Former Miami Lakes Mayor Michael “Muscles” Pizzi — suspended by Gov. Rick Scott earlier this month after he 
was arrested by the FBI on bribery and extortion charges –misses his office and want’s his seat back already.
At least that’s what we have to think after his son picked up a candidate packet for him at the clerk’s office at Town Hall Tuesday afternoon.
City staffers confirmed that the suspended (read: disgraced) mayor’s son had picked up a packet just before 3:30 p.m., though nobody knows why he did that since Pizzi can download all the documents from the town’s website.
Is he trying to psyche out the competition?
Maybe he thinks it’s going to go well at his arraignment Tuesday, which is three days before the qualifying deadline.
Pizzi was busted Aug. 6 along with Sweetwater Mayor Manny Marono and two lobbyists after a two-year FBI sting in which undercovers posing as shady businessmen from Chicago worked with the electeds to defraud the federal government out of grant monies meant for job creation. They each had to lie to other undercovers who called purporting to be from AmeriCorps, which had awarded the grants, to find out how the monies were being used.
Since Pizzi was also suspended as town attorney in Medley, he apparently has a lot of time on his hands now and Ladra can just imagine him bouncing off the walls looking for something to do. He may also believe his chances are not that bad, especially if Councilman Nelson Hernandez — who has already resigned his position to run for mayor — and longtime Pizzi critic and town activist David Bennett split the anti-Muscles votes.
Hernandez could not be reached immediately, but Bennett said Pizzi’s possible political rebound changes nothing for him. At least not now. He may reconsider after the qualifying deadline, which is noon Aug. 30.
“I’m happy with any one of us being mayor,” Bennett said, referring to the other three candidates, which also includes founding Mayor Wayne Slaton, who lost to Pizzi last November in a 62 to 38 percent landslide.
Bennett said he had already spent about $5,000 of his own money preparing for a race and would not have to return checks because he won’t raise funds until after everyone qualifies.
Suspended candidates have won before. Seems that 305 voters like a candidate with a different kind of record.
In 1998, former Miami Commissioner Humbertico Hernandez — who had been suspended by then Gov. Lawton Chiles the year before after he was charged with federal money laundering charges — ran for commission while under the suspension and won his seat back with 65 percent of the vote.
Of course, he was suspended the next year for different charges — his role in electoral and absentee ballot fraud.
More recently, former Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones won a special election in 2010 after she was suspended two months earlier when she turned herself in to authorities to face charges of grand theft. But then Gov. Charlie Crist just suspended her again.
So, who knows? Maybe this is Muscles’ comeback. Or maybe, drama king that he is, he just wants to be suspended twice.
Ladra, for one, can’t wait to see who contributes to his campaign.
Arrested Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi may run again added by Ladra on
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Yeah, you’re right. Run or shut up is not what I really mean. I love this interaction. Ladra is getting as many comments on the Lakes stuff as on the Dolphins stadium and the firefighters!
Las moscas estan revueltas.
Put your money where your mouth is? That I mean. These three candidates, weak as they may be, have put themselves out there while you take jabs at them from the comfort of your clever name. What I mean was, if you can do it better, then do it.
It does seem lately that, no matter what election I am looking at, I am thinking, “This is the best we can do?”
Love, Ladra
Qualifying deadline is the 30th Ladra and I think there will be additional candidates.
Boys, boys… because you have to be boys to come up with those sophomoric names… Ladra hears ya!
But put your money where your mouth is. Whatever you can say about the Doc’s campaign abilities, his motives are at least clear. He doesn’t NEED this grief. He apparently just wants to clean things up.
I like Hernandez, but there are questions about his leadership, his residency and his intentions. More people than not think that he is using this as a stepping stone to something else.
I like Slaton, but there are questions about his ability to appeal to a broad base of voters.
I like Bennett. He is, after all, Ladra’s dentist. But I may like him more now as an activist than I would later as an elected.
Still, those seem to be the choices right now. Tomorrow is the qualifying deadline. So who knows?
