Miami Lakes voters toss Michael Pizzi out for Manny Cid

He beat a bribery rap in federal court. Then he won several judicial rulings to get back into his elected office to finish out his term. He even beat a possible DUI investigation when he hit a tree on the side of a road and ran away from the accident on foot.

It took voters in Miami Lakes to finally take Mayor “Teflon” Michael Pizzi out — of office.

Pizzi solidly lost the mayoral runoff Tuesday to Councilman Manny Cid, who promises to usher in a new era. It was a massive rejection for Pizzi — who was first elected a Miami Lakes council member 16 years ago — with a 77 percent vote to bring in someone new, likely elating most of the council members and several resident activists who have been battling with the beleaguered politician for years.

“It’s time for new leadership. That was our message from the beginning,” Cid told Ladra. “We’re closing one chapter and opening another one. It’s definitely time to move forward.”

How will he be a different mayor than Pizzi?

“One thing I’ve always been focused on from the beginning is accessibility and transparency,” Cid said. “For a long time, there have been open wounds in this community. We need to heal.

“I will be a mayor for all, regardless of whether they voted for me or not.”

Even for Pizzi, who wished Cid well as the two left a voting location at the end of the day. A little birdie told Ladra he even saw them hug. Pizzi must have known he was toast.

At a victory party Tuesday night, Cid thanked Pizzi for his 16 years of service and told supporters that he would focus on fostering unity on the council so he can promote his vision for the town, which he plans to announce at a press conference Wednesday morning.

“My vision is one of a new genertion for this community,” said Cid, 33, who championed for the town to get control of its special taxing districts (done) from the county and for Miami Lakes to have its own city postal destination — instead of Miami or, worse, Hialeah (still working on it).

He says the priority for the next few years will be addressing traffic issues.

“My vision is to work with all the stakeholders for the benefit of Miami Lakes,” Cid said.

Some of those stakeholders might include charter school czar Ignacio Zulueta and his family, who contributed at least $3,000 to Cid’s campaign, according to his finance eports. Real estate investors and former partners of former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina, Marty Caparros and Alex Ruiz, contributed $5,000, but Ladra was told that Ruiz is a high school buddy. Zachary Exposito and his family, who own construction firms and car washes, gave at least $2,300. And then there were mulitiple lobbyists who donated, but lobbyists give in every race, don’t they? He also got a lot of support from realtors and realtor PACs.

Cid outraised and outspent Pizzi, the incumbent, with $105,000 collected as of Nov. 24. Pizzi had raised almost $70,000, including nearly $10K to a PAC run by Charlie Safdie.

The contributors include attorneys David Reiner, Clay Reiner and Ben Kuehne, who represented Pizzi in both the bribery trial and the lawsuits to regain his seat.

Pizzi has sued the city for $2.25 million to pay the fees for his legal dream team, which included six other attorneys who did not give a cent.

The three who did gave $2,500 between them.

Manny Cid, Michael Pizzi

Miami Lakes voters toss Michael Pizzi out for Manny Cid added by Ladra on November 29, 2016
View all posts by Ladra →