The Miami Lakes mayoral race is headed for a run-off, two incumbents kept their seats and the town’s council will see a new face, as local residents cast their ballots during perhaps the most polarizing presidential election when America chose Donald Trump as its next president-elect.
Councilmember Manny Cid picked up 45 percent of the vote (6,436), while incumbent Mayor Michael Pizzi got 31 percent (4,425).
Miami Lakes’ first mayor, Wayne Slaton, finished with 23 percent (3,258).
Since neither candidate collected 50 percent plus 1 of the vote, the two top vote-getters will face off in a run-off election on Tuesday, November 29, pitting two neighbors at Villa Vizcaya against each other for the town’s top executive position.
Early voting for the mayoral’s run off election is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, November 19 and Sunday, November 20, at the Mary Collins Community Center, 15151 Montrose Road.
Cid, 33, thanked his supporters and asked them to back him again in the run-off election.
“We won round one and now we must get ready for round two which is the runoff on November 29,” said Cid, a co-owner of an adult daycare facility. “The results made it clear that it’s time for new leadership, and we must work hard and have the energy to make sure we prevail in the run off.”
Pizzi, 53, garnered 31 percent of the vote despite his $2.5 million lawsuit against the town, seeking his attorneys’ fee for successfully defending him during his federal corruption trial in 2014.
Pizzi, who won reelection in 2012 with 68 percent of the vote, campaigned on a platform of reducing taxes, reducing traffic by opening N.W. 87 Avenue and building the youth center for children and kids with special needs.
But his initiatives weren’t enough to convince the voters, and the run off keeps the attorney and Cid on the campaign trial for two more weeks.
The election was a bitter loss for Slaton, who was forced to relinquish the mayoral seat he won in a special election when the courts reinstated Pizzi as mayor in 2015.
Slaton, a 65-year-old electrician, and Pizzi have been foes since incorporation.
“It has been an honor to run for Mayor of Miami Lakes,” Slaton said in an email to The Miami Laker. “I want to thank my team, volunteers and supporters for all their hard work over the past few months right through the final election day. Thank you for sharing my vision of how our town should be led, and the importance of integrity and character, and never compromising the very highest standards upon which our town was built.
“This runoff election is very important to me, and it should be to all our residents. Both candidates want the best for our community, yet have different governing styles. Whether you like one style or the other, the one thing that is of the utmost importance is selecting the candidate that has most consistently demonstrated both integrity and character.”
Slaton went on to say, “Manny Cid came to me following election day and thanked me and my volunteers for running a good campaign, and asked for my vote in the runoff election. That demonstrates character. I will be voting for Manny Cid to be the next Mayor of the Town of Miami Lakes.”
On social media, Cid posted, “I am honored to have the support of my friend Wayne Slaton, Miami Lakes’ founding Mayor and a true public servant who is always committed to our Town. Wayne, Margaret and Grace are great Miami Lakers and I look forward to working with them for Miami Lakes future. I am humbled to have earned his trust in my candidacy to represent the people of Miami Lakes as Mayor.”
For Seat Three, incumbent Tony Lama, a software engineer, defeated attorney Elizabeth Delgado with 60 percent of the vote (7,682) to her 39 percent (4,929).
Lama, 38, said his family and supporters were the backbone of his campaign, and he urged residents to vote for Cid as the town’s mayor in the run-off.
“I’m so blessed and grateful for the incredible support,” he said. “I couldn't have done this without the support of my very patient wife, my kids, my friends, and the voters of Miami Lakes. Now it's time to get back to work and crush 2016 for my wonderful company Aspect and get back to work for the people of Miami Lakes. We have a runoff in the next few weeks and there is no other option for the future of Miami Lakes than Manny Cid.”
Lama was first elected in 2012. He was responsible for the town’s mobile app, which allows residents to access government services from their computer or cell phones, and was one of several councilmembers who organized the town’s first traffic summit with Miami-Dade and FDOT to resolve Miami Lakes’ long-running gridlock plight.
During his second term, Lama said he’s pushing for implementation of a new synchronized lighting system to improve traffic flow and resume working with Miami-Dade Expressway Authority to create new exit points on N.W. 67 Avenue and the Gratigny Expressway.
Councilmember Nelson Rodriguez, a 47-year-old Coral Gables firefighter, held on to his Seat One, defeating Xiomara Pazos, a 59-year-old owner of a non-emergency transportation company, and attorney Alex Dehghani, 36, in a three person race that saw the candidates campaign day and night during early voting.
Rodriguez collected 58 percent of the vote (7,291), Pazos mustered 27 percent (3,436) and 1,792 residents (14 percent) voted for Dehghani.
Rodriguez, who organized the traffic summit with Lama, said he’s ready to resume his work and complete the town’s goals for the next four years.
“Thank you to all my supporters, tonight was a good night,” Rodriguez said. “Clean and honest campaigning will always win.”
Rodriguez also extended his gratitude to Lama for his support.
“Thank you my friend Tony Lama and your family,” he said.
Albeit she lost, Pazos said she was overwhelmed over the support she got during the election.
“I am immensely grateful to the residents and loyal supporters who so generously contributed their time and effort to my campaign during this very long election season,” she said. “I am deeply moved by the expression of confidence from the Town of Miami Lakes, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Luiz Collazo, former chair of the Miami Lakes Elderly Affairs Committee, is the new face on the town’s council, winning Seat Five, which Cid gave up to run for mayor, despite a recent campaign mailer that painted Collazo as an abuser of senior citizens.
Collazo, a 42-year-old health care administrator, collected 51 percent of the vote (6,602), while Esther Colon, a 62-year-old retired government administrator, mustered 24 percent (3,181), and 38-year-old attorney Nayib Hassan got 2,986 votes (23 percent).
Collazo, Rodriguez and Lama campaigned together offering residents the “Three Amigos” who would work for them and protect their tax dollars.
Collazo campaigned on his community service experience such as working with the elderly and as a former president of the Celebration Point Homeowners Association, that earned him accolades that included a Volunteer of the Year award and a Key to the Town award.
“I thank the residents for all of their support,” he said. “We did it!”
The longtime Miami Lakes resident said he’s pushing for new exit points to alleviate traffic congestion, and advocate for a new advanced life support transport to reduce response times during emergencies.
Hassan said he will continue to stay involved in the town.
“For the people who supported me, I say we must look forward to the future of our town and maintain the culture we have treasured for so many years,” Hassan said. “We need to support our current and new council with energy and positivity.”
Colon was also gracious in defeat and her supporters urged her to stay involved in the town’s affairs and run again in 2018.
“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the new council and wish them success as they continue to navigate the Miami Lakes waters,” Colon said. “It was a pleasure meeting the many residents who make up our beautiful community on this journey, and I will cherish the many new friends I met along the way.”
The swearing-in ceremony for Councilmembers Lama, Rodriguez, Collazo and the mayoral winner will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6, in Town Hall Chambers prior to the regular December Council meeting.