Coral Gables officially inducts its two new commissioners and its re-elected mayor

After a combative election season, pomp and civility returned to Coral Gables City Hall Friday morning for the official swearing-in of two new commissioners, Pat Keon and Vince Lago, who were elected to fill Group 3 and 2 seats, respectively, and Mayor Jim Cason, who was re-elected overwhelmingly for a second term.

After thanking residents, city staff, including Manager Pat Salerno, Attorney Craig Leen and Clerk Walter Foeman, Cason offered his vision for his new two-year term:

“We will work to improve the city’s finances and make them rock solid, work to reduce the millage rate for the third consecutive year and work to increase our reserves. We will search for efficiencies in government, get the senior center built, work on pensions…and do everything we can to keep Coral Gables one of the safest cities in the world and finish the 16 Neighborhood Renaissance programs,” he said.

Lago, who faced two challengers, thanked his family, most of whom were in attendance, and joked that he looked forward to being Cason’s right-hand man. “I am just to your right,” he said, laughing, as he noted his position on the dais.

Keon, who defeated four candidates, said she looked forward to working on the city’s finances, neighborhood schools, setting performance standards and measures for the city’s departments “and a host of other things, like parks and public safety and … quality of life,” she said. “I’m so proud to be a long-term resident of this city and proud and honored to serve with my fellow commissioners, our city manager and clerk and dedicated team of professionals. With this group of people we will make it even better.”

The commissioners have four-year terms; the mayor has a two-year term.

Residents, commissioners, recent Group 3 candidates P.J. Mitchell and Tony Newell and the newly elected gathered for wraps, meatballs, salad, cakes and cookies on the patio after the swearing-in.

Former commissioners Maria Anderson and Ralph Cabrera, who ran unsuccessfully against Cason, were not in attendance. Each had served 12 years and were term-limited.

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Coral Gables