Gonzalo Sanabria, a real estate executive and longtime figure in Coral Gables civic life, is on the ballot for the Group 5 seat on the City Commission.

Sanabria faces Dominique Whiting in the nonpartisan race.

Sanabria said the race opened after Commissioner Ariel Fernandez chose not to seek re-election. He said he entered the contest after what he described as a dispute with Fernandez over an ethics complaint. "This is why I decided to run vs Ariel and then he decided not to file for re-election," Sanabria said, according to the Gables Gazette.

This is not Sanabria's first bid for a commission seat. He ran unsuccessfully for Group 4 commissioner in 2011 and Group 3 commissioner in 2009, according to the Miami Herald. The Gables Gazette described him as a familiar presence before the commission in recent years, frequently speaking on city issues, and a longtime figure in Coral Gables civic affairs.

As of the latest reporting period covered in a Sept. 14, 2026, Gables Gazette article, Sanabria had reported $19,450 in monetary campaign contributions. His professional background includes serving as president of Real Estate Works, Inc., and he has held seats on several civic and nonprofit boards across Miami-Dade County.

Candidate information

Name: Gonzalo Sanabria

Office sought: Coral Gables City Council, Group 5

Party: Nonpartisan

Ballot status: Certified for the ballot

Opponent: Dominique Whiting (nonpartisan)

Election date: Nov. 3

Experience and public service

Sanabria has held roles across government boards, nonprofit organizations and the private sector, according to the Miami Herald:

  • Vice chair, Miami-Dade Expressway Authority
  • Member, Coral Gables Planning and Zoning Board
  • Board member, Doctors Hospital
  • Board member, Baptist Foundation
  • Board member, Coral Gables Waterfront Communities Homeowner's Association Board
  • President, Real Estate Works, Inc.

Sanabria's service on the Coral Gables Planning and Zoning Board gave him direct experience reviewing the land-use and development applications that regularly come before the commission. His board roles at Doctors Hospital and the Baptist Foundation reflect involvement in the nonprofit sector, while his appointment as vice chair of the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority placed him in a regional transportation oversight role.

The Gables Courier invited Sanabria to complete a candidate questionnaire. No response was received.