Tampabay.com
NOVEMBER 21, 2009

Despite law, Jim Smith keeps FSU post

Steve Bousquet: Seven years ago, Jim Smith got a coveted seat at the 'Noles head table with an appointment to the Florida State University board of trustees....But how does a guy get to stretch a four-year appointment into seven years? Aren't there other qualified people eager to serve?

The answer is simple: Smith has connections to Crist, and that enabled him to sidestep a 2005 state law that prohibits lobbyists from serving on any state university trustee boards. Crist could not have reappointed Smith.

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