Every year, Miami International Airport beats its own record from the year before — a conduit for 52.3 million passengers and 2.78 million tons of cargo in 2023. Is there going to be a need for a second airport sometime soon?
Miami-Dade Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera — who could be months from becoming an ambassador so he’s still a county elected — might think so. He wants a comprehensive study that will look at remaining capacity at MIA and “explore the feasibility of building a new airport to meet future demand,” as explained in a statement from his office.
The commission voted last month to direct the administration to conduct the study and provide a report within 90 days on how a new airport could accommodate cargo, commercial passenger and general aviation operations. The resolution was recommended by the aviation and economic development committee.
“Year after year, MIA sets new benchmarks. But we can’t afford to wait until we hit capacity,” Cabrera said in a statement. “Planning for the future now means more jobs, less congestion, and securing Miami-Dade’s status as a global hub for commerce and tourism.”
Read related: Miami-Dade Commission considers land buy near airport for $17 million
The study will evaluate MIA’s existing capacity, identify potential locations for additional airport infrastructure (read: ka-ching!) and assess funding opportunities and environmental challenges. The idea, the statement says, is to act before there’s a congestion crisis.
“We’re not just reacting to growth — we’re anticipating it,” Cabrera said. “This is about ensuring Miami-Dade is ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow with bold, forward-thinking solutions today.”
But wait just one Skytrain minute. The county already owns two other airports. Miami Opa-Locka Executive Airport (photo left) is 10 miles from the Hardrock Stadium and has the largest Coast Guard Air and Sea Rescue operation in the country. The Florida Department of Transportation named it the state’s general aviation airport of the year in 2018. It is also the “premier private airport” in Miami.
It’s 1,880 acres and recorded over 28,000 private jet departures in 2023.
And there’s also Miami Executive Airport in West Kendall, which used to be called the Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport, one of the busiest general aviation airports in Florida, serving corporate, recreational, flight training, and governmental agency activities with easy access to the Florida Keys.
Are those at capacity? Can those be expanded? Or is there not enough graft to go around that way?

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Well, everyone knew it was going to happen. Even before President Elect Donald Trump had announced his appointment of Miami-Dade Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera — who has been instrumental in Trump’s Florida campaign — as ambassador to Panama, everyone knew it was coming.
This week, Trump made it official in a post on Truth Social, saying Cabrera would serve as ambassador to “a country that is ripping us off on the Panama Canal, far beyond their wildest dreams.” Trump had said earlier in the week that he wants the U.S. to take over operations and control of the Panama Canal, which means Cabrera is jumping into a fire already.
This is going to be work! Why not an ambassadorship to The Bahamas? Or Turks and Caicos? That would be amazing! Cabrera is not going to get the normal welcome package in Panama.
“Kevin is a fierce fighter for America First principles,” Trump wrote in his post. “As a Miami-Dade County Commissioner, and Vice Chairman of the International Trade Consortium, he has been instrumental in driving Economic growth, and fostering International partnerships. In 2020, Kevin did an incredible job as my Florida State Director and, this year, advanced our MAGA Agenda as a Member of the RNC Platform Committee.
“Few understand Latin American politics as well as Kevin – He will do a FANTASTIC job representing our Nation’s interests in Panama,” Trump posted.
In a statement released Friday, Commission Chairman Anthony Rodriguez congratulated Cabrera, who is probably one of his biggest allies on the dais (after Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins). “This nomination is an incredible moment for my colleague, who is very well deserving of this opportunity and will advocate for America’s interest abroad,” Rodriguez said.
The job comes with a salary that ranges from $140,000 to $260,000 a year, according to salary.com. There’s also a budget and the doling out more than $1 million grants.
Ambassadors are also given special residences that they live in free of charge. They also get government subsidized healthcare insurance, life insurance and five weeks of vacation time per year, which includes paid airfare to and from their vacation destination. Ambassadors are also compensated for educational expenses for their family. The amount they receive depends upon the country where they are stationed.
