Sweetwater Citizens Want Mayor Maroño Back

  In Sweetwater, Florida this week, supporters of deposed mayor Manny Maroño met at City Hall to ask for his return to office.  Maroño's mother Isolina, a Sweetwater City Commissioner and fellow Commissioner Manuel Duasso.  The two city officials said publically that they were only there as private citizens and were not representing the city government.

  Sweetwater is a small town outside of Miami and came into the news recently when Mayor Maroño was arrested on charges of corruption.  Maroño who is represented by Kendall Coffey's firm Coffey Burlington, is accused of partaking in an an undercover FBI scheme to solicit bribes from municipal officials.  The scheme involved signing deals with fake companies to receive federal subsidies.

  Jose Diaz was signed in as the new mayor earlier last month.  Maroño maintains his innocence.

 “We want our mayor back!” they chanted before City Hall.  “We want our mayor back!”

Things heated up when a man taking photos and interviewing demonstrators compared Maroño with former Cuban president Fidel Castro.

“How dare you compare him to a dictator?” some shouted. “Get out of here right now!”

The man left immediately and drove away.

“He is being set up, maybe because of envy or jealousy,” she said, “but for every person criticizing him there are 99 who have good things to say about him.”

“I’m here to support my mayor because he is good to elderly people.  Besides, he has mended the corruption and expelled the gangs. I feel safer now.” One person in the crowd said.

Jorge Guerra questioned Scott’s decision to suspend Maroño, who was one of the governor’s strong men in South Florida.

“Where is the governor now and why doesn’t he support Maroño just like he and the people of Sweetwater helped him in his campaign?” Guerra said. “Maroño should have continued as mayor until proven innocent or guilty.”

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/08/27/3589334/sweetwater-residents-gather-to.html#storylink=cpy

Manny Marono Seeks Council at Coffey Burlington

  The mayor of Sweetwater, Florida, Manny Marono, has been charged with corruption charges, along with another mayor in South Florida and two lobbyists. Marono has secured council with Coffey Burlington, a Miami firm where Kendall Coffey is a partner.

   Upon his arrest, Coffey was interviewed by local news. Coffey told reporters, "There has been great progress in the city of Sweetwater, there will continue to be progress, and Manny Marono look forward to the opportunity to prove his innocence."

   Miami Lakes Mayor was also arrested in relation to a scheme to create fake government contracts that would provide kickbacks for the mayors and two area lobbyists, Richard Candia and Jorge Forte. Marono was removed as head of the League of Cities in Florida earlier this month shortly after the arrest.

   On Marono's behalf, Kendall Coffey and Armando Rosquete said recently in a statement that Marono and his family “are very appreciative of the support he has received from friends and so many in the community.”