Gregoire for Pinellas appraiser

St. Petersburg Republican Frank Gregoire, a real estate broker, a state-certified appraiser and real estate appraisal instructor, makes his candidacy for Pinellas property appraiser official: "...As property appraiser, I will also be an advocate for much needed reforms to assessment laws and practices, including proper application of "highest and best use" standards and changing the "presumption of correctness" currently enjoyed by elected property appraisers to a more taxpayer-friendly standard. Most importantly, under my leadership, the Pinellas County Property Appraiser's Office will be a model for openness, ethics, integrity and world-class customer service".

Comments

This is gonna be an interesting race.

And I'd really like to see more details about this statement:

"...including proper application of "highest and best use..."

That's just begging for a follow up question.

Frank is top drawer. He has done so much for the appraisers statewide that most will never know about.

The "highest and best use" comment reminds me of the billboard industry. They want a low value for assessment of taxes but when you threaten to take it way, they claim a huge value.

I just have two questions:

1. What (personal and/or professional) relationships has he had with the current members of the BOCC and/or the county staff in the past 10-years?
2. What (all) property does he own within Pinellas County?

We don't need any more Republicans holding our tax dollars, because somehow they always end up in the hands of developers.

We don't need any more Democrats holding our tax dollars, because somehow they always end up in hand outs

We don't need any more Republicans or Democrats holding our tax dollars, because somehow they always end up wasted, and used for political pay backs.

[Fascist Neocon]

We don't need any more Democrats holding our tax dollars because they might actually keep the government solvent and then we couldn't push to privatize everything.

If we privatize public bathrooms, that would solve some problem!

Didn't Nancy Riley have an affair with him, I heard she was backing him because she didn't want her husband to know
shame Nancy shame

uhh no nancy did not. if you ever spoke to frank ud realize women arent his thing.

oh no, not another one.

Frank is the best qualified person in the race. He is an expert witness around the country on appraising issues. Great candidate.

4:36 Ben Friedlander, didn't they catch you once writing these lies about Frank? What a scum bag you are. Go eat a chicken leg.

"Frank is the best qualified person in the race."

That’s an awfully subjective statement. Jim Smith was pretty qualified as well. Being “qualified” doesn’t equate to being “the right choice”.

I will say that this guy has a fairly impressive resume and background. That being said, I have heard some less than admirable comments regarding his integrity. However, I do “consider the source” and will give him a look.

Like most voters should, I’ll do my homework, ask questions of the candidates, watch the debates and forums, and pay close attention to the money… then I’ll make MY choice.

Go, Frank, go! An appraiser who'd like to see changes to presumption language?! I'll vote for him!

Frank has the highest integraty. You will get a stright answer to questions. As far as Jim Smith being qualified. He didn't even have his appraisers license when he was electd. How can that be qualified? He has proven that all he wants to do is his art work. That's what he talked about anytime you visited his office.

We aren't customers, we're citizens.

Frank is a great guy and did an outstanding job directing the state appraisal board. The board was a mess with no real leadership prior to his position as chairman and he was able to make things happen.

Frank's a nice guy. Dont know about his administrative skills. Doesnt matter though - he won't survive primary against Latvala and Dubov.

And 4:43 - Dont know why you're trying to drag Big Ben into your mud. Doesn't take long reading these to know there are a few anti-nancy people here who slam her any chance they get.

Hope it is a good campaign.

Someone send over a case of Padron to get this campaign kicked off properly!

and some VSOP!

7:13--especially the cry baby who wanted to be party chairman who works for Latvala. She is always taking bad about Nancy Riley.

Frank is super qualified and understands the issues.
4:39 - Frank isn't that way, in fact, he has been with the same stunning girl for a few years now!

[csbrudy]

"Highest and Best Use" is BS. Based on pure guess-estimation. We have to get back to something more closely related to historical cost, even if we have to tweak the assessments for inflation.
Both parties indulge in handouts. The difference is the Ds hand out to the poor, and the Rs hand out to the already rich. Let's see, how many millions of dollars have we given the Rays? How many more should we give?

Dubov will whipe the floor with this schmuck.

I have not heard the rumors about Latvala entering the race, but if I were Gregoire, I would welcome her entry... the more the merrier, with Frank benefiting from a split vote. He should look forward to running against scandel-laden Jim Smith's Deputy and a county commissioner who voted to approve the land-deal scheme... one of the most significant scandels using public money in Pinellas County Government history. Besides, south of Palm Harbor, very few people know of Latvala - with the one exception that she voted to line Smith's pockets with public money.

This election cycle is about change, a sentiment that should permeate down to the local level, at least to some extent. We have a relative political newcomer in Gregoire with an impressive background and credentials... He represents new blood infused into the system, fresh ideas and first-rate experience - running against JIM SMITH's long-time deputy. And, if a county commissioner who voted to approve the "JIM SMITH LAND-DEAL SCANDEL" would like to enter the race, bring it on... Gregoire should welcome into the race another long-time county government employee seeking a job-for-life.

7 out of 7 Pinellas County Commissioners voted to approve the Smith deal. Making Churuti the fall gal won’t fly. And letting Spratt coast out the door with a sweet package was as derelict and the Smith deal itself. Latvala won’t jump in; the Sci-Fi’s aren’t doing to well these days.

I’m tired of the whole corrupt lot of them, and they should all go… from the BOCC, to Smith, and throw Clark in while you’re at it. It’s time to clean this dirty little town up.

when they use curse word Latvala they are talking about the former Sen who Pam is using as her consultant.

Him and miss crybaby willrun Pam's race. Too bad, I like Pam but that group makes me ill. Mean to the bone are they.

If anyone with the name “Latvala” is involved with anyone’s campaign… I will vote for the opposition regardless of Party affiliation. Humpty-Dumpty Jack and his hack of a Sci-Fi ex-wife have buttered their bread with Pinellas County taxes for far too long.

It's a shame we lost Churuti, she is one helluva a lawyer. Best of luck to her in the private sector!

Churuti wasn’t pristine in the Jim Smith deal, but she wasn’t deserving of being made the scapegoat in an attempt by the BOCC to cover their own incompetent a*ses. Ironically, her sense of honor and loyalty to her professional oath, is the very reason they picked her to pin it on… “Attorney/Client Privilege”. The BOCC knew she wouldn’t go against her oath, and Spratt had no sense of oath or loyalty to keep him from singing like a canary about this and many other “questionable” actions by the BOCC.

Hence; Churuti (26-years of loyal service) takes the hit, and Spratt (6-years of non-loyal service) takes a walk with a sweet package.

2+2 = over 1-million of our tax dollars thus far.

Back to the subject: An appraiser running for Pinellas County Property Appraiser....what a novel idea! Impressive credentials and Gregoire hasn't been employed by the County....I will vote for him. It is time to clean house at the Appraiser's office!

[CWATTS]

Frank has the highest integraty. You will get a straight answer to questions. Jim Smith had no qualifications when he was elected. He didn't even have his appraisers license when he was elected. How can that be considered qualified?
Frank has been the state board chairman I can not think of a more qualifed person. As well as the best canidate for the job reguardless of party.