Cabrera, who has got to have been preparing already, is not going to talk to any media until the confirmation is done. No need to provide any ammunition, right? He did make a statement, however, in which he thanked our new POTUS.
“I am eager and energized to join your administration as the next ambassador to Panama,” Cabrera began. “I am committed to supporting President Trump’s America First vision and will work tirelessly every day to uphold his bold approach to international diplomacy. Together, we will ensure that American strength, freedom, and leadership continue to shape a brighter future for all.
“As a first-generation American and the son of Cuban exiles, I am profoundly grateful for everything this country has given me. Representing the United States abroad is a duty I take with the utmost pride. I look forward to the nomination process and engaging with the Senate to discuss my commitment to advancing America’s interests on the global stage.”
But it’s gotta be a done deal. After all, the Senate has plenty to worry about with myriad other appointments. Ladra fully expects Cabrera, who is capable enough (especially in comparison) to fly through confirmation, similarly like Marco Rubio will for Secretary of State. Even though he has that awful picture of him banging on then Congresswoman Donna Shalala‘s door with the Proud Boys when they were hunting Nancy Pelosi down. The only part that’s going to be controversial is the Panama part.
So what happens now? Apparently, Gov. Ron DeSantis only appoints someone to fill in when a commissioner has been suspended. The Miami-Dade commission itself can appoint someone to serve the rest of Cabrera’s term, which ends in 2026, or call for a special election.
In his statement, Rodriguez addressed the elephant in the room: His replacement.
“As we await Commissioner Cabrera’s confirmation in his new leadership role, replacing a Commissioner like Kevin Cabrera won’t be easy,” he said. “In the coming weeks and months, Commissioners will exhaust all efforts to ensure that the people of District 6 continue to have a strong, effective voice on the Miami Dade County Commission as quickly as possible.”
Obviously, they should have a special election. If they can waste hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars in useless studies, there is no way they can justify not spending on a special election to have someone who represents the District 6 voters for almost two whole years. But they will try. Because the commission loves to exert its power.
And everyone wants to be a kingmaker.
The Miami Herald’s Doug Hanks said possible choices include State Sen. Bryan Avila, who las malas lenguas say wants it real bad, West Miami Mayor Eric Diaz-Padron, West Miami Vice Mayor Natalie Milian Orbis –who happens to be wife of Cabrera’s office Chief of Staff Manuel Orbis — and Francisco Petrirena, who is the director of the city of Miami’s government relations department.
Fulano who?
 
Now, Ladra is the first one to say bring in the new blood. But Petrirena is basically a lobbyist who, just this June, opened a new business called Biltmore Strategies. Huh? Hope he filed a outside employment form at the city of Miami, where he’s been for barely a year. Before that, he worked for Doctors’ Health Plans and at Brandeis University in Boston, where he was a student in 2017. Reportedly, he came from Cuba in 2015.
Is this really the best option? Or is someone trying to help him climb the political ladder? Who? We have so many wannabe kingmakers.
Ditto with Orbis. This is not a real consideration. Someone floated her name to build name recognition. Maybe she wants to run for mayor of West Miami.
Avila is the frontrunner. He’s been rumored to want to run for this seat for years. Elected to the Senate in 2022, Avila also served as a state rep for eight years. He was Majority Deputy Whip in 2016 and Speaker Pro Temper from 2020 to 2022. Before that, he was a member of the Hialeah planning and zoning board.
Diaz-Padron was first elected mayor in 2022 and then automatically reelected this year with no opposition. He first became a commissioner in 2019 while still a law student at the University of Miami. He serves on the International Trade Consortium with Cabrera, and the Miami-Dade League of Cities as well as the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization.
He told Political Cortadito that he loves serving as mayor of the 6,944 resident town, where he says he’s made progress expanding recreational options and decreasing crime. But he wouldn’t say no to a county post.
“If I can bring that experience to help neighboring communities and still serve my city, I would explore that,” Diaz-Padron said, admitting that he was “watching” the situation. “It’s a long process.”
