Miami Lakes Mayor Wayne Slaton has thrown in the towel and former Mayor Michael “Muscles” Pizzi is now, officially, really, the mayor.
Slaton announced at a press conference Monday that he would not appeal the most recentcourt ruling in favor of Pizzi, who is likely heading for Town Hall to 
take his place behind his desk right now as you read these words.
Pizzi was arrested in August 2013 on federal bribery charges after a yearlong sting in which he took bribes to approve and push — even to Medley where he acted as town attorney — a bogus federal grant scheme that would never benefit the cities. A jury acquitted him last year even though he took $3,000 from a wired lobbyist bagman in the closet of his office.
Still, after he was acquitted, and he forced Gov. Rick Scott to lift the suspension, Pizzi won a lawsuit demanding the town let him come back to office and, last week, that decision was upheld by the Third District Court of Appeals.
In his statement to the media, Spineless Slaton said that he was certain an appeal could be won at the Supreme Court level, he decided to give up because there’s an election in 2016.
Say what? That election is 17 months away. L
adra realizes what he’s thinking. There’s no way that Pizzi could win re-election again. But you’re just going to give him the helm for the next 17 months?
There could also be a concern with the ongoing costs of fighting this. But here’s the problem with that: By giving up, and allowing Pizzi to win, he now has automatic access to town funds for his attorneys fees and back pay. So, where are the savings? As we say in Cuban, ahi todo el mundo tiene que tener la mano metida.
Here is Slaton’s statement in its entirety:
“The circumstances bringing the town to the present condition, are not of our doing. We are here because both the Governor and the Supreme Court specifically and purposely did not reinstate the former mayor back into office.
The Supreme Courts’ ruling specifically stated “During Petitioner’s suspension, the Town held a special election for mayor in accordance with the requirements of its charter. The permanent replacement mayor assumed office on October 8, 2013, and the new mayor’s term will run until the next regularly scheduled election in November 2016.”
The Court further stated “that it was not suggesting that the Governor is required to reinstate Petitioner to his former municipal office, which has been filled by operation of a special election in accordance with the Town’s Charter.” The Supreme Court ordered the Governor to merely revoke the suspension.
In compliance with the Supreme Courts’ ruling, the Governor issued a two section Executive Order. Section 1. Revoked the suspension; Section 2. In accordance with the Orders of the Supreme Court, this Order does not reinstate him back to the office of Mayor.
On December 22nd 2014, the Town of Miami Lakes had no authority to reinstate the former mayor, which brings us back to the present. Realizing that the town did not have the authority, the former mayor chose to sue the town, the mayor and the clerk, asking a court to reinstate him.
“The Third District Court of Appeal has ruled in favor of the former mayor. They did not find that the town Charter was unconstitutional, but rather chose to interpret it differently. They have issued a stay to their ruling pending potential appeal.
So here we are…The lower courts say reinstate. The Governor and the Supreme Court clearly suggest he should not be reinstated.
I am confident and comfortable with the Governors’ and the Supreme Court’s ruling and that they both said precisely what they meant. There are many that want the Supreme Court to hear this case.
However, getting an appeal to the Supreme Court is not an easy or a quick process. It is not inconceivable that the process could take a year or more.
There will be an election for mayor this coming year 2016.
Therefore, I am instructing my attorney to issue the appropriate document to the Third District Court of Appeal, informing them that I will not be appealing their ruling. And I am recommending that the Town do the same.
I want to thank my attorneys and the town administration for their excellent work during this process.
Specifically, I want to commend the Town Council for their continued diligent work, leadership and support of all our shared accomplishments. Despite a challenging year and a half we came together as a team and kept the town moving forward.
Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Co put it best when he said “coming together is the beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.”
Finally, I want to thank my wife and daughter, and all our friends, for helping me to succeed.
It has been an honor, once again, to lead this town as your Mayor. Thank you all for your continued support.
Wayne Slaton,
Mayor, Town of Miami Lakes”
No word yet on how much this is going to cost the taxpayers. But Ladra is quite certain they’ll get that legal bill tomorrow and it will be the new mayor’s first order of business.
Wayne Slaton gives up; Michael Pizzi is Miami Lakes mayor added by Ladra on
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