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Activist asks for misconduct probe of Storms

Marilyn Smith says the county commissioner overstepped her authority involving a Valrico bikini bar.

By BILL VARIAN
Published December 31, 2005

TAMPA - A community activist has filed a formal request with the State Attorney's Office for a misconduct investigation of Hillsborough County Commissioner Ronda Storms.

The activist, Marilyn Smith, said she also intends to send the letter to the Florida Commission on Ethics.

Smith claims in the letter that Storms violated both the Hillsborough County charter and several provisions of state law by interfering with government review of a proposed Valrico bikini bar. Smith said Storms overstepped her authority, which is limited to setting broad public policy, not steering day-to-day decisions.

"Separation of power is a biggie to me, and she's trampled it into the ground," Smith said. "This government isn't founded on Ronda's church."

Storms was not available for comment late Friday, nor was the spokeswoman for State Attorney Mark Ober.

Smith's request was based in large part on testimony from county building official Dave Ford this month in federal court. Ford said Storms asked him to delay issuing a certificate of occupancy to the bikini bar owners "as a favor."

Such a request would violate the county charter, Smith maintains.

Storms, a lawyer and former teacher, has led several campaigns against the sex industry in Hillsborough County.

County Attorney Renee Lee, who talked to Storms about the conversation afterward, has characterized it as an inquiry, not an attempt to direct staff decisions.

Luke Lirot, an attorney for bar owner Gemini Property Ventures, assisted Smith with her letter. He said the testimony at least raises probable cause that there was a violation.

The letter also asks Ober to look at whether Storms violated state laws that bar interference in the decisions of building officials by unlicensed people or misuse of a public position for the benefit of others. The letter asks Ober to examine whether Storms violated an official misconduct law barring a public servant, "with corrupt intent," from falsifying public documents in order to benefit or harm someone else.

"I think, as an attorney, Ms. Storms is charged with being constructively on notice with what these provisions say," Lirot said. "And I think, as a commissioner, she should have an intimate familiarity with the charter. Those are the rules that dictate her day to day responsibilities and limitations."

[Last modified December 31, 2005, 00:47:16]