The Pinellas Reagan Day dinner headlined by Giuliani Friday was a big success, despite revelations that local party leaders had tapped as the lead organizer a man convicted dealing in stolen state computers and once charged with extorting a student of his to watch porn and masturbate. That charge was dropped at the request of the accuser. Barry S. Edwards, 45, stepped down aschairman of the dinner after the Miami Herald reported his record.

Edwards did not return calls, but Pinellas GOP chairman Tony DiMatteo, who said he's known Edwards for years, said he stepped down to avoid becoming a distraction. Edwards' clients include state Rep. Peter Nehr, R-Tarpon Springs, who said he knew of the 1999 conviction and would keep working with him because everybody deserves forgiveness.