Coral Gables’ Jim Cason declines mayoral debates

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Coral Gables residents won’t see a televised mayoral debate this week — in English or in Spanish. But only because the current incumbent, Mayor Jim Cason, won’t face his challenger, former city commissioner Ralph Cabrera.

WPLG Channel 10’s Michael Putney invited both men to a mayoral debate on his Sunday news show, This Week in South Florida. Cabrera didn’t hesitate to say yes. He knows that the more people who hear his positive message of experience and leadership, the more votes he will get on April 14th. Cason, through his campaign manager, didn’t hesitate to say no. He knows that the more he talks, the bigger the hole he digs for himself.

He also knows that the more people who hear Ralph Cabrera speak, the more votes he loses.

Think about it. Would you, after the shameful performance at the first debate with Cabrera earlier this month, be jumping for another chance to face him, or hiding from it at every opportunity.

Read related story: Coral Gables mayoral forum shows stark differences

“It’s a shame that Jim is declining to participate in a debate,” Cabrera told Ladra. “It would have provided an excellent opportunity for us to highlight our positions and platforms on a wide array of issues affecting the city.”

Jorge de Cardenas, Cason’s campaign manager, said that Cason had to decline because they’ve gotten six or seven debate requests and can’t do them all. “From Univision, from WQBA. If we say yes to one, we have to say yes to everybody,” de Cardenas said.

Don’t you believe it. Cabrera has only had one other request. That was from Roberto Rodriguez-Tejera of Mira TV’s Prohibido Callarse. He accepted that one also. But Cason, again, declined.

Other sources have told Ladra that Cason, who handily beat Cabrera by 50 points in 2013 (with the help of then City Manager Pat Salerno, who since resigned in disgrace), has a poll that makes him comfortable to say no to the invites. He’s also not walking much, though some voters have reported getting a door knock from his wife. Maybe he’s busy attending events.

But Ladra doesn’t believe the rumors. First, because if he were leading so comfortably, the numbers would be leaked or simply made public. And secondly, because as someone who is helping Cabrera communicate with voters, I can attest that our tracking, phone bank and anecdotal evidence do not reflect the rumors. Not even close.

This is a horse race. Don’t let Cason fool you.

Yes, incumbents are less fond of debates than challengers because they have more to lose. But they should also be held accountable for not showing up. Cason is the elected Coral Gables mayor. He is not just speaking for himself but for everybody who voted for him and even those who didn’t but who pay taxes in Coral Gables. He represents them. A true leader would know and respect that.

Ladra feels it is a little enabling and wrong for WPLG’s policy to be to exclude the candidate that accepted the invitation because you can’t just have one. Putney said that he would tell viewers that both candidates were invited and that Cabrera accepted and Cason did not. And that’s at least something.

But why should Ralph pay for Cason’s lack of accessibility? I mean, all that is required is that journalists give both sides ample opportunity to equal time. If you decline it, alla tu.

This policy allows any candidate, and usually an incumbent, to effectively and de facto silence any challenger that sounds too good for comfort.

It becomes a convenient campaign tactic: Decline an interview or forum or debate and silence the opposition. Why do we let the campaign insiders direct our coverage that way?

It’s a good thing that Rodriguez-Tejera is going to give Cabrera some time anyway. After all, his show is called Prohibido Callarse, which losely means he will not be silenced. Alla, Cason. He wants equal time, he can have it. Just accept the invitation.

Ladra can hardly wait for the March 31 debate, sponsored by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. Wonder if Cason is going to try to get out of that one, too.

At least we got the first debate March 9 on video. It clearly shows the difference between Ralph Cabrera and Cason.

It also shows why Cason doesn’t want to do it again.