Political Positions taken by Tom Wells

In the past 18 months, Tom has spoken on resident-focused issues 14 times at Coral Gables Commission or Townhall meetings. Some of those positions are set forth below so that you understand how he will vote as a Commissioner based on what he has done in the past:

  • Against Over-Development: Tom is against over-development and related traffic and infrastructure issues – particularly when there is no resident input. He spoke against the Mobility Hub (a 10-story light bulb behind Miracle Mile Theater on a one-way street) that is inconsistent with the look and feel of the City Beautiful. The City spent $2.6 million on consulting fees on a project that started at $29.3 million and grew to $62 million without considering resident protests.

    Townhall Meeting (“TM”) 11/2/23; Commission Meeting (“CM”) 9/26/23 and 2/13/24

  • Against Failure to be Transparent: Tom is against the City’s failure to be transparent with its residents including increased Mobility Hub cost, false claims that Fritz & Franz owed the City $240,000 in default rent, increased Burger Bob’s renovation cost from $580,000 to $1.5 million and not explaining how the City was reducing resident services caused by a proposed $2.65 million ad valorem tax cut.

    CM 2/13/24 (Mobility Hub); CM 3/23/24 (Fritz & Franz); CM 2/26/24 (Burger Bob’s); and TM 7/30/24 (no explanation of resident service reduction caused by proposed ad valorem tax cut)

  • For Enhancing Residents’ Quality of Life: Tom is for enhancing residents’ quality of life such as reopening Burger Bob’s (a 35 year restaurant and gathering place), Fritz & Franz (a 20 year soccer retreat that makes the City special and unique) and building pickleball courts that brings the community together.

    CM 9/26/23, TM 11/2/23, CM 12/12/23 and CM 2/26/24 (Burger Bob’s); CM 3/23/24 (Fritz & Franz); and CM 7/9/24 and CM 12/10/24 (Pickleball)

  • Search by Independent Committee to Hire City Manager: Tom is for an independent committee selecting a City Manager and avoiding mistakes made in hiring former City Manager Peter Iglesias in 2018 without any search.

    CM 2/27/24 (independent committee to select City Manager)

  • For April Elections: Tom is for our April elections as done for the last 100 years to avoid (i) partisanship, (ii) increased campaign cost to compete with federal, state and county elections, (iii) voter fatigue and (iv) making the election only about Coral Gables. The increased November election campaign cost for a candidate prevents self-funded campaigns to ensure that you are hearing the candidate’s message rather than the message of $1,000 campaign donors. Tom also supports a referendum to allow voters to decide if they want to move the elections to November.

    CM 9/13/23 (for local elections in April); Comment to Gables Insider article on 9/8/23 for referendum

  • Not Part of Any Voting Block: Tom independently advocates what is in the residents’ best interest which have been

    1. rejected by the Commission (saving the City $105,000 by firing Mr. Iglesias for cause, having an independent search committee select a City Manager and increase voter engagement by allowing candidates to purchase a booth at the Farmers Market)

    2. adopted 4-1 (the 10-year continuation of the ad valorem tax rate when there is no explanation of how resident services would suffer from a $2.65 million budget cut)

    3. adopted 5-0 (building pickleball courts and extending Fritz & Franz’s lease)

    4. accepted solely by Mayor Lago (posting Burger Bob’s monthly construction schedule on the City’s website)

    CM 2/27/24 (no severance payment to City Manager); CM 2/27/24 (independent committee to select City Manager); CM 1/14/2025 (voter engagement); TM 7/30/24 and CM 8/1/24 (no explanation of how to pay for ad valorem tax cut); CM 1/14/25 (pickleball); CM 3/23/24 (Fritz & Franz); and CM 1/9/24 (posting monthly construction schedule)

  • Fiscal Responsibility: Tom is against the City wasting $2.6 million on the Mobility Hub, paying $105,000 severance to the City Manager, delaying renovation of Burger Bob’s costing an additional $900,000 and giving below-market rent to SRA Martinez despite a lease default for failing to timely open by February, 2024.

    TM 11/2/23, CM 9/26/23 and CM 2/13/24 (Mobility Hub); CM 2/27/24 (no severance payment to City Manager); CM 2/26/24 (delays causing increased costs for Burger Bob’s renovation); CM 1/23/24 and 7/9/24 (SRA Martinez)

  • For Restoring Civility: Tom is in favor of enforcing City Code Sections 2-77 and 2-81 as to rules of decorum and debate and Robert’s Rules of Order to prevent personal attacks at Commission meetings and restoring civility.

    CM 2/13/24, CM 2/27/24 and CM 8/1/24 (application of City Code and Robert’s Rules of Order)