When Rep. Rich Glorioso was in his first campaign five years ago he got a $500 campaign contribution from Crystal Beach Development of Destin, a firm owned by Jay Odom, the developer under indictment along with former House Speaker Ray Sansom.

Glorioso said Friday he didn't know who owned the company. But after the Florida Democratic Party red-flagged the Oct. 25, 2004 contribution, Glorioso called Dudley Goodlette, chief of staff in the speaker's office, and offered to resign from the five-member Select Committee created Friday to probe Sansom's conduct.

"I told him if the speaker wanted me to pull off, I would pull off. But I think I can be fair and balanced," Glorioso said. 

Glorioso, a Plant City Republican and 65-year-old retired Air Force commander, said it was silly to suggest that a $500 donation made five years ago would taint his objectivity. "If we make a decision obased on one campaign check, none of us belong up here," he said. "Let's be reasonable here."  

Glorioso said he's pretty sure that Sansom himself brought him the check from Odom's company (at the time, Sansom was running for speaker for the 2008-10 cycle against Rep, Bill Galvano of Bradenton, who will chair the Select Committee. "I think it was Ray," Glorioso said. "He gave me a handful of checks. I'm sure that's where the check came from. Ray was going around to all of the candidates offering campaign contributions."