Richard Lara, the son of Cuban exiles, has proudly called Coral Gables home since the age of 14. A graduate of Coral Gables Senior High School, Richard earned the distinguished honor of serving as the school’s Silver Knight for Journalism. Richard went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts in History at the University of Michigan, and his Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School. In the early years of his career, Richard served on the Florida Bar Professionalism Committee and was the Chair of the Florida Bar Grievance Committee. He was appointed by then-Florida Governor Rick Scott to serve on the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Third District Court of Appeal. Richard currently serves as the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Spanish Broadcasting System, the largest publicly traded Hispanic media company in the United States.

A dedicated community leader, Richard has a long history of service and advocacy. He has contributed to the Coral Gables Anti-Crime Committee, volunteers as a mock trial coach and mentor at the University of Miami School of Law and Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, and serves as the Development Chair for the Board of Directors of Easterseals South Florida. In this role, he helps raise awareness and support for Alzheimer’s and autism care. His professional excellence has also been recognized, including being named the 2022 General Counsel of the Year by the Daily Business Review.

Richard has been happily married to Bertha, his wife of 27 years, and together they have three daughters: Gabrielle, Victoria, and Alexandra. Family values and a deep connection to the Coral Gables community are at the heart of his vision for public service.

As a Coral Gables Commissioner, Richard is committed to delivering accountable and transparent leadership to the City Beautiful. His priorities include fostering respect, civility, and collaboration among colleagues while ensuring that residents’ needs always come first. Richard believes that taxpayer dollars should be invested in the community or returned to the residents – never misused for personal or political gain. With a focus on integrity and service, Richard aims to restore trust and ensure that Coral Gables remains a thriving, vibrant community for all.