Sports Authority picks new law firm

TAMPA -- The Tampa Sports Authority is turning to a familiar face for legal representation.

The Sports Authority hired the Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell firm Monday at $125 an hour. The attorney who will work the contract for Ruden McClosky is Steve Anderson, who has served in similar roles for other governmental authorities in town.

Anderson has previously served as the lawyer for the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority, Tampa Port Authority and former Hillsborough Property Appraiser Ron Alderman. In fact, at one point, he represented the latter two at the same time both were engaged in a tax dispute with one another, which brought him some attention.

A long-time political fundraiser, Anderson's visible role in government had diminished somewhat in recent years. The hiring of his firm, driven by the county-appointed bloc on the Sports Authority, could represent a bit of a rebirth on that front.

Ruden McClosky replaces GrayRobinson after the same bloc pressed to have the contract put out to bid.

Bill Varian, Times Staff Writer

Pinellas Dems to hold local Inaugural Ball

Pinellas Dems have their man at the top of the executive branch for the first time since the Clinton days. They plan to hold an Inaugural Ball on Jan. 20 at the Gulfport Casino in honor of Barack Obama. Expect live music, dancing, food and a cash bar. The cost is $20 a person and the ball will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. Tickets are available through the Pinellas DEC Web-site, which you can get to here.

Will Van Sant, Times staff writer

Anderson to head Elder & Family Services Committee

Here's more appointment news as the session nears:

Republican House Rep. Tom Anderson, whose District 45 includes parts of North Pinellas and Pasco counties, will head the House Committee on Elder & Family Services. The former Dunedin mayor will also be vice chair of the Healthy Seniors Appropriations Committee and serve on the Full Appropriations Council on General Government & Health Care, his office has announced.

Anderson was elected to the Florida House in 2002 and has served since.

Will Van Sant, Times staff writer

Morano stays as Pasco Democrats' chair

Despite being swept in the November election, the Pasco Democratic Party will keep Alison Morano as its chairwoman, as she easily won another term this month.

Though the party lost its races, Democrats improved their performance from the 2004 election. The party also gained a County Commission seat two years ago. Morano is active in the party's Netroots activities and the state chairs organization.

In fact, the toughest part of Morano's re-election might have been after the vote. Executive committee members deadlocked 22-22 in the vice chair's race. So Morano had to cast the deciding vote for Brian Reach over incumbent Cal Branche.

"I decided solely on the facts of what their plan is to help us in the county," said Morano.

David DeCamp, Times Staff Writer

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Is the 2010 campaign starting in Pasco?

The first shot of the 2010 election didn't show up on TV, in the mail or a press release. To County Commissioner Michael Cox and the Democratic Party leadership, the blow came from the commission dais in usually quiet December.

Within a month of being branded the Republicans' top target for ouster, the county's only Democratic commissioner has lost his high-profile role with the Pasco Economic Development Council. This month, new Commission Chairman Jack Mariano, a Republican, named himself as Cox's replacement.

"I cannot find any other logical reasoning as to why he wouldn't leave me on there, given the fact I have had some successes in the PEDC, and some that he quite frankly doesn't even know about," Cox said.

The story is here.

David DeCamp, Times Staff Writer

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Deputy city attorney lawyers up for DUI charge

ST. PETERSBURG - Mark Winn, chief assistant city attorney, will not represent himself in his second DUI case, according to court records.

Winn (left) has hired William Bennett, a successful Pinellas County defense attorney his colleagues call the Bulldog.

"He is going to be an aggressive defense for sure," said Pinellas County Judge Walt Fullerton. "He won't leave any stone unturned."

Winn, 54, received his first DUI after he crashed his vehicle in February 2006. He refused to take a breath, blood or urine test and his license was suspended for a year. Court records show Winn received a year's probation in September 2006. The probation was terminated early three months later in December.