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While there is only one candidate declared to be running for Miami commission, in District 5, there are many potential and rumored hopefuls — and most of them, if not all, are known entities in the community.
Attorney Alfie Leon, who almost beat Joe Carollo in 2017 for the District 3 seat (came within 252 votes) — and then sued him on residency status because he had long lived in D2’s Coconut Grove — told Political Cortadito in October that he was “planning on running again” and would “make an announcement soon.” Tick, tock, Alfie.
Two other 2017 candidates who lost in District 4 are said to be eyeing a second chance, should Manolo Reyes actually run for mayor as he has threatened to do: Urban planner Ralph Rosado, who got 36% of the vote against Reyes, who won with 58%, and Denise Galvez Turros, a marketing boutique owner who works with the Little Havana businessmen that sued Carollo, who only got 7%. Rosado has served on the Friends of The Underline board of directors. Galvez has served on the city’s Historic and Environmental Preservation Board.
Read related: Alfonso “Alfie” Leon could run again for Miami D3 commission seat next year
Both make good candidates but venture capitalist Rafael “Ralph” Cabrera, president-elect of the Latin Builders Association, is apparently the heir apparent with Reyes’ blessing. That is, if he runs for mayor, after all.
Las malas lenguas say that Brenda Betancourt is eyeing the District 3 seat. She is the president of the Little Havana Neighborhood Association, a frequent speaker at commission meetings — where she defends Carollo — and the wife of Miguel Soliman, who ran unsuccessfully against Carollo in both 2017 ad 2020. He got almost 6% of the vote in 2017, with 357 ballots cast in his favor, but did worse in 2021, with less than 5% of the vote and 266 votes.
The most interesting rumored candidate, so far, is Patrick Range, the grandson of Mary Athelie Range — a Bahamian American civil rights activist and the first black elected to the city commission in 1965 — who is reportedly looking at a run in District 5 against Chairwoman Christine King.
There is a park ad a stretch of Biscayne Boulevard named after Athalie Range, who was appointed by then Mayor Robert King High to replace a commissioner who resigned and went on to win re-election twice. In 1971, she was appointed Secretary of the Florida Department of Community Affairs by Gov. Reubin Askew. She became the first African-American since Reconstruction and the first woman ever to head a state agency in Florida. In other words, she is Black Miami royalty.
Prince Patrick Range is an attorney who once worked for former Miami Commissioner Johnny Winton and now helps run the family funeral home.

He was more recently chair of the Virginia Key Trust Board and has been upset with King — who called voters “mean and miserable” — since she led the dismantling of the volunteer group that dedicated their time and efforts to ensure the beach, park and site of a future museum of Black history in Miami would be protected, and replaced it basically with the city commission.
He discussed it with WPLG’s Glenna Milberg last year. “Nobody has yet to explain why it was necessary to remove the prior board and to do so within the swift nature that we were removed,” Range told her. “This is with little explanation and no plan in place for how they would move forward. That just seems very shortsighted to me.”
He said that Virginia Beach had been the target of several development plans throughout the years, including hotels, private beach pavilions and other amenities and he seems distrustful of the commission (folks say he’s smart), which has floated housing the homeless in a camp there and also swiped the license of a concessionaire last year without any notice.
Read related: Long list of potential 2025 Miami mayoral candidates starts to take form
“This is why the trust was created back in 200o, in order to prevent these things from happening,” he said in the Channel 10 interview.
Range should be a real challenge to King, who has been a disappointment to many of her own constituents and has given half a million dollars in city funds to the non-profit she used to work at before she was elected (and where she’ll likely work after she’s voted out). Marion Brown, the one candidate who has filed to run in D5, got just over 10% of the vote in August’s Miami-Dade District 3 race.
The Miami commission and mayoral election is in November. Qualifying is Sept. 5 through Sept. 20. So we can expect more candidates to come up.
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Former Miam-Dade Commissioner Xavier Suarez — the first Cuban-American mayor of Miami and is the father of current and termed-out Mayor Francis “Baby X” Suarez — is rumored to be eyeing a run for his old seat in the city. But the senior Suarez, who left the District 7 commission office to run for county mayor unsuccessfully in 2020, told Political Cortadito Tuesday that he was not in next November’s race to succeed his son.
