Michael Grieco Resigns Seat, Takes Plea Deal On Election Offense

MIAMI BEACH, FL — Commissioner Michael Grieco, the former Miami-Dade prosecutor who began his political career in 2013 and at one time looked as though he might become the next mayor of this urban seaside resort, resigned his seat on Tuesday and entered a plea deal over a misdemeanor election crime. Grieco has not responded to a Patch request for comment.

"When it became apparent that two friends of Mr. Grieco failed to follow the law, Mr. Grieco acted to promptly — even though he had accepted these contributions — set out to right that wrong," Grieco's attorney, Benedict P Kuehne, told reporters outside a Miami-Dade courtroom. "Today's resolution closes out that chapter."

Grieco sent his resignation via email on Tuesday morning.

"Effective immediately, I tender my resignation as Group 2 Commissioner for the remaining two weeks of my term," Grieco wrote to Miami Beach City Clerk Rafael E. Granado.

"Serving our great city of Miami Beach has been my greatest honor. Thank you for giving me that opportunity," Grieco said. "When I began my service as Miami Beach Commissioner in 2013, my paramount goal was to leave Miami Beach in a better condition than when I started. I am confident I have done that, and more."

Grieco dropped his re-election bid for his commission seat in September, one week after Patch published an article questioning Grieco's misleading Facebook posts during Hurricane Irma. In making that announcement, Grieco urged his two opponents "to run campaigns befitting the people they wish to serve" and he appealed for privacy. He was first elected in 2013.

The Patch article revealed that Grieco had made misleading Facebook posts during the worst of Hurricane Irma on Sept. 10. The posts said that "Commissioner Michael Grieco is in Miami Beach" while he later acknowledged in an interview that he was more than 200 miles away in Orlando at the time.

Earlier, Grieco had dropped out of the city's mayoral race following a series of Miami Herald reports that claimed to link him to an outside fundraising group. He took aim at the Patch report in a campaign email that referred to Patch as a "questionable blog" but he did not deny making the Facebook posts or apologize for them.

The fundraising offense was related to his mayoral bid.

"The involvement was of an administerial purpose, for the purposes of the political committee," Grieco told Local 10 News later on Tuesday. "This isn't about anything other than a specific contribution and what I knew or what I did not know, and we're happy to move forward from it."

Grieco spent most of his six years with the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office working in gang and narcotics enforcement before becoming a supervising Felony Division Chief in 2005, according to his official Miami Beach bio. He opened his own law practice in 2007.

"I have always done my best. I hope you will agree, and will find the time to work with me in my private life, as I continue to find creative ways to make Miami Beach the BEST City in the Sunshine State and beyond," Grieco said in his resignation.

As a community leader, Grieco previously sat on the board of directors for the South of Fifth Neighborhood Association. He also sits on the board of governors for the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the President’s Cabinet for the Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation.

He is a Mount Sinai Hospital Young Founder and sat on multiple city boards before being elected to the Miami Beach Commission. He has supported multiple causes including Miami Children’s Museum, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and as well as both the Mount Sinai and Miami Children’s Hospitals.

As a city commissioner, Grieco removed his City Hall office door from its hinges as a symbol of transparency in government.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Grieco said he planned to focus on his law firm and promised to continue to be an advocate for Miami Beach residents.

"I am writing to you today as just Mike, your friend, neighbor and fellow resident. Initially I wanted to let you know that my family and I are well and we are not going anywhere," he insisted. "I will remain your voice when needed, and your eyes and ears in perpetuity. Although my time as your current commissioner has drawn to a close, my time as your advocate has not."

Grieco said he plans to add a pro bono element to his law practice. "I will also be providing pro bono governmental consulting services to select disenfranchised residents, neighborhood associations and non-profit organizations who need assistance navigating Miami Beach City Hall," Grieco pledged. "Our relationship with you and the city may be different in a formal way, but the emotional commitment will not be changing when it comes to protecting and improving our quality of life as a community.

"Whether or not I am in office, I will still be on the front lines against the next Floatopia, the next Naled/Zika crisis or the next time someone tries to wedge a train down Main Street," he added. "I will obviously also remain steadfast in the fight against the predatory violent element that has unfortunately made Miami Beach unsafe."

Photo by Paul Scicchitano