You can tell a lot about an elected official by how hard they work when nobody is watching. Titles are easy. Getting the job done is harder. Showing up, dealing with the problems, listening to residents, taking the heat and continuing to fight for the community takes something different. Mayor Vince Lago has demonstrated that he is willing to do the work.

Lago believes in Coral Gables. He believes the City Beautiful is special, and he believes it deserves to be protected, strengthened and moved forward. You can see that in the way he approaches the job. He is involved. He is outspoken. He takes positions and is willing to defend them. He doesn’t wait for every person in the room to agree with him before he takes action. In local government, where almost every major decision creates disagreement, that willingness to lead matters.

Coral Gables is a demanding community. Residents care about their neighborhoods, their property, traffic, development, public safety, businesses, historic character and the direction of the city. They expect a lot from their elected officials — and they should. The mayor has to deal with competing interests every day, and there are times when somebody is going to be unhappy no matter what decision is made. The easiest thing for a politician to do is stay quiet and avoid the fight. Lago has shown that he is willing to get into the fight.

That doesn’t mean every position is going to be universally popular. It doesn’t mean every decision will satisfy every resident. That’s politics. What matters is whether the person holding the office cares enough to put in the work. Lago does.

At Miami’s Community Newspapers, we have been watching South Florida politics and local government for decades. We know the difference between someone who wants the title and someone who wants to do the job. We have seen elected officials who are everywhere when the cameras are on and difficult to find when the real work begins. We have also seen public officials who make themselves available, stay engaged and keep pushing even when the issues become difficult. Vince Lago has earned our respect because he works.

He cares deeply about Coral Gables and about its future. He wants the city to remain a community people are proud to call home. He understands that growth and development have to be balanced with the character and quality of life that made Coral Gables what it is. Most importantly, he has demonstrated that being mayor is more than attending meetings and signing documents. It is about being involved in the community and being willing to take responsibility.

We are not looking for a perfect politician. There isn’t one. We are looking for people who care, people who work and people who are willing to stand up for the communities they represent. That is what we see in Vince Lago.

So our endorsement is straightforward.

Miami’s Community Newspapers supports Vince Lago for mayor of Coral Gables.

We believe the City Beautiful deserves a mayor who is engaged, involved and willing to put in the hours. Coral Gables deserves someone who believes in the city and is willing to fight for its future.

Vince Lago has shown that he is willing to do exactly that