“I’m still under permanent injunction not to run for office and the only person who can waive that is Rita,” Commissioner Mayor Sir Suarez texted Ladra, referring to his wife, the boss. She knows best. This is going to be a circus worse than the special election for District 2.
Baby X may be indicted in connection to his dealings with developer Rishi Kapoor, who is being investigated– or he may be included in the Donald Trump administration as an ambassadorship in Saudi Arabia, a prize for stepping down after running for president for five minutes. The current mayor’s wife Gloria was actually floated as a possible successor in a telephone poll in June. But nobody takes that seriously and she has not been added to the already long list of confirmed, assumed or rumored candidates.
Those are:

Commissioner Manolo Reyes, who has announced he would run but whose health issues could cause him to back down and stay in his District 4 commission seat, where he still has two years on his term. And the mayor doesn’t vote.
Commissioner Joe Carollo, who is termed out and nobody believes he will just retire and fade away and give up the power he likes to abuse so much. Two questions: Will he risk the chance he’d lose a city-wide race? Or will the large field of candidates help him become the frontrunner?
Former City Manager Emilio Gonzalez, who has been talking to would-be supporters (read: donors) about a possible run. If not for mayor, he could also run for District 3 to replace Carollo.
Former Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, who told everyone he is running for mayor after the 11 felony public corruption charges against him were dropped in November, just a month before his trial would begin. Diaz de la Portilla, who lost his house in District 3 to foreclosure, may realize, however, that it’s going to be really hard for him to win a city-wide race and decide to run in District 4, instead. There’s no way he’d wait until 2027 to run in District 1 again. But it will be a real rain on his parade if he establishes residency in D4 and Reyes decides to stay in place. After all, he has not yet filed any paperwork and qualifying isn’t until September. Then again, Diaz de la Portilla may keep a “back up” residency in District 3, por si las moscas.
Serial candidate Maxwell “Max” Martinez, a marketing professional who has reported loaning himself more than $122,000, or practically all his campaign funds, according to campaign finance records at the city clerk’s office. Martinez lost a mayoral bid in 2021, proudly coming in with 11% against “the most famous mayor in America.” He has a marketing agency and also ran against 14 other candidates in the special election to replace Sabina Covo.
Serial candidate Michael Hepburn, who ran for commission in District 5 and for congress once as a Democrat, has filed paperwork with the city clerk.
Serial candidate June Savage, a real estate professional who also ran for commission District 2 in the special election and once for mayor of Miami Beach, has filed paperwork with the city clerk.

We’re two short of a baseball team, but Ladra has also heard that people are prodding former Commissioner Joe Sanchez, and that he’s declined because, well, he is still licking his woulds after a rough Republican primary for the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s office. Another name batted about is former Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina. So, play ball!
Both Colina and Suarez are former cops. Is that what the city needs at the helm? Or a military-minded colonel like Gonzalez? Someone que ponga orden at City Hall?

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There are two new candidates for commission in the Coral Gales election this April.
It didn’t take long for someone to file to run in Group 3 after Kirk Menendez decided last week to run for mayor instead for someone to take his place. Attorney Tom Wells, who is Menendez’s appointment to the city’s charter review committee, filed Friday for the seat and will run against attorney Richard Lara, who is the mayor’s hand picked puppet.
Attorney Laureano Cancio (no relation to former Miami-Dade Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Cancio) also filed Friday to run against Commissioner and Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, who is also an attorney and a Lago puppet.
So this April’s election may be a referendum on Vince Lago.
Wells, a Gables resident for more than 30 years, has raised two daughters in the City Beautiful with his wife Diane and is an active member of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, serving as senior warden and on the vestry. He is a member of the Coral Gables Country Club, as well.
