As expected, Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi qualified at the last minute, just before noon Wednesday to run for re-election, 
making this race a heated four-man contest.
Wait a minute, make that a three-way: Councilman Ceasar Mestre has withdrawn his candidacy. In a long Facebook post over the weekend, Mestre told his supporters that he had missed too much time with his loved ones, “missed family trips, birthday parties, school activities, movies” because of the campaign.
“I have always said my most important title is ‘dad’, yet it was becoming less important. When you are competitive, it’s easy to get caught up in the campaign and lose perspective,” Mestre wrote in the heartfelt post. “I kept saying only until November, but should I win, and become Mayor , it would only be worse.”
Read related story: Miami Lakes voters say ‘yes’ 10 times, and cut mayor’s powers
He said that the mayor’s post in Miami Lakes has “turned into more than a fulltime position as future political ambitions dictate the rhythm. To some, this may be o.k. To me it’s 
not. I have been blessed with a good career and a great family. The price to pay for this endeavor is something I am unwilling to give. I have observed what this can do to families and most times , it’s not a good result… So I have decided not to continue with this campaign.”
And as if to drive the point home, he posted the news with pictures while on a family vacation in Canada.
So that leaves Pizzi to fight off Councilman Manny Cid and founding mayor Wayne Slaton.
In a statement, Pizzi said he only decided to file for his third term after “hundreds of town residents flooded his law office this past week asking him to continue as mayor and help improve the town.” We doubt this. We predicted he would want to keep his job and also he would file last minute.
Pizzi also said, in the same statement, that he was “looking at an intense campaign ahead,” but that he was ready.
Read related story: Young GOP VIPs back Manny Cid for Miami Lakes mayor
“I love being mayor more than anything else because of the many great things I can get done for our Miami Lakes residents,” he said in his classic way of saying nothing. “It has been a great honor to serve as Miami Lake mayor these past eight years 
that’s why I have filed for re-election.”
Cid is considered the front runner, and more so now that Mestre dropped out (curiously it was after that big GOP VIP event for his colleague). But Manny better have his game on. Because, despite his caricature-like personality and seeming legal and ethical foibles, Pizzi has a solid group of people who blindly follow and adore him. Yes, it is kind of like a cult.
Pizzi may have really heavy baggage — a bribery arrest, suspension from office, a pricey legal battle to get back in office after acquittal and that hit and run with a tree in the middle of the night (read: dodged DUI). And all this is fresh baggage because he had old baggage ($200K stolen from his office, saying he wanted to plant drugs on a council member’s car) dogging him for years. But his supporters only see what they want to see.
Read related story: Michael Pizzi sues Miami Lakes for $3.2 million in legal fees
And Ladra would not be surprised if members of that cult were among the other eight candidates for the three council seats that are also on the ballot.
Councilman Tony Lama is challenged by attorney Elizabeth Delgado Mizrahi and Councilman Nelson Rodriguez has two opponents, attorney Alex Dehghani and Xiomara Pazos, who ran against Mestre in 2014 (64 to 36%).
There are three candidates vying for the seat vacated by Cid. They are Luis Collazo, Esther Colon and Nayib Hassan.
And we will learn more about all these people — and the cults they belong to — in weeks to come. Stay tuned.
Michael Pizzi makes it a three-way race in Miami Lakes added by Ladra on
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The Mayor has passed– Long live the Mayor. Whether it be “All The Kings Men”, “The Last Hurrah” or ” House of Cards”, obviously many of us who have supported Michael Pizzi through all these years did not give him our vote. But do not celebrate too greatly or mourn the loss. For it is the people of Miami Lakes who lost tonight. Michael, we could not send you back to a watered down and weak Mayor council where you would be a weak lone voice among 7. We destroyed the mayoralty and turned it into to a banal wasteland. No longer will their be the charisma and passion from the Chair. Now, seven dwarfs shall rule in animosity- say what you want, I’d rather have a strong leader as Pizzi or even Silent Slayton, as opposed to a weaken Mayor Cid (no offense to Cid, but we really need a strong Mayor). We couldn’t let you go back and suffer amongst them Michael. You couldn’t let go because you were fighting for us. The only way we could show you what you have meant to all of us was to keep you away. Enough already Michael. Your service is done sir. We miss you already.
