Pinellas commissioner Ronnie Duncan won't seek re-election

First-term Pinellas County Commissioner Ronnie Duncan said early today he won't seek re-election in November.

Duncan, a Republican, presided over the commission as board chairman last year during the controversy surrounding the county's purchase of land privately owned by Property Appraiser Jim Smith.

In a written statement, Duncan did not mention the Smith controversy. Rather, he said being a commissioner takes too much time away from his young family.

"I love Pinellas County and I love being part of the success we have had, but the truth is that I love my family more," said Duncan, 50, a Realtor who focuses on commercial real estate. "To do the job of county commissioner right takes many hours away from my family and means many missed karate matches and basketball games. My children are 5 and 10 years old and I want to spend more time with them as they are growing up."

In June, county commissioners voted to buy 1.5 acres of undeveloped land in the Tarpon Woods area of North Pinellas from Smith, Pinellas County's elected property appraiser since 1988 and a well-known figure both in the courthouse and Republican circles.

The county paid Smith $225,000 -- nearly four times the taxable value given to the land by Smith's own office. In the ensuing controversy, a state grand jury examined the purchase, indicted no one, but criticized the way county officials handled the transaction.

In December, the St. Petersburg Times reported that Duncan, who publicly castigated the county administrator and county attorney about their involvement in the deal to buy Smith's land, was himself entangled far deeper in transaction than he previously disclosed.

Phone records, documents and interviews reveal Duncan not only knew about Smith's complaint months before other commissioners, but communicated privately with Smith, pressed the county administrator for updates and went outside the chain of command to flag Smith's property to the attention of two key staffers.

In three lengthy interviews late last year, Duncan's memory of what he did when was often spotty, and at times he revised his earlier accounts. But he denied any improper conduct.

"I didn't treat Jim Smith other than who he is -- a normal citizen," he said last year. "Now in hindsight, he did get some expedited service."

In recent weeks, Duncan had hinted that he might not run again, prompting speculation about who might get into the race. Republican Ray Brooks and Democrat Paul Matton have already filed papers to succeed Duncan. Others who have shown interest include Jane Gallucci, a Republican School Board member.

Potential candidates and political observers also are waiting for an announcement from incumbent County Commissioner Bob Stewart, 70.

Democrat Darden Rice is thinking about running for Stewart's seat, but she has said she's unlikely to run if he tries to go for another term.

Former state Sen. Jim Sebesta said people have asked him whether he would run to succeed Stewart. But Sebesta said he considers Stewart a friend and won't make any move until the incumbent makes a decision.

School Board member Nancy Bostock she said is "very interested" in Stewart's seat and would prefer not to announce before Stewart announces a decision. 

-- Will Van Sant, Times staff writer