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Ex-Pinellas Administrator Takes Old Job Back

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By CARLOS MONCADA | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 25, 2007

CLEARWATER - Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.

Former Pinellas County Administrator Fred Marquis, a fixture at the county courthouse for decades, is the county commission's unanimous selection to temporarily replace County Administrator Steve Spratt.

Spratt, the county's top appointed official for nearly six years, is resigning at the end of this month amid political fallout over the county's controversial purchase of land from Property Appraiser Jim Smith.

Marquis, 68, served as administrator from 1979 until his retirement in 2000. The retired Army Reserve major general agreed to come back so long as he had the support of all seven commissioners, said Commissioner Bob Stewart, who suggested hiring Marquis on an interim basis.

After the commission's unanimous vote, Marquis agreed during a phone conversation with Spratt to an annual salary of $200,000 and to stay on the job for up to a year while the commission searches for a permanent administrator.

Other candidates for the interim job were Assistant County Administrator Mark Woodard, who is married to Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, and Dennis Long, a senior assistant county attorney.

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