Mayor Vince Lago, Brian Goldmeier, Anthony De Yurre all have loans
Coral Gables resident and activist George Volsky got home one day last week and found a surprise in his front yard: A political sign for the campaign of Jorge L. Fors, Jr., who is running for commission.
A note on the front door explained.
“Thank you for allowing my campaign to place a sign on your lawn and for your continued support,” it starts. And then: “If the sign was placed by mistake, please feel free to remove it. Best, Jorge Fors.”
If the sign was “placed by mistake?”
Seems more like a campaign strategy. Instead of a “quita y pon” committee removing signs and putting up his, Fors has a “mejor pedir perdon que pedir permiso” committee who would rather “as forgiveness than ask permission.”
Volsky said he left his house at noon Thursday and came back at 3 p.m.
“This has never happened in Coral Gables. I have lived here 56 years and it never happened to me,” said Volsky. “I feel disrespected. I don’t feel this is proper.”
Volsky is used to having people ask to put signs at his high-traffic Alhambra Circle home. The only one he has ever put up is one for the current Mayor Raul Valdes-Fauli, because he felt that the campaign had become ethnic.
Read related: Newby leads cash race in Coral Gables three-way contest for open seat
He hasn’t decided who he’ll support in this open commission race, a three way so far to fill Commissioner Frank Quesada‘s empty suit, er, seat: Fors is running against former City Commissioner Ralph Cabrera and former interim city manager Carmen Olazabal. But now it’s between the two other candidates. Fors is out. “I’m not going to support him,” Volksy said.
That’s exactly what he was afraid of, said Fors who called the episode an error, not a campaign tactic — which actually could work in some other communities where people might not care as much. He blamed an overzealous volunteer in North Gables who mixed up a thank you list — to send postcards to voters who opened their doors to canvassers — with a yard sign list.
“I know exactly who he [Volsky] is and I wouldn’t put a sign on his house without his permission,” Fors said. “I don’t have the courage to do that in Coral Gables. I would be afraid of losing a vote.”
And the note?
“Because I know some people who said they would put up a sign may have forgotten,” said Fors, who went back to Alhambra Circle and removed the other signs placed without permission as soon as he learned of the snafu.
All except one, because the homeowner decided to keep it.
Of the three candidates (so far) running for the open seat in April’s Coral Gables election, the newby handpicked by the incumbent is winning the money race.
In two months time, attorney Jorge L. Fors, who is backed by Commissioner Frank Quesada, who is not seeking reelection has raised almost $65,000. That’s incumbent money, $5K less than what has been raised so far by Commissioner Mike Mena, who isn’t facing an opponent yet, but who has been raising funds for eight months, not two.
While this is first-time candidate money, squeezed from relatives and coworkers and college buddies turned believers, this still could give Fors a significant advantage over both Commissioner Ralph Cabrera, and insurance benefits consultant who has raised only $8,670 so far, and former City Manager Carmen Olazabal, a onetime water carrier for the former city manager Pat Salerno, who only has $11,176, including a $5,000 loan from herself. The rest of her money is from outside Coral Gables — New York, Chicago, Boston, California and even Puerto Rico.
Fors has been better at shaking those trees. He raised $43,500 in his first month and another $21,350 last month. Much of it is from attorneys and law firms but there are no obvious bundles.
Fors has also spent the most so far, with $2,756 spent, including $1,000 on food and wine for an event and $825 on a walk piece by none other than Steve Marin.
Olazabal has spent almost $1,300, including $1,000 to Emiliano Antunez‘s Dark Horse Strategies for website services and consulting, even though word on the street is that Carmen Cason, left, the former mayor’s wife, is her campaign manager.
Cabrera has only spent only $35 so far but has Jorge de Cardenas, the mayor’s consultant, allegedly working on his campaign and a website coming soon.
While the mayor and Commissioner Mike Mena have not drawn any challenges, at least this open seat presents some interesting blogger fodder.
Perhaps a new reason to say thanks, Frank.
