Northpinellas: Mayor's public, private mix raises eyebrows

SAFETY HARBOR -- Mayor Pam Corbino's use of her public office to fuel interest in a business she owns has raised questions concerning whether such a use of city resources is appropriate.

She also used the city's e-mail system to invite a resident to a function hosted by that business.

Corbino said she was only trying to help a friend when she responded to an e-mail from Safety Harbor resident Nancy Petry asking for advice about volunteer opportunities in the city.

The Aug. 24 e-mail reads: "I know I have asked to volunteer in the past. ... But now I am serious. I am asking for you(r) help, I have a lot of talents, and I will attach my resume to prove it. Any ideas?"

Corbino's response:

"There are a number of volunteer opportunities for you that we can talk about. You also might be interested in joining a new group I am starting called Florida Women. It's an organization dedicated to improving the lives of women -- those who join can reach out and help along the way."

State law prohibits public officers or employees of a local government from using "information not available to members of the general public and gained by reason of his or her official position for his or her personal gain or benefit or for the personal gain or benefit of any other person or business entity."

According to state records, Corbino received corporate status for Florida Women Inc. in June and is listed as its only officer.

Among the company's missions, Corbino said, is encouraging volunteers to raise money and secure donated clothing for the needy -- which she said led to the invitation.

"We're very excited about Florida Women," she said. "When I get a call from someone like Nancy, who said she wants to volunteer, I'm going to tell her about that."

"I wasn't even thinking about it as a business," Corbino said. "I was thinking about it as a way for a person to volunteer in the community."

Meanwhile, response by fellow city commissioners to Corbino's move has been mixed.

"I probably would not have done that because I like to keep things extremely separate," said Commissioner Nadine Nickeson. "But (mayor of Safety Harbor) is who she is."

Chip Morrison, general counsel for the Florida League of Cities, called the matter "gray."

"I don't believe that there is really anything wrong with the use of the title "mayor,' " he said. "But I think you're always going to be very fearful of a situation when people wed their private work with their public work and a situation where a public official uses public property for private purposes."

On Aug. 10, many female residents of Safety Harbor received letters from "Pam Corbino, Mayor of Safety Harbor -- President of Florida Women Inc." inviting them to attend "the first in a series of seminars."

The seminars are described as an "an opportunity for women of all interests to come together for an evening and focus on both personal and community issues of health, culture, finance, politics, fashion, cuisine, travel and other lifestyle issues."

According to a flier enclosed in the letter, for $35 in advance and $45 at the door, participants could drink champagne and eat strawberries before Corbino shared her thoughts on "rediscovering joy" in her life.

Sidney Bayne, president of Smarter Image, followed by sharing secrets to how she "transforms people with color, grace and grooming."

"That's not right," said Commissioner Robin Borland. "If she is going to solicit her business, she should try doing it outside Safety Harbor. "There may be nothing legally wrong with what she's doing," Borland said. "It just wouldn't look as bad if she was doing it in other cities."

Commissioner Neil Brickfield disagreed.

"It didn't seem like she was actively promoting it," said Brickfield, who also owns a small business. "It seemed like she just offered it as an possible opportunity."

-- Leon Tucker can be reached at 445-4167 or tucker@sptimes.com.

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