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Pinellas Appraiser Won't Run

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By MARK DOUGLAS, News Channel 8

Published: November 14, 2007

Pinellas County Property Appraiser Jim Smith is calling it quits.

Smith, 67, said Tuesday that he will not seek a sixth four-year term next year, even though he thinks he would have "a pretty good chance of getting re-elected." His term expires in January 2009.

His decision comes three months after a grand jury found no evidence of a crime by Smith or other county officials when, in June, the county paid $225,000 to buy a 1.4-acre lot of Smith's for flood control. That was nearly four times the $59,400 value Smith's office assigned the parcel for tax purposes.

The transaction led the county commission to fire County Attorney Susan Churuti for her role in the deal. County Administrator Steve Spratt later resigned.

Smith now plans to pursue a career as a sculptor, which he says is his true passion in life.

Smith wants people to remember him first as a father, second as an artist, and thirdly as a public servant, he said.

"That may sound kind of silly," Smith said. "But I've got five great kids, and that would be No. 1."

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