Go! Run, Mr. Chocha, Mr. Cojones. Run!
Run or shut up.
Love, Ladra
Better? I was tempted to use Temandas Cojones, but I figured that would be totally douche and infantile.
Now…did you really tell me to “run or shut up”? Shit! I thought this was a forum to embrace debate, not expose it after the fact. WTF?
Really, I like Nelson as well and said nothing about your dentist. I just thought that in this present climate, it was warranted scrutiny on this sitting Pol who’s running for Mayor. He’s been around you know. Some would even say that for the last three years, he served as a urinal!
Whatzzzzzzz Next?
Yosimiro Chocha,
Te la comistes. Like my mother says, al pan, pan y al vino vino. Los tres cambiado por mierda se pierde el envase. Nelson “I don’t know what my zip code is” Hernandez can barely tie his shoes, much less run a town. Who votes against themselves? Wayne’s a nice guy, but if the amount of effort he puts into his campaign is any indication of how he’s going to run the town, we’re going to be in some shit. Don’t get me started on the Doctor. His light hearted email blasts during the last campaign were always a joy to read. Quite the motley crew we have running.
Toma and Albert, as always a pleasure to get your insight. El arroz con mango esta formando tremenda cagazon.
Ladra sweets…
Tolete appears to be unwilling to completely immerse himself in the chismoreteo, so let me assist him by droppin’ sum knowledge.
Nelsito, the vapid tongues are uttering, is said to be residing at some crib on Brickell. It is suspected that said crib may belong to his new “gurl”. Personally, I’m not sure which is worse: aspiring to be Mayor while living with mom and dad, or while allegedly living downtown?
Either way, he’s still an overextended dipshit with no business whatsoever in manning the captain’s wheel! Dude’s resume is woefully lacking
and to deepen the stupid, he recently proposes some preposterous idea to replace property taxes with user fees. (5/14/13)
This of course was the pound of flesh Pizzi was waiting to devour, so he allowed him to fumble the presentation like a first-grader, before he skillfully bossed him. The subsequent throw-down was EPIC! At the following month’s meeting, the now exposed alleged crook, staged the chambers with the usual, useful idiots, and used that forum to dramatically declare a “moratorium” on user fees. It was third-world dictator style, fist-waving and crowd roaring!
And Nelsito wasn’t there…
HE WASN’T EVEN THERE!
And after all the ball-breaking, he appeared…
TO VOTE AGAINST HIS OWN ITEM!
Que clase cagazon! QUE CLASE CAGAZON INDEED!!!
Wanna share the brain bleach?
What happened at his arraignment? Doe’s anyone know if we can go see him squirm? Please, I would pay good $$ to see him explain going into the closet…
There is no run-off election in Miami Lakes unless it is a “tie vote”. The Charter states, “the candidate…receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared duly elected”.
Frist of all, there will be no run off, this is a winner take all contest who ever has the most votes wins.
If the Pizzi were to run and win he would be suspended by the governor and the town would then have to hold another election and we would have to pay for it. I am hopeful that the majority of Miami Lakes resident would not support Pizzi again and that the press covers the fact that he would be suspended if he does.
I think Pizzi is playing games and may run his son or one of his cronies. Pizzi has two excellent attornies I am thinking they would tell how this will hurt his case and keep him out of the race.
Miami Lakes deserves better and personally I hopeful others join the mayors race, we deserve honest, effective and new leadership.
The Town of Miami Lakes deserves more than a corrupt clown with known bad habits trying to prove his own perceived innocence by making a disgraceful move to impress the people. I know the people will not be fooled and for once give this disgusting bully the boot. May God hold Miami Lakes in the palm of his hand
Meatball, de nada! Esto es cagarse y no ver la tonga, but at least it’s fun to watch. I don’t know about of you all, but I hope Muscles does run again; Lord knows I love free hot dogs on election day. The stories of how he came on Pedro Pan though I can do without, especially since he has the compulsive need to repeat them three times. As far as Mr. Hernandez’s living arrangements, I will reserve commentary-just goes to show Ladra that Tolete’s malas lenguas are worse than yours.
