Miami Lakes Mayor Michael “Muscles” Pizzi may have gotten his 
seat back after a protracted court battle. But he’s going to have to campaign hard to keep it.
Pizzi, who is widely expected to file for re-election, already has two challengers — former Mayor Wayne Slaton, who was removed from office after Pizzi was acquitted of bribery charges, and Councilman Ceasar Mestre, a one-time ally.
Looks like it’s going to be at least a three-way race.
It seems a little early to be filing for that seat. The election is not until next November and qualifying doesn’t end until Aug. 3. Three council seats are also up and Manny Cid, Tony Lama and Nelson Rodriguez have all already filed for re-election.
Slaton filed first and, some say, 
spurred Mestre, who is rumored to have been considering the most for a while. In fact, many thought he would run in the special election after Pizzi was arrested in 2013. But he said he wasn’t ready.
“It’s been a couple of years. Things are different,” Mestre told Ladra. “I’m in a better position, with more knowledge, more experience. And there is no risk of being sent home if somebody is found not guilty.”
Slaton was the town’s founding mayor and lost his race against Pizzi in 2012. After Pizzi was nabbed by the FBI in a public corruption sting revolving around bogus grants and kickbacks, Slaton was elected in a special election a few weeks later. But when Pizzi was acquitted in 2014, he sued to get, first, his suspension from the governor lifted and, second, his job back.
Read related story: Wayne slaton gives up; Michael Pizzi is Miami Lakes mayor
Slaton gave in after several court rulings in Pizzi’s favor and Muscles returned to his throne in April.
Mestre has nothing against Slaton. “He is a great man. He has his heart in the right place. But he’s been doing this for ten years. It’s just time to give someone else the opportunity.”
The councilman is going to run on a track record that includes work on economic development — including the branding of the city — and legislation against pill mills and drug paraphernalia.
One thing is for sure, town council meetings are going to be awkward from now on.
Wayne Slaton, Ceasar Mestre go for Miami Lakes mayor added by Ladra on
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