Michael Pizzi to reclaim seat as Miami Lakes mayor pending appeal

Miami-Dade County judge rules in favor of embattled mayor acquitted of crime

MIAMI – Michael Pizzi will get his old job back unless an appellate court rules otherwise.

Miami-Dade County Judge Gisela Cardonne Ely ruled Tuesday that the former Miami Lakes mayor "is entitled to resume his duties" and receive all back pay he is owed.

However, the judge issued a 30-day stay on the order pending appellate review.

The former mayor was charged with seven counts of bribery and extortion in October 2013, but he was acquitted on all charges last August.

Pizzi then sought to have Gov. Rick Scott end his suspension as mayor because of his acquittal. Scott refused to do so, pointing out that voters elected a new mayor in a special election after Pizzi's arrest last year.

Under state statute, an elected official is supposed to be reinstated if he or she is cleared of criminal charges.

Scott lifted Pizzi's suspension in December after a majority of Florida Supreme Court justices agreed with Pizzi. But Scott's order did not reinstate Pizzi as mayor.

Current Mayor Wayne Slaton has said he has no intention of stepping aside.

"Important charter issues like these are almost never decided at the trial court level," a spokeswoman for Miami Lakes said in a statement.

She said town leaders will meet with the town attorney in the next few days.

"The battle's over," Pizzi told Local 10 News after the ruling. "Stop bankrupting the town. Spend the money on children and seniors and on police. Stop spending money on this unconstitutional vendetta. The judge ruled that, under the Constitution, I'm the mayor of Miami Lakes."

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