TAMPA - What makes Fassil Gabremariam the ideal choice to fill in as Tampa's port director, his supporters say, is his long and deep involvement at the port. Opponents, however, say the former port board chairman might be too close to certain business interests there.
Since leaving the board in 2001, Gabremariam advised developers on two proposed projects: a high-tech conference center and hotel near Tampa Port Authority headquarters, and twin condo towers with an adjoining commercial center beside the Channelside entertainment complex.
Gabremariam and the developers say he wasn't paid for his work. He has an offer to invest in the hotel, Gabremariam says, but will refuse it if port commissioners select him to run the public agency while they look for a permanent director.
"If the board decides they want me to be interim director, there won't be any conflict" of interest, he said Thursday. "My integrity is more important than any ... financial reward that anyone can put on the table."
On Tuesday, port commissioners are scheduled to consider naming a temporary replacement for port director George Williamson, who will leave to join a major construction materials company by April 9. Zelko Kirincich, the agency's No. 2 executive, also is a candidate for the job.
Partisan politics are never far beneath the surface at the port authority, with Tampa's mayor, a Hillsborough County commissioner and three members appointed by the governor as board members.
So, speculation and lobbying about the selection shot through port and political circles this week. Hillsborough County Commissioner Ronda Storms got "quite a bit of calls" Thursday in favor of Gabremariam and questioned him about his business interests at the port, she said. "I'll reserve any decision for the discussion Tuesday," Storms said.
Al Austin, a Tampa developer and state GOP finance chairman, said that Gabremariam - a 1994 appointee by Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles - would have problems dealing with developers of the two projects even if he weren't paid for his advice.
"Though Fassil is a good friend of mine, I think it would cause an inappropriate appearance," Austin said.
The proposed projects stand at opposite ends of a stretch of port authority-owned waterfront property in the Channel District.
In 2001, a partnership led by Murray Klauber of Longboat Key was granted an option on 12 acres owned by the port authority.
The group proposed building a futuristic conference center where corporations could beam conferences and exhibits around the globe through wireless communications, broadband fiber optics and even low-orbiting satellites. The project also included a high-rise hotel.
Gabremariam, a former GTE executive, was approached to help bring communications giant Verizon into the deal, said Stephen Mitchell, Klauber's attorney. Partners are close to landing a hotel nameplate and completing financing, he said.
Their option on the port land expired Dec. 31 but is being renegotiated, said port authority spokeswoman Lori Musser.
Last year, principals of Downtown Channelside got a call from Gabremariam after they announced the condo/commercial project, said Brooks Byrd of Byrd Corp.
Byrd knew Gabremariam from selling him a condo at the Grandview on Harbour Island. Gabremariam helped the group prepare presentations to the port authority board and once took part in a meeting with port officials, Byrd said.
The board got three offers to buy the site beside Channelside. Last summer, members picked the developers of Downtown Channelside, who plan to build two 30-story condo towers and a commercial complex anchored by an urban supermarket.
"He's been a great sounding board. He knew all the dynamics," Byrd said. Gabremariam would be an excellent choice for interim port director, Byrd said, but would likely need to recuse himself from dealing with his group to avoid a potential conflict of interest.
