Voters in Coral Gables who got the robocall from Commissioner Rhonda Anderson agree on one thing: She sounds very unenthusiastic. Ladra is not sure that means anything. Anderson sounds monotone most of the time.

But some insiders think she had to hold her nose to endorse commission candidates Alex Bucelo and Ivette Arango O’Doski, the two development darlings, as a favor to Mayor Vince Lago — or, better said, as a trade to be vice mayor.

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Dark money from unknown sources is once again influencing voters

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Ivette Arango O’Doski, Alex Bucelo have the most funds in their groups

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The Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust has gotten a complaint about Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago and his intense interest in the annexation of Little Gables, where his lobbyist brother represents the largest property owner.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Ladra knows Lago said that nobody in his family had any business interest in the area. But that was a lie. He was very dramatic about it, pulling out an affidavit at a public commission meeting in August and signing it, “under penalty of perjury,” in front of the City Clerk.

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Six commission candidates also qualify for two seats in the April 11 race

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Does Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago know something we don’t?

Lago doesn’t have a real challenge in this April’s city elections — Jackson “Rip” Holmes can’t beat anyone, let alone the Gables Golden Boy — but he’s raising funds like he’s going to have an opponent. January was his best month, with $58,650 raised, bringing his total to $69,200.

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