Former Miami Lakes Michael “Muscles” Pizzi may like to say he’s half Cuban and may sound like the name of an Italian mafia enforcer, but he’s got the luck of the Irish.
Suspended last year after he was arrested in an FBI bribery string, Pizzi let off last month by a jury that was simply not convinced he was on the take in a bogus federal grant scheme.
Now, he got another good judicial ruling on Monday when the Florida Supreme Court ordered Gov. Rick Scott to explain why he did not revoke his suspension once Pizzi was found not guilty of the federal charges.
Pizzi thinks he should be mayor already and has been acting like the mayor ever since. He had a barbecue thank you party for his supporters and, later, a special reception at Shula’s on Main Street (we don’t know how he paid for either) after he was first exonerated. It was attended by more than 100 friends and fans who also think he should be the mayor again already.
Read related story: Michale Pizzi thinks he is still mayor, throws town party
Pizzi’s attorney, Ben Kuehne, immediately filed a lawsuit against Scott when he failed to reinstate him to his post — and crowed Monday about this order as if it were a victory already.
“Mayor Pizzi is gratified with the court’s expedited order and anticipates that his suspension will be vacated in short order,” Keuhne said in a statement sent to all the local media.
“This is a narrow ruling that is exactly as requested by Mayor Pizzi’s mandamus petition. Following the lifting of his suspension, Mayor Pizzi looks forward to pursuing all available options to continue his public service for the betterment of all the citizens and residents of the Town of Miami Lakes.”
But hold up! Wait a minute Mr. Postman! It isn’t automatic.
Scott has two weeks to respond to the court. And Ladra assumes he’s going to give the same answer, that the Miami Lakes charter called for a special election and that the voters elected a new mayor and that Scott wants to let hometown charter rule here. The court even suggested that it was a plausible explanation.
“This Court is not, however, suggesting that Governor Scott is required to order that Petitioner Pizzi be reinstated to his former municipal office, which has been filled by operation of a special election in accordance with the Charter of the Town of Miami Lakes, Florida,” the order says.
Isn’t that like giving the guv the answers on the test?