunteer who serves on a number of arts, education and civic organizations. She reported donations of $5,745 in her latest campaign treasurer’s report for a total of $22,845.

Ross Hancock, communications director for the non-profit American Welding Society. He reported $1,550 in his latest treasurer’s report for a total of $1,555.

Vince Lago, an executive in the construction management and design industry and a member of the Coral Gables Planning and Zoning Board. He raised $18,250 in the first two months of 2013 for a total of $124,553, according to his latest treasurer’s report.

Five candidates hope to succeed Commissioner Maria Anderson (Group III), who is also termed out:

Jackson Rip Holmes, a real estate broker who ran unsuccessfully for a commission seat in 2011. He reported a loan of $550 from himself in his initial campaign treasurer’s report.

Pat Keon, a member of the Coral Gables Planning and Zoning Board and longtime civic volunteer. Ms. Keon reported $17,550 in her treasurer’s report for a total of $72,450.

P.J. Mitchell, a partner, shareholder and co-founder of the law firm of Mitchell & West, L.L.C. He reported $39,300, including a loan of $30,000 that he made to his campaign, in his initial campaign treasurer’s report.

Tony Newell, vice president of operations at the Hammer Construction Corp. He reported $10,575, including a $5,500 loan from himself, in his initial treasurer’s report.

Mary Young, director of the University of Miami School of Business Administration’s Ziff Graduate Career Services Center and a former chair of the Coral Gables Community Foundation. She received $11,240 in donations in the first two months of the year for a total of $56,893, according to her treasurer’s report.

For more election details, including all campaign treasurer’s reports, dates of upcoming candidate forums and candidate bios (nine of the 10 candidates have submitted their information), visit the Meet the Candidates section of GablesHomePage.com.