Racist FIU Texter Once Sat At Gala Table With Coral Gables Politicians

Newly uncovered photos raise questions about whether Coral Gables elected officials may have been closer to Dariel Gonzalez, the self-proclaimed historian who allegedly sent racist and antisemitic messages in a group chat for conservative students, than they previously acknowledged.

After New Times discovered last week that Gonzalez was captured in campaign group photos with Mayor Vince Lago and Commissioner Richard Lara during the city’s last election season, both tried to distance themselves from the Florida International University (FIU) student.

Part of Lago’s statement to New Times read, “Like many people in public life, I have taken photographs with thousands of residents and visitors over the years at community events. A photograph does not represent an endorsement of a person’s views or actions.”

Similarly, Lara, who clarified that Gonzalez was not a member of his campaign team, added, “During the course of running for office, I met many individuals at community events and through everyday interactions in public life, and he was one of those people.”

However, the politicians spent at least one evening in the company of the now-notorious student at a pricey and exclusive formal event.

Photos from the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce’s Centennial Celebration Grand Gala on April 29, 2025, show Gonzalez in his typical 1920s attire and straw flat-brimmed hat, seated at the same table as Lago, Lara, Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, and Peter Iglesias, who began his second stint as city manager a month later.

Gonzalez sat across from Lago and Lara and next to Iglesias and his wife, according to the photos. He also posed for a group photo with Lara and Anderson.

On Instagram, the mayor posted a group photo from the event with Gonzalez, Iglesias, and Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez. Lara also included a photo with Gonzalez in the carousel of pictures posted on his Instagram.

An event flyer listed tickets at $750 apiece and a VIP table of 10 at $7,500. It is not immediately clear why Gonzalez sat at that table. Coral Gables Communications director Martha Pantin tells New Times that the city bought three tickets for Commissioners Melissa Castro, Ariel Fernandez, and the vice mayor. She says that the mayor paid for his own ticket.

Anderson said in an email to New Times that she did not organize the guest list and cannot speak to who purchased Gonzalez’s ticket.

“I strongly disagree with the views that have been reported he uttered and condemn that kind of language,” she continued. “My presence at the event or in a photograph should not be interpreted as any endorsement of those views or as a personal association.”

Lara told New Times that he does not recall taking any photos with Gonzalez or sitting with him. Along with his statement, he requested that New Times send him the photos in question; a reporter sent a photo from his own Instagram account along with others taken by a professional photographer.

“My interactions with Mr. Gonzalez were no different than with many people I met while campaigning and attending community events,” he said. “I first encountered him during my campaign as he was someone who frequently attended events around the city and presented himself as a local historian. He was never a volunteer or staff member of my campaign.

“As is common at community gatherings, photos are often taken with many attendees. A photograph should not be interpreted as an endorsement of anyone’s views. The comments that have since been reported are offensive and unacceptable, and I strongly condemn them.”

The five-hour event kicked off with a cocktail reception, followed by the premiere of Greetings From Paradise, a play about Miami set in the 1920s, at the Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre. The night finished off with the Grand Gala, a dinner featuring celebrity chefs and entertainment under the stars on Salzedo Street and Miracle Mile.

In a phone call with New Times, Gonzalez, who repeatedly addressed a New Times reporter as madam, said he did not remember this particular gala before he hung up.

After messages leaked on March 4, allegedly showing Gonzalez, the then-recruitment chair of FIU’s College Republicans, using antisemitic and racist slurs, he was removed as docent at the city-operated Merrick House. The university’s Office of Civil Rights and the Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity have initiated charges against the students after reviewing the evidence, school president Jeanette Nuñez announced on X. They face possible expulsion and suspension.

While not a resident of Coral Gables, he is a familiar face in the area, an especially recognizable one given his 1920s garb and straw hat, and was a frequent contributor in a Coral Gables community WhatsApp chat. He said in a January 2025 podcast interview that he “pretty much grew up” in the city.

“I work here now. I volunteer here every weekend, so I may not be directly involved in what’s going on, but I kinda care deeply,” Gonzalez added.

The city manager’s office declined to respond to a list of questions about Iglesias’ attendance, directing New Times to instead contact the city’s communications director. Lago did not respond to New Times‘ repeated requests for comment.