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.
Read related story: Michael Pizzi makes it a three way race in Miami Lakes
“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.
Read related story: Young GOP VIPs back Manny Cid for Miami Lakes mayor
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.
Read related story: Michael Pizzi wins Round 1 vs Miami Lakes for legal fees
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.
Miami Lakes voters toss Michael Pizzi out for Manny Cid added by Ladra on
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LET’S NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE MOMENT, THE WITCH IS GONE,BY BY PIZZI. YOU HAVE GOT TO BELEIVE IN KARMA, IT HAPPENS.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lo9FlPeKKzA
Interesting how these corrupt public officials seem to be able to beat DUI charges and various others. We all should remember how “Pepe” Diaz beat his DUI issue, despite all the evidence that pointed to his being DRUNK.
Finally! Homestead did it and now Miami Lakes. Why weren’t county voters smart enough to NOT re-elect criminal lying “friends & family plan” pet murderer Carlos Gimenez to another term? He dissed voters in 2012 who gave him a CLEAR MANDATE TO FUND THE PET’S TRUST yet called the public ‘too stupid to know what we voted for.’ Guess the public is stupid to put his ass back in for another 4-yr term. And he continues merrily on his way murdering thousands and thousands of pets in his shiny new kill shelter and leaves thousands and thousands more to perish in the fields and streets by denying they’re there and ignoring them while pulling slight of hand with shelter stats to achieve his lie of achieving 93% no kill. WE ARE NO WHERE NEAR NO KILL IN THIS COMMMUNITY AND IT’S ALL BECAUSE OF THAT DIRTBAG.
What else can you expect from the corrupt county mayor? On the basis of absentee ballot fraud alone he should have been at least disqualified or imprisoned in 2012. If you think he is tough on pets you should see what he has done to county employees. A once vibrant county made up of professionals in every department is now reduced to a fiefdom similar to The Farm with inept friends and family swearing allegiance to the all mighty caudillo. Deep inside his heart he carries that Fidelito seed and he can’t help himself.