Court Rules Michael Pizzi Should Be Reinstated as Mayor of Miami Lakes

Michael Pizzi is now one step closer to regaining his position as mayor Miami Lakes. A three judge panel of the The 3rd District Court of Appeal ruled today that Pizzi should legally be restored to the office. The town of Miami Lakes now has five days to appeal the decision...

By Kyle Munzenrieder

April 24, 2015

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Michael Pizzi is now one step closer to regaining his position as mayor of Miami Lakes. A three-judge panel of the Third District Court of Appeal ruled today that Pizzi should legally be restored to the office. The town of Miami Lakes now has five days to appeal the decision.

Pizzi was first removed from office back in August 2013 after he was indicted on charges of bribery after an FBI corruption sweep. Gov. Rick Scott was required to remove him from office.

However, it turned out the fed's case against Pizzi was weak. He maintained he was a victim of entrapment, and Pizzi ended up beating the charges.

At the same time, however, Miami Lakes held a special election to replace Pizzi and elected Wayne Slaton.

After beating the rap, Pizzi set to work to get his old job back. The Florida Supreme Court ruled late last year that Scott must revoke Pizzi's suspension from holding any public office, though that alone didn't mean he was returning to his old office. In March, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Gisela Cardonne Ely ruled that Pizzi should be returned to office and receive any back pay. Though, that decision was placed on a 30-day stay. The stay expires next week, on April 30.

Though Slaton and the town could still appeal the latest ruling, it appears that Pizzi is almost certain to return to office then.

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