On Nov. 6, Winn received his second DUI when he again refused to be tested. St. Petersburg police arrested him, and his license was suspended for 18 months.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Photo courtesy Pinellas County Sheriff's Office

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Social worker eyes District 5 seat

ST. PETERSBURG - It still isn't clear whether City Council Chairman Jamie Bennett's District 5 seat will be up for election in November, but that hasn't stopped political hopefuls from eyeing the position.

Will Michaels, vice president of the Council of Neighborhood Associations, has already met with Bennett to discuss the mechanics of the job and whether he should run.

Now, social worker Steve Kornell has announced he is considering entering the race. Kornell also met with Bennett and earlier this week he held an informal gathering with supporters.

"I'm not 100 percent sure that I'm doing it," said Kornell, 42, who works for Pinellas County schools. "But it's likely that I will run."

Kornell said he worked for the city's recreation department for 20 years. He said he is interested in improving public safety, education and economic development.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

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A sign of more tumult in Pasco GOP?

Newly-elected precinct committeeman Bob Ryan, who was part of an attempt to oust Pasco County GOP boss Bill Bunting, expects to join the party's executive committee on Dec. 18.

But he's still waiting to get the notice of the meeting, which is required in the state party's rules to come no later than 10 days prior to the meeting. And the more he waits, the more he girds for a fight to join the ruling board.

There may be a reason. Ryan was among 27 precinct candidates that Bunting tried and failed to get kicked off the ballot for not providing him loyalty oaths this summer -- oaths they say he dodged accepting. They ultimately were sent to the state Republican Party, and officials said they were good to go.

Or not. Bunting, who will leave office, said this week the rules will be followed, but some people face challenges to being accepted onto the committee. But what gives with the notices? And Ryan's post, a term he began this month?

"You’ll be at the party meeting and you’ll see it," Bunting said today. Pressed again, he said, "I think you’ll have to be at the party meeting. We’re going to go around and around, you’re not going to get a different answer."

David DeCamp, Times staff writer

St. Petersburg cuts ties with Amscot

ST. PETERSBURG -- City officials on Wednesday called off a controversial deal that allowed Amscot Financial to accept its utility payments, just days before the City Council was expected to publicly denounce the company's check cashing and payday advance services.

Mayor Rick Baker said the controversy did not factor into his decision to cut ties with the Tampa company.

"That was not part of my decision," he said. "It was just no longer needed."

Baker's staff had planned to eliminate free bill payment services at the Enoch Davis Center to save $96,000. As an alternative, staffers entered into a two-year agreement with Amscot that allowed the company to accept St. Petersburg utility payments and charge residents a $1 convenience fee.

The City Council voted to reinstate bill payment at Enoch Davis last week, only four days after Amscot began accepting utility payments and community leaders and residents flooded City Hall with complaints.  At the time, Baker said he wasn't sure whether the city would terminate its agreement with Amscot.

On Wednesday, the city did just that.

"The city's objective in providing alternative utility bill paying services is no longer necessary," wrote Richard Bulger, the city's billing and collections director in a letter to an Amscot executive. "We are respectful of the time and effort put forth by Amscot Corp. to provide the contract services and wish to be perfectly clear this action has nothing to do with performance."

At least six of the city's eight council members have expressed reservations about Amscot's business dealings. Critics paint Amscot as a predatory lender because of its high check cashing and payday loan fees, while proponents argue that the company's services are convenient and legal.

More than 200 people have paid their St. Petersburg water bills at Amscot since the company began accepting payments Dec 1.

Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

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Affordable Housing Office draws low marks

Hillsborough commissioners got their annual survey results Thursday on how well residents think county government serves people. As usual, residents gave the county mostly high marks on things ranging from parks to library service.

One area in decline: affordable housing. That likely reflects the lousy housing market generally but also may reflect on county government.

Commissioners received survey card summaries from people who visit government offices, and the county's Affordable Housing Office had by far the lowest marks.

County administrator Pat Bean agreed that the results may be one more indicator of well-documented strife that has plagued the department. Last year the office had to return $2-million in federal grant money because it missed a deadline, and the agency has been drawn complaints of workplace wrongdoing and infighting.

Bill Varian, Times Staff Writer