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Pinellas Ethics Report: No Misconduct In Appraiser's Land Deal

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By STEVEN GIRARDI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 23, 2008

CLEARWATER - A state ethics investigation has cleared Pinellas Property Appraiser Jim Smith and other county officials of wrongdoing in a controversial land deal between Smith and the county.

"The report was really good," Smith said this morning. "The thing is they did one heck of an investigation."

The report by the Florida Ethics Commission, released Wednesday, also cleared former Pinellas County Attorney Susan Churuti and County Commissioner Ronnie Duncan.

The investigation involved a deal in June 2007 in which the county bought a 1.4-acre lot from Smith for $225,000, nearly four times the taxable value of the property set by Smith's office.

Smith's attorney had sent Pinellas officials a letter in May 2007 that accused county workers of ruining the property by cutting down trees and clearing debris after hurricanes in 2004.

A grand jury report in August 2007 found no evidence of a crime by Smith or other county officials but noted there was a "clear public perception'' that Smith had received preferential treatment in the deal.

The transaction and the grand jury report led the county commission to fire Churuti for her role in the deal. County Administrator Steve Spratt, who also was mentioned in the grand jury report, resigned in September 2007.

The ethics report found no probable cause that Duncan, who was county commission chairman at the time, misused his position in allowing Churuti to represent the county and Smith in arranging the land purchase.

Following the controversy, Smith, 68, who is completing his fourth term in office, chose not to seek re-election in November.

Reporter Steven Girardi can be reached at (727) 451-2333.

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