For weeks, maybe months, Miami City Attorney Victoria Mendez has boasted that she has the three votes she needs to keep her job. But that may have changed recently.
A source at City Hall says Tricky Vicky can read the writing on the wall and will likely announce her retirement, effective in April, at the commission meeting Thursday. Probably before newly-elected Commissioner Miguel Gabela brings up his item on the agenda asking his colleagues to join him and terminate her as-, er, employment.
Mendez told Ladra via email that she had no plans to retire. “Incorrect information,” she called it.
Read related: New commissioner moves fast to fire Miami City attorney Victoria Mendez
But Ladra’s source says Mendez has already spoken to some of her staffers about her exit and has briefed Chief Deputy City Attorney John Greco and Deputy City Attorney Geoge Wysong about taking over. She wants to wait until April because she will be 100% vested by then, which means she gets a higher retirement payment. It’s smart. And conniving.
But these are taxpayer dollars and commissioners should not buy into her game. Greco and Wysong are ready and supported by a second deputy, Kevin Jones, and other great lawyers like Rachel Dooley, Xavier Alban and Kerry McNulty — just to name a few — who also have tons of experience and knowledge about the city’s legal issues. They can handle it from here.
Expect Commissioner Joe Carollo to make a strong case for Mendez. After all, that’s his favorite go-to law firm. She’s done his bidding for years.
But newly-elected Commissioner Damian Pardo will likely support Gabela’s motion, as he has in the past.
So Manolo Reyes becomes the swing vote again. And he’s on a transparency and accountability tear, so maybe Mendez can’t count to three after all.
Get your popcorn ready.
Facing termination, Miami city attorney could offer to retire — in April added by Ladra on
View all posts by Ladra →
