Miami Lakes voters were in a giving mood this week, saying yes to and overwhelmingly passing every single one of the 10 charter amendments 
proposed to them — most of which take powers away from the mayor, making it a mostly ceremonial position.
They also made Mayor Michael Pizzi‘s re-election pretty much a pipe dream.
The most important of the amendments forces a runoff for the mayor’s or any council seat should nobody get 50 percent plus one vote in the first round. Pizzi faces at least three serious challengers in November. Two of them are Council Members Manny Cid and Ceasar Mestre and the other is founding Mayor Wayne Slaton, who Pizzi handily beat mano-a-mano in 2012. It is unlikely that the embattled incumbent, who was arrested on bribery charges since his last time on the ballot, would get 50% in that field.
Read related story: Miami Lakes: Manny Cid becomes #3 to file for mayor
He’d be forced into a runoff, most likely against Mestre or Cid, which means he could easily lose his seat. Ladra says 
there’s a good chance he doesn’t even run.
Pizzi did not return a call or email seeking his comment. But the other amendments that passed — with between 59 and 76 percent of the vote — are also aimed at his unique powers or duties.
That was the intent of the charter amendment committee. Chairman David “Doc” Bennett, the mayor’s longtime nemesis who has to be proud of himself, said it was bringing the town back in line with its original incorporation mission. The mayor is just one more vote in the Lakes, like each of the council members, Bennett said. There is no strong mayor form of government.
“It’s mostly a ceremonial position,” he told Ladra. The amendments were meant to clarify some areas where the ceremony apparently became too official.
Read related story: Miami Lakes charter changes aim at mayoral power
One amendment takes the appointment of the town manager and town attorney from the mayor’s purview and puts it in the council’s. Another gives the council the right to name the town lobbyist (used to be the mayor’s job). Any 
council member who can get three to agree can now call a special meeting, which was something only the mayor could do before. One amendment actually states that the town has a council-manager form of government.
They are so over the mayor in Miami Lakes that they had to put it in writing.
It might have something to do with the series of events set off after the August 2013 arrest of Pizzi on federal bribery charges. He was snared in the same sting that nabbed Sweetwater Mayor Manny Maroño for expediting what they knew were bogus grants in return for thousands in kickbacks. Maroño was sentenced to three years in prison. But Pizzi — or, rather, his quite expensive legal dream team of 17 attorneys — won an acquittal. This despite the testimony that he took a $3,000 bribe from a lobbyist inside an office closet.
After the trial, Pizzi had to sue to get back in office. The city fought his return, but eventually gave up after losing several legal fronts. Then he sued to recoup the legal costs of his criminal case and his civil lawsuit against the town. The whole affair is said to have cost the town about $1 million in legal fees. And Ladra doesn’t know if that includes his attorneys’ costs or not.
Read related story: Michael Pizzi wins Round 1 vs Miami Lakes for legal costs
But Pizzi’s winning streak ended Tuesday when voters rejected his call to vote no to all the amendments.
Pizzi did not return a call for comment. But Bennett said he was “weakened.”
“His base didn’t come out to vote for him. Or he couldn’t convince them,” he said.
True dat. Pizzi, or at least a PAC that we all suspect is Pizzi, had sent out a mailer urging voters to reject all the charter amendments.
But he was outdone by none other than former Florida Gov. and U.S. Senator Bob Graham, whose family
helped found Miami Lakes. Yes, freaking Bob Graham weighed in on the tiny town’s amendments by sending his own mailer urging his neighbors to vote yes to all the amendments.
And he honed in on the runoff question.
“The majority vote amendment is by far the most important one to vote YES on because it stands for making sure that your vote COUNTS,” the Senator wrote on the mailer. The door hanger had a photo of him older than this one here. “Our mayor and town council should be comprised of individuals that the majority (over 50 percent) of the voters have chosen to represent our beautiful town of Miami Lakes.”
And that’s how freaking Bob Graham took out Muscles Pizzi.
Miami Lakes voters say ‘yes’ 10 times, and cut mayor’s power added by Ladra on
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Lol. Resident, I wish I was a betting person. I don’t know what your agenda is, however I am certain every person would be doubled over in laughter at your reply. Imagine taking pride in the fact that 17% of the electorate deciding that a plurality was no longer acceptable to secure an election regarding the positioning question. I will assume dear sir, I make this assumption since the council is composed of all males, that you are blinded by your own ambition. The Chartet revisions were an overreaction to the personal animosity against Pizzi and nothing more. (I actually don’t have issue with the Vice Mayor amendment). However, it’s bad government when you destroy an institution because you are rebelling against one man. Hell, I couldn’t stomach Slayton, but I never would have denied the people the right to bring him back. Anyway, the Alex Rey part I was sincere. He’s a pro and we would be lucky to lock him in for life. I would do away with the council and simply have all spending issues put up for a town wide mail-in vote. Alex and his staff could work directly for the town and cut out the nonsense in between. i would give Doc Bennett an office inside town hall, just because it’s good to keep a watch dog inside the house to keep everybody on their toes. Sadly, this town is not what it once was. Aside from the mutual sarcasm- we tired of Slaton, who is as exciting as watching paint dry and now a minority of folks and a “never Pizzi” movement are tired of the other extreme. Miami Lakes is no longer an oasis. Main Street is a war zone and an economic bust. Maybe we need more Grahams and less government.
