Lowry Zoo CEO Says He'll Make Amends If Fault Is Found

Lex Salisbury, president and CEO of Lowry Park Zoo, defended his tenure with the zoo against a critical city audit and said he will answer questions at a special zoo board meeting Thursday.

In a written statement, Salisbury did not say directly whether he hopes to remain in his job but focused instead on the board meeting.

"At the end of the process, if it is determined that any error in judgment I may have made may have resulted in detriment to the zoo, I will make amends. I ask only that no judgment be made about my conduct until all of the facts are considered."

Here are other highlights from the statement, issued this afternoon during a news conference at his attorneys' Ybor City office. Salisbury did not attend.

"It has been my privilege and my passion to serve Lowry Park Zoo, its benefactors, patrons, and its board for the last 21 years. During that time I've seen the zoo evolve from a quaint neighborhood attraction to a world class facility that is one of the jewels of the Tampa Bay area. I would like to think that I played a part in that success.

"I do not mean to suggest, however, that I am without fault or that my stewardship of the zoo is above criticism. I have made mistakes along the way. I am, however, most comfortable in assuring you that I have never intentionally engaged in any conduct the purpose of which was to enrich myself at the expense of the Lowry Park Zoo."

"I plan to meet with the zoo's board of directors on Thursday and will answer any question any board member wishes to ask."

On Friday, city auditors released a preliminary report saying that Salisbury owes the attraction for animals, supplies and equipment he took for his private ranch and for a separate business venture. The audit also states that he threatened to fire zoo employees who reported his actions.

The audit results prompted Mayor Pam Iorio to recommend that Salisbury be fired and that law enforcement investigate whether there was criminal activity.

Salisbury, the city auditors wrote, "seems unable to differentiate between his role as CEO of the zoo and the role he plays with his business and his ranch and fails to acknowledge the improprieties even after the results of the audit."

Salisbury, who is on paid leave from the $339,000-a-year zoo job, has not commented as more reports surfaced that he used the taxpayer-supported zoo to help build Safari Wild, a for-profit exotic animal park he wants to build in Polk County. He has said he never improperly profited from his 21-year connection to the zoo.

The city owns the zoo land and animals and is scheduled to contribute $450,000 to the zoo this fiscal year.