Y con eso mi gente, los dejo. Ya la vieja me hizo el cafe.
Oh, that’s kinda cool, I guess. So the Feds escort him outta Town Hall doing the perp walk, the Governator suspends him, and he defiantly seeks a return to office by popular demand? Interesting…
What more repellant revelations can we learn about this guy that can make him more reprehensible? The kicker insult to all of this is that as Toma Tolete asserted, he would probably win!
See…for the useful idiots in town, none of this is true. These lies are the despicable work of the frustrated “naysayers” and “gadflies”. One day the true story will be told and apparently, Hopeless Reynolds owns the book rights.
*shattered dreams kicked in the corner*
-The mind boggles…
Yes, Señor Tolete, thank you for gracing us with your insight again. Though I didn’t speak to anyone who thought Muscles was taking it that hard. There may be another person in the group of four grafters nabbed that might be wisely put on suicide watch, but Muscles loves himself too much.
Besides, like I said, his case is weaker than Maraña Maroño’s, so maybe, Señor Meatball, he will get away with a slap on the wrist. This is Miami. Stranger things have happened. And, yes, Toma, he could win.
Overheard out of Mayor Hernandez’s mouth in the elevator at Hialeah City Hall: “That Pizzi is one smart guy. He’s going to divide the vote now and force a runoff.” Or something like that. Remember, this is second hand. I wasn’t there.
But, please, before you go: Do tell us more about any residency issue involving any current, prior or future candidate. You know that is one of Ladra’s pet peeves.
Woof!
Toma Tolete. Thank you. I just read your response out loud and when I mentioned the “Yuma” part, my wife doubled over and nearly peed. Hysterical. Seriously. I hate to say this, but there’s a part of me that feels like what if this guy’s lawyer, who is one incredible defense attorney, actually gets him off? That would be amazingly crappy if it happened. On another note…I’m a little intrigued by your Hernandez living in Miami Lakes comment. Are you saying he lives somewhere else?
This is the funniest story ever. No disrespect to you Ladra! But that guy is sitting at home right now reading this and laughing his rear off. This is exactly the kind of attention he likes. Las malas lenguas (as you call them) were sharing news about how deeply depressed and introspective Muscles was these days. Ese cuento se lo meten a otro! YES…people were actually concerned he would off himself. Are people serious? That guy would never do such a thing! That man thinks too highly of himself! He probably sent his son to start the rumors and he likely tipped you and other news outlets off himself. Some might ask, “Mr. Tolete, would he really do that?” DAMN SKIPPY he would!! ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY!!!! Sin pensar lo!
You know what’s even crazier? THE GUY COULD ACTUALLY WIN! With three other candidates fighting for the same votes, he could actually pull this crap off! Lord Jesus it’s a fire!!!
Ay mama! Where will the Town Staff and Council hide if this guy comes back? Que se preparen! Chancletazos for everyone (For Ladra’s Loyal Anglo fans, “Chancletazos” means to get smacked by your mom or grandma in the rear with a floppy sandal…a regular occurrence in old-school Cuban homes)! Rumor has it that things have been peaceful at Town Hall. With the Tyrant knocking on the door, there’s no telling what kind of an exodus we might have in Miami Lakes! Nos vamos pa la Yuma!! Who would’ve thought Hialeah would seem normal?
On a serious note (if that is even possible when talking about this guy), Miami Lakes will be the laughing stock of the County. How sad! So very very sad!
And Hernandez, Bennett, and Slaton will forever be known as the guys that were beat by Pizzi…even after he got escorted by the Feds from Town Hall. How embarrassing! Political future for Hernandez? He should’ve made that rumored move out of the Lakes! Does he even live in Miami Lakes? I guess that’s not important!
I can just hear the uninformed electorate now, “At least I know my taxes won’t go up!”
This is going to be fun to watch! Again, tremendo arroz con mango!