Mayor

Scott Says Pizzi's Suspension Ended in 2013

The battle between former Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi and Governor Rick Scott took another turn Tuesday when the governor’s legal team told the Florida Supreme Court that once Pizzi’s official term ended, his suspension also ended.

Scott’s lawyers said because of that fact, there was no need to officially lift the suspension of Pizzi. The former mayor has been trying to have his official suspension lifted after he was acquitted on federal corruption charges.

"The law is very clear that when someone is found innocent and they're exonerated, the Florida Constitution requires him to revoke the suspension," Pizzi told NBC 6 Tuesday night.

However, the governor’s legal team said that his responsibility as governor if a suspended official is acquitted prior to the official’s term in office ending is: revoke the suspension and restore the official to office. However, according to the governor’s filing, the Florida Constitution limits the governor on suspensions.

“Section 112.51(6) clarifies this provision, noting that Governor may not reinstate a suspended municipal official upon acquittal if ‘during the suspension the term of office of the municipal official expires and a successor is either appointed or elected.’ In short, once the official’s term ends, the suspension ends,” the governor’s filing stated.

A new mayor of Miami Lakes took office on October 8, 2013, and the governor’s office said on that date, Pizzi’s suspension ended. Therefore, Scott’s team said the governor can no longer revoke a suspension that has already concluded.

Pizzi had also claimed in his original filing that the suspension must be revoked because it’s a ‘condition precedent’ to back pay. The governor’s office said that wasn’t the case because any entitlement to back operates independently from the Governor’s duties.

Governor Scott issued a statement about the movements in the case Tuesday saying, "The Governor's office responded to the Court's request. This matter is now in the hands of the Florida Supreme Court."

"I'm not upset," Pizzi said. "This is a good thing, beacuse now we can move it along. I expect to get a result very soon."

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