A North Gables resident, he fought to keep Burger Bob’s and then became active in the push to reopen Burger Bob’s and then the opening of it’s new reincarnation as the Birdie Bistro — which opened last month. He assists in restaurant operations on the weekends, like serving ice cream to people who recently attended the 76th Annual Junior Orange Bowl Parade. He also advocated for the renewal of the Fritz & Franz lease earlier this year.
Wells often speaks at commission meetings. He supported the ouster of former City Manager Peter Iglesias and opposed changing the election to November and the proposed 2% tax cut last year because it could affect services for a tiny savings to residents.
He said at a town hall organized by Commissioner Melissa Castro that the big winners would be the large developers. Houston-based owners of Gables Station would get a $29,408 savings while Wells’ own taxes would fall by only $94. “Why are we giving these foreign companies a tax cut that’s going to hurt our services?” He called it “a $2.65 million giveaway.”
Read related: Town hall on tiny tax cut in Coral Gables shows residents don’t want it
This pretty much aligns him with the positions of Castro, Menendez and Commissioner Ariel Fernandez, and against Mayor Vince Lago, who has been gas-lighting the commission in an egocentric battle since his two hand-picked candidates lost in the last commission race (read: referendum on Lago) two years ago. Lake Sour Grapes.
“It’s so toxic. It’s so personal,” Wells, 52, told Political Cortadito about the current state of affairs on the commission. “I think I can help restore civility in Coral Gables at City Hall.”

 
To that end, he called Lara — who announced his candidacy during public comments at a commission meeting — on Saturday, the day after he filed. “I said, ‘Let’s try to keep it clean,’” Wells told Ladra. “It’s not going to make or break either of us. It’s not going to define our lives.”
Still, he’s been hazed before at military school so he’s not scared of what may come.
He already has a website and says he won’t be doing a lot of fundraising. He expects to loan himself about $20,000 and will do a grassroots campaign. “We’re not in this to curry favors,” Wells said. “We just want people to vote and put signs in their yards.”
Cancio is a Pedro Pan kid, coming from Cuba in the Peter Pan flights for unaccompanied minor children. He grew up in Coral Gables, went to school in New York then returned 35 years ago. He went back to run the New York Marathon with his daughter, Olivia, in 2017. He lost 45 pounds training for the 26.2-mile race and was featured in the New York Post. The 74-year-old has since run three miles almost every day.
This is one of the reasons traffic is going to be one of his main issues. He sees the near collisions on his daily run and even has been close to being run over, he said. The other issues he will focus on are controlling over development — he became involved when his neighbors and he opposed a large development across from the Plaza proposed two years ago — and education. With all the new condos being built and families moving in, Cancio thinks public school options are too limited and wants to explore having the city run its own school system.
Read related: Kirk Menendez runs for Coral Gables mayor against city bully Vince Lago
He realizes that he will be running against Anderson, who  “is tied to Lago and has supported Lago in everything he’s done,” but also Lago, who is going to do whatever he can to keep his only mostly-guaranteed vote on the dais (that is, if he can pull any energy from his own campaign against challenger Menendez).
“I’m 74-years-old. I feel fine. I have an obligation to, at some point in my life, give back to my community. And I don’t like what’s going on in Coral Gables,” he said. “I’m not going to lose my job. Nothing’s going to happen to me. I’m in the enviable position of having the ability to do this.”
He’s no fan of Lago’s, who he calls a “pompous ass” who “doesn’t know what he’s doing.” He said the mayor met with him and his neighbors two years ago when they were fighting the development. “The mayor is the most obnoxious mayor I’ve ever run across,” Cancio told Political Cortadito. “He was going to call the chief of police and have some of the residents arrested!”
Anderson hasn’t done much fundraising yet, with only $4,100 in her campaign account, according to campaign finance records at the city clerk’s office. Lara, the Lago plant, has raised $61,600, but only 3,000 since June, which could show a lack of true community support.
Ladra fully expects there to be more candidates very soon.
There will be thorough, ongoing coverage of the April election. To support Political Cortadito’s efforts on this beat, please consider making a donation to grassroots, government watchdog reporting. Thank you.