Lol whatever Pizzi. Aside from the inaccuracy that property values are declining (they are actually up) and that 17% of the registered voters (not 12%) voted on the amendments, anyone that actually read the charter questions knows that they didn’t weaken the mayor. Maybe you can tell me what power was “taken away” because the title of this blog post and your comments are reading into the questions things that simply aren’t true. Further, you didn’t seem to be commenting on this blog in 2013 when you proposed to do away with council districts IN A MAIL IN BALLOT. Where was your leadership on traffic issues BEFORE they reached the point they are at now? Alex Rey was YOUR appointment when you brought him back from Miami Beach in a CLOSED, NO BID process. But yes, keep singing your own praises and blame the others who came long after you started your 20+ year political career (as you love to brag so often about).
Further, only Michael Pizzi would tee up this whole conversation as what’s good for the mayor is good for the town or that because the mayor doesn’t get his way, we’re all doomed. To quote Chad Ochocinco, “child, please.” As I pointed out above, there’s no leg to stand on considering you created the problems that you now rail against (just like you took money in a closet in Medley–the act that ultimately led to the indictment that kicked off the reinstatement fight).
I’ll help you move out. You’ve been a pariah in this town for many years, just did a good job hiding your true nature behind populist rhetoric.
Dear “Resident”- you are suggesting that Mayor Pizzi is commenting under my handle. He is not. But you certainly demonstrate my point: when all is said and done millions will have been wasted on the Pizzi/Charter issue. Everything statement in my previous post rings true. The town is in decline and the irrational focus of the council was to keep Pizzi out and the a million dollars later, to weaken the powers of the Mayor. Congratulations. The Mayor and the Town is now weakened. First, Wayne Slaton trolled for power, with the help of Attorney Gastesi- they were wrong. Pizzi was entitled to reinstatement. So, what does the town do? They double down with petty council fights and measures to weaken this Mayor AND all future Mayors–meanwhile, the town is on the decline. I will not address the role of the Graham Company in all of this because the Graham’s Dreamed up this town and have nurtured it for 50 plus years, so deference must be given to the Company and the Family, especially Senator Graham. With an electorate and term limits, I believe the Council should have resisted the urge to stack the deck. The Council without exception did a disservice to the People. I believe the council was motivated by their own blind ambition and this had so little to do with Mayor Pizzi. In this House of Cards, Frank Underwood would be proud of the underhanded and self serving decisions which have undermined the Town and promoted its own self interest. I say, triple Alex’s pay and give him a lifetime appointment as Manager; give Gastesi a contract extension and an increase for combat pay; and elect Doc Bennett Mayor with no term limit. I’ll have my “For Sale By Owner” on the front lawn. Last patriot out of Miami Lakes, please remember to turn off the lights.😀
Alright, Pizzi. We get it. You’re the king of Miami Lakes and the town’s savior. Typical narcissism from you. This is basically what you were telling people at the senior luau yesterday. You love testing out your messages before rolling them out. Leave the town in peace already.
I pity all of my fellow residents of Miami Lakes. The town is in decline; property values falling; traffic is out of control and in the meantime we have spent years fighting Michael Pizzi a man who has done nothing but serve our town. Congratulations to Doc Bennett and the 12% of the population who voted in this mail-in contest. You clearly one and the town will be forever changed. No character- No leadership- No vision for the future. From now on a cabal of 4 members will drag this town into an abyss.
I hope Mayor Pizzi changes his mind and now chooses NOT to Run for re-Election. The people have made a terrible mistake and now the people must be made to suffer without your visionary leadership. Give these children the talking stick Mr. Mayor and see how they do. We do not deserve you.
Finally, my condolences to the haters on the council, the town attorney office, at the MiamiLaker and the Herald– what will you do? You won’t have Pizzi to kick around anymore….
Jim deland still hasnt paid for the sublet in Manhattan from what 2002? Right Randy?
Sleezy Pizzi. Love it! Hopefully, the residents of Pizzi’s fair city won’t vote his arrogant ass back into office.
I wish people would pay more attention to the characters they choose to elect. We’ve got a Mayor from Sweetwater in prison. ALL of Opa Locka probably needs to be put in lockdown, Homestead etc…
But then we have electors who elect a Commissioner who was removed from office once already for voter fraud. Disheartening.
Sen. Graham, is an outstanding civil servant. He truly cares about preserving and promoting representative forms of government. He is a leader in every sense of the word.
As far as I see Adam Putnam could clean Hasner’s clock in a race as could Jeff Atwater if he would run.
The Senator’s daughter Gwen, who the Florida legislature gerrymandered out of her North Florida Congressional seat is in the race for Governor as the annointed Democrat against the likely Republican Adam Hasner.
The good thing about these amendments is that now the power is taken away from Pizzi, maybe a good thing, maybe not, but future Mayors won’t that have that power either which is a good thing.
Congrats to Dr. Bennett and the charter committee on a job well done. Special thanks to Senator Graham, a true public servant.
Mr. Graham was a tremendous role model that we need in these times where everyone is the opposite of Mr. Graham. So sorry one of his kids or grandkids don’t run for office (providing they are like Mr. Graham).
About 12 years ago leftist reporters who started getting mad mindlessly at the Miami New Times under later disgraced editor Jim Mullin started “selling” Mike Pizzi as the now bankrupt n gone Sun Post “sold” David Dermer on Miami Beach as ethical reformers. Both proved to be ethical frauds n the papers are gone or amongst the walking dead
Count LF Chodkiewicz Chudzikiewicz is the fraud.
The most practical kind of politics is the politics of decency.
Theodore Roosevelt
Mr. Pizzi has displayed that decency is not in his nature.
Sleezy Pizzi
Here we go again with that “Pizzi is a good man” crap. He’s a typical political opportunist and Class A asshole. That’s what he is.
Bob Graham is a great man. A role model.
Pizzi is a good man