Sophia Lacayo threatened with lawsuit over unrefunded city pay

Former Sweetwater Commissioner Sophia Lacayo has raised $390,000 to defeat Doral Mayor Juan Carlos Bermduez for the Miami-Dade County Commission District 12 seat this year. About 93% is her own money, which could be further depleted if Sweetwater follows through on a threatened lawsuit.

Lacayo resigned in 2020 from the Sweetwater Commission and pleaded guilty to falsely claiming she lived in the city during her campaign. Sweetwater Mayor Orlando Lopez says she still must repay the city $69,000 in salary and benefits. The city will “seek alternative measures” if she doesn’t.

Lacayo claims that money “was donated to the residents.”

– Jesse Scheckner, Florida Politics