So…you got no problem with an elected official…someone who violated the public trust by taking a bribe in the closet in the city offices of Medley…representing your city as its head of state? Oh, but wait…he got off! Probably was just accepting money for the good of the residents of Miami Lakes. What a country! Fools for the tool.
City hall is disfunctional, taxes going up, and the he sues Town of Miami Lakes for legal fees for his legal fees!!
How has Pizzi helped?!?
He needs to go+
Hey Poet, what kinds of animals do you guys keep in those corrals on top of your roofs?? I guess you are mad at Pizzi because he tried to do away with them. Wayne Slaton and all the other council members were all in favor of them.
He screwed my neighborhood real well. We now have a diesel truck repair station, Cummins Diesel, next to our neighborhood. Luckily my house doesn’t face the scenic chain link fence and aluminum construction. The deal was done by Pizzi without ever giving notice to our Homeowners’ Association or to our homeowners as was required by law. Put me down as one who is convinced Pizzi is a crook.
It was the zoning department and the entire Town Council, plus the acting mayor, that made you all put up the guard rails on top of your homes and they cost over $4000. That’s a real screw over.
I understand that several roofs leak now because of the guard rails??
I agree with you, he’s a crook.
BUT, the other “saintly” idiots would have cost me $4000 had Pizzi not intervened after he came back. He told them that guard rails around the a/c units were not a good idea. They all vowed their heads and agreed. I think it was Mestre who said that “maybe we overstepped”. It’s great that he’s going to go spend more time with his family.
Crooks or idiots – not much of a choice. Maybe you should run. Free beer for the masses.
Cult members are coming out of the woodwork.
Woof!
LOL, LOVE IT LADRA!!!!!!!!! I GUESS THE FOLLOWERS BELIEVE IN CORRUPT POLITICAL GAIN.
FOR REAL. Wonder how much sugar daddy Dunn is shelling out for these people.
Michael Pizzi has been an outstanding Mayor for the city , always putting the city before anything else. He has worked so hard to maintain his position. If you followed his trial , this man was set up from the beginning and yet he was able to prove his innocence. All he wanted was his job back, but there is a group of anti-Pizzi’s that will just about do and spend what ever funds from the city to keep him out. We should have those that contested his reinstatement as Mayor pay the city for there fruitless attempt to keep him out.
He is my attorney, my friend and one of the most honest, integral and best thing that happened in the lives of the residents of Miami Lake
I would only hope that we, where I work would have had the same privilege
I agree with Clarissa, all of those of us that are willing to fight for him as he has for Justice by honoring God and the Truth. Mike Pizzi Ttust, Obeys and Honor God, his family, his clients and his wonderful City
pizzi is a good man
The city of Miami Lakes is a wonderful place to live, and raise a family. This Mayor is constantly holding events and gatherings to get families and friends together. I would give him another chance to be Mayor, his record of attendance is impeccable and his work ethic unmatched.there will always be critics out there no matter how good someone has done , but overall he has done a wonderful job for the city.
Michael Pizzi has been an outstanding Mayor for our city , always putting the city before anything else. He has worked so hard to maintain his position. If you followed his trial , this man was set up from the beginning and yet he was able to prove his innocence. All he wanted was his job back, but there is a group of anti-Pizzi’s that will just about do and spend what ever funds from the city to keep him out. We should have those that contested his reinstatement as Mayor pay the city for there fruitless attempt to keep him out.
Isela from Miami Lakes,
I am a long time fan of this blog. i am glad that Mayor Michael Pizzi is running. u r correct that he has a very devoted followers that i am glad to be part of. . . so many residents love him , he has been there for them for 20 years . he gets attacked a lot because he has has never been part of the establishment . He has the heart of a lion and never stops fighting. He also has been a very effective Mayor who has cut taxes and accomplished all the town’s goal .
If it looks like a Duck, Quacks like Duck, and walks like a Duck , then it’s “A” Duck!! He thinks he’s the teflon “Don” Where there is smoke, there is fire.