DeSantis suspends North Miami Beach mayor following ‘voting irregularities’ arrest

By Amber Jo Cooper

Published Jun. 5, 2023, 3:16 p.m. ET | Updated Jun. 5, 2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to guests at the Nebraska Steak Fry in Nebraska City, Neb., Sept. 12, 2021. (Photo/Matt Johnson)

NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis immediately suspended the North Miami Beach Mayor Anthony F. DeFillipo II after he was arrested on charges related to voting irregularities.

DeFillipo has been charged with three felony counts of voting in a North Miami Beach district even though he no longer lived in the area for which he cast a ballot, according to reports.

On May 31, DeFillipo II was charged by information with three counts of “Election-Unqualified Voter,” each a third-degree felony, according to the governor’s office.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said DeFillipo cast ballots in August, October and November 2022 in elections for a district he was not legally qualified to vote in.

“Our voting laws apply to everyone […] There are no unwritten exceptions,” Rundle said.

Florida law provides that the governor may suspend from office any elected municipal officer who is infonned against for the commission of a state felony.

Michael Pizzi, attorney for DeFillipo said the mayor has always lived in Miami Beach and said the arrest was “politically motivated.”

“The mayor has explained over and over again, and under oath, he always intended to and always lived in North Miami Beach,” Pizzi told the outlet.