In the year since Michael Pizzi took over as mayor of Miami Lakes, the town has lowered taxes, earned the notable Playful City USA designation and partnered with Miami Dade College to open a campus.

But it has been a tough year for Pizzi, one of the pioneers who helped transform Miami Lakes from community to town.

Beneath the calm surface of the small Northwest Miami-Dade bedroom community -- known for its sports fields, green spaces and grazing cows -- the mayor and his critics are locked in a pitched battle for control of the town's soul.

On Wednesday, the town was startled by reports of an overnight fire at Pizzi's law office, one that authorities said was intentionally set.

No one knows if the arson has anything to do with the town's political acrimony. Authorities have not named any suspects, but Pizzi has his own thoughts about that.

He blames his critics for creating an environment susceptible to such an attack.

But Councilwoman Nancy Simon cautions that it is irresponsible and premature for Pizzi to speculate that there is some sort of ``covert political movement to harm him.''

``In any community you have dissenters, but I really don't think we have any residents that would stoop this low,'' she said. ``And I think it's important the people understand the investigation is still open and it may turn out not to be political at all.''

Did the fire target Pizzi? The mayor thinks so.

``They're on a never-ceasing, never-ending pattern to sabotage everything that's going on. The more successful I am as mayor, the more they ratchet it up,'' Pizzi said. ``No matter what we do these people will still be throwing bombs.''

A CRUSADER

Even before his involvement in town politics, Pizzi became known as a crusader for ``the little people,'' leading grass-roots efforts against rock mining and overdevelopment. It made him a favorite for a council seat when the town incorporated December 2000.

As a council member, he clashed often with then-Mayor Wayne Slaton and town activists.

After Pizzi took the mayor's gavel last October, a former employee filed a whistle-blower lawsuit alleging she was fired unjustly. And there are allegations of campaign finance violations and favoritism. Despite an investigation, no charges were filed.

Last month, a resident accused Pizzi and another council member of showing up at his doorstep one evening and assaulting him. That incident remains under investigation by Miami-Dade police's public corruption unit.

Pizzi shrugs off the controversy, saying it is the work of the ``handful'' of political enemies loyal to the former administration bitter they are no longer in power.

But he worries that their actions and the arson leave a mark on the town's reputation.

Miami Lakes was founded four decades ago on a 3,000-acre dairy farm owned by former Florida governor and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham's family. Former Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula lived there and helped put it on the map.

In 2000, the community, nestled in the shadows of the Palmetto Expressway, incorporated as a town.

Over the years, it has blossomed into what leaders describe as ``a vibrant and beautiful city with parks, tree-lined streets, and a hometown atmosphere'' where cows still graze and the main street is called Main Street.

Pizzi's critics denounce his argument that the town's political turmoil stems from loyalty to the previous administration.

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