Coral Gables appoints former mayor to fill city commission vacancy
The Coral Gables City Commission on Tuesday appointed former Mayor Jim Cason to fill the commission seat vacated by Jorge Fors, who ran for the Miami-Dade County Commission District 6 seat and lost last month to Trump-endorsed Kevin Cabrera.
“I think that we need to pick somebody who is clearly seasoned and understands and can hit the ground running,” Mayor Vince Lago said during the commission meeting. “In my opinion, I think the most competent person who can potentially hold the seat for the next six months, who I think has an untarnished and respected view on this issue and on the city, is Mayor Jim Cason.”
The commission voted unanimously for Cason, whose appointment will end in April when Fors’ term was set to expire.
Cason served three terms as the mayor from 20112017. He is also a retired U.S. foreign-service officer, having served in U.S. embassies in Venezuela, Panama, Portugal, Italy, El Salvador, Bolivia and Uruguay, according to his résumé. The former diplomat was also the chief of mission for the U.S. Interests Section in Havana and the director of regional affairs for the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.
In an emailed statement to the Miami Herald, Cason said he is “honored to have been selected to fill the vacancy,” but that he does not intend to run for the seat.
“I’ve been happily retired but always willing to help the city in any way I can,” Cason said. “I will not be a candidate in the next election and encourage the others who sought this appointment to consider running.”
Last month, the city solicited applications from Coral Gables citizens to fill the vacant seat. Cason was among seven candidates who applied, although the city was allowed to select someone outside of that applicant pool.
The Coral Gables Neighbors Association put its support behind Maria Cruz, a longtime community member who is often vocal at commission meetings.
Cruz said the community “for months” had heard that the commission had already selected Fors’ replacement and said she hadn’t considered the vacancy until Sue Kawalerski, president of the neighbors association, approached her about it. “She said there are two types of candidates: Political candidates and people’s choice,” Cruz said, recalling the conversation. “I said, if people want me, I’m game, I will do it.”