The post Two more candidates file for Coral Gables commission race in April appeared first on Political Cortadito.

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Now it’s getting interesting.
Coral Gables Commissioner Kirk Menendez filed paperwork Wednesday to run for mayor against incumbent Vince Lago, the egomaniac that he’s been battling for the last 20 months on the dais, setting the City Beautiful voters up for a gut-wrenching, nasty election. Menendez knows that Lago, who has raised and spent at least $1.4 million through his political action committee, is going to get ugly. Or uglier, as it were.
But he’s had it.
“I gave him every chance to mend fences and bring our community together,” Menendez told Political Cortadito about his decision to challenge the Lago. “But as time went by, I lost hope that he could redeem himself.”
Menendez, who won his first commission race in 2021 in a field of five, was going to run for re-election against a Lago recruited and backed candidate named Richard Lara, a big shot attorney for a radio giant who is likely to run against someone else now for the open seat. Las malas lenguas say Felix Pardo is considering. Coach Kirk, as Menendez is familiarly known, shifted his attention to the mayoral seat Wednesday. He promised to “bring civility, stability, and selfless leadership in a continued commitment to prioritizing the voices of residents.
Read related: Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago gets shut down, censured by 3 he disparaged
“As we celebrate our centennial, the future of Coral Gables is as bright as it has ever been. I remain steadfast in my commitment to the values and ideals that define our Coral Gables community,” Menendez said in a statement. “This is an exciting time for our residents, as our City Beautiful embarks on its journey into the next 100 years. I ask for your support, so that together, we can preserve and protect the way of life that makes Coral Gables so special.”

Menendez is also known as Mr. Coral Gables because of his longtime community activism, including a stint as chairman of the city’s parks and recreation advisory board, and deep roots in the City Beautiful. He volunteers at St. Theresa School, Church of the Little Flower, Knights of Columbus and the Gift Meal Project. He grew up at the Youth Center before it was the “War Memorial Youth Center” and later became a beloved soccer coach. He is currently president of the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center Association.
These credentials will serve him well against Lago, who may be better funded but is quickly losing support among voters because of his political attacks and constant complaining on the dais. The mayor has taken sour grapes to a whole new level. That might be why his fundraising has slowed down dramatically, raising less than $10,000 for both his PAC and his campaign account (which has $169K total) since June. According to the most recent campaign finance reports, Lago’s PAC, Coral Gables First, has about $110,00 left from its $1.5 million total raised.
It may not really matter. As evidenced by the last election, where Commissioners Melissa Castro and Ariel Fernandez beat the mayor’s handpicked candidates — which were better financed — Gables voters are not easily bought. Menendez himself beat the better funded candidate backed by Lago in 2021. These local elections are driven more by the issues dividing the community — development, traffic, annexation. This year, we’ll add the hostility at City Hall, where the mayor — who almost got into fisticuffs with the city manager in a conference room earlier this year — has made multiple public records requests through real or imaginary proxies in vendetta battles with the three commissioner who don’t carry his water.
Read related: Vince Lago tries to sneak election date change into strategic plan via committee
Lago has already used his PAC money to go after Castro, Fernandez and Menendez. His camp sends regular text messages to Gables voters questioning his colleagues’ motives and calling them incompetent. Sour, sour grapes.
He’s also spent some of his political capital on a failed petition effort to put three referendum questions on the Gables ballot, one of which would move the election from April to November. He realized, after the last election, that hardcore Gables super voters are harder to fool than the general election voters who show up for presidential or state races and pay no attention to micro local politics.
Lago has been poison on and off the dais. On the dais, he is the master of gas lighting, accusing the three commissioners who have butt heads with him of creating political drama when it is he who turns everything into a fight. Off the dais, he’s gone on radio and television programs to disparaged his colleagues and their family members. Last October, Menendez moved to censure the mayor during a commission meeting. He got the censure approved 3-2, with only Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson — the mayor’s only ally who has recently shown signs of wavering — voting against the censure.
In April, let’s see if Menendez can get voters to censure Lago.
It’s going to be interesting.
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