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Close adviser to mayor is leaving job with city

By JANET ZINK
Published November 17, 2006

TAMPA - Fran Davin, special assistant to Mayor Pam Iorio, announced Thursday she will leave her job with the city Dec. 15.

Davin is a longtime friend and political adviser to Iorio, having worked with the mayor on many of her campaigns for public office.

When Iorio became mayor in April 2003, she hired Davin for what was supposed to be a six-month stint. Davin ended up staying nearly four years, earning more than $70,000 annually in the part-time job.

Davin said she is leaving because her work at the city is done and she wants to spend more time with her ailing husband.

"This is the point: that I chose to finish up my work with the city - the longest six-month job in history," Davin said. "I came in with her to help build a new administration, and that's done."

Iorio has forced out many longtime administrators and replaced others who retired after decades of work with the city, leaving few familiar faces at City Hall. She also reorganized city departments.

In addition to advising Iorio, Davin has taken the lead on such issues as homelessness and international trade, and helped Iorio revamp the troubled housing department.

City Council member Rose Ferlita, who has criticized Iorio for having too many high-paid administrators, said Davin's departure is overdue. Keeping her longer than six months with her high salary for part-time work "sent a very, very bad message" to rank-and-file employees, she said.

Davin dispelled rumors that she is considering a run for the City Council in March. But she said she might help Iorio when the mayor begins her run for re-election early next year.

At this point it's not clear that Iorio, who has not yet filed to run, will need an aggressive campaign, Davin said. So far, only two people have filed to run for mayor:- Tampa police Capt. Marion Lewis and Arthur Richardson. Neither candidate has a background in politics. But some community leaders are pressuring former Mayor Dick Greco to run again.

Once the deadline to file arrives in January, Davin said, she'll know whether Iorio will need her help.

"I always am involved in her campaigns," she said. "If there is a campaign, obviously I would become involved."

[Last modified November 17, 2006, 06:01:57]