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. ...more

September 25, 2007

CLEARWATER - The land deal between Pinellas County and Property Appraiser Jim Smith has cost taxpayers far more than the $225,000 the county paid to buy Smith's vacant lot. ...more

September 21, 2007

Pinellas County Administrator Steve Spratt, on tenuous political footing since he was mentioned in a grand jury report on a county land purchase, has resigned, effective Sept. 30. ...more

September 12, 2007

CLEARWATER - Pinellas County Administrator Steve Spratt, on tenuous political footing since he was mentioned in a grand jury report on a county land purchase, has resigned, effective Sept. 30. ...more

September 11, 2007

Susan Churuti is out as Pinellas county attorney. County Administrator Steve Spratt has no room for error after controversial land deal that prompted Churuti's ouster. ...more

September 10, 2007

Despite an impassioned plea to keep her job, Pinellas County Attorney Susan Churuti was fired Tuesday, a week after a grand jury report rebuked her for her role in brokering the purchase of land from the county property appraiser. ...more

September 5, 2007

CLEARWATER - Despite an impassioned plea to keep her job, Pinellas County Attorney Susan Churuti was fired Tuesday, a week after a grand jury report rebuked her for her role in brokering the purchase of land from the county property appraiser. ...more

September 4, 2007