Peter Schorsch
Gov. Rick Scott says he won’t reinstate Michael Pizzi as mayor of Miami Lakes despite his acquittal on federal corruption charges because the office is already occupied.
Miami Lakes voters elected Wayne Slaton mayor in an October 2013 special election held after Pizzi was indicted and suspended from office by the governor. Scott told reporters Friday that means he can’t reinstate Pizzi to the post.
Pizzi was cleared Thursday by a federal jury of seven corruption-related charges brought after an undercover FBI investigation into questionable city grant applications. Pizzi later went to Miami Lakes city hall and said he wanted his old job back. He was elected in 2012 to a four-year term.
Pizzi’s attorneys did not immediately respond Friday to emails seeking comment on their legal options.
