Miami Lakes Mayor Michael “Muscles” Pizzi decided not to run, after all, for the seat from which he was suspended earlier this month, after he was arrested on federal bribery and extortion charges in an FBI sting where he allegedly and knowingly facilitated bogus grant applications in exchange for kickbacks and campaign contributions.
The race to replace him will be crowded enough anyway, however, with five wannabes vying for the post, including three anti-Pizzi veterans: Councilman Nelson Hernandez — who already has the support of most of the elected crooks in that area — founding Mayor Wayne Slaton and longtime activist David “Doc” Bennett. Nobody knows much about the other two: retired Hialeah firefighter Luis Espinosa and Realtor Edwin Romero.
Pizzi, who was re-elected this past November against Slaton to a four-year term, didn’t jump in, though his son had picked up a candidate packet at Town Hall last week. Maybe he was just trying to psyche everyone out, because he apparently believes that he doesn’t have to run because the seat is still his.
“I am still mayor and as soon as I get exonerated I will be returning as mayor,” Pizzi was quoted as saying in the Miami Herald (he won’t return my calls or emails). “Whoever is running right now is running to temporarily occupy my mayoral job until I come back.”
Come back from prison? Or come back from the depths of dishonor? Because although the case against Pizzi is not as strong as the one against Sweetwater Mayor Manny “Maraña” Maroño — arrested the same day Aug. 6 and in the same sting but unrelated to each other — it is hard to believe anyone won’t forever picture Pizzi in that closet accepting $3,000 cash from lobbyist Rich Candia. In fact, I almost want him to run just so I can see that attack mailer.
Three people filed to run for the council seat vacated by Hernandez: Frank Mingo, who is an employee of State Rep. Jose Oliva‘s cigar company and husband of the legislator’s district secretary — and who already mailed out an ad with his legislator boss’s endorsement — an attorney named Lorenzo Ciobella, who has political ties of his own, and a relator named Star Rodriguez, who might steal it in this anti-insiders environment.
And besides, we need a woman back on the council, which has been way too testosterone-rich since Councilman Manny Cid beat veteran Councilwoman Mary “Puppet” Collins last year.
The Oct. 1 election was forced after Gov. Rick Scott suspended Pizzi the day he was arrested because the city charter requires a special election within 90 days if there are more than six months left in the term of the vacated official. But, wait, isn’t that just under 60 days? Seems rushed. Ladra was told that the county insisted on a shorter timetable and I am to find out why (more on that later).
The warp speed window means a lot will be going on real fast in coming weeks… no, days… no, hours. After all, the first campaign finance report is already due a week from today, on Sept. 6.
Post-scandal Miami Lakes candidates qualify, 5 for mayor added by Ladra on
View all posts by Ladra →
