Assistant to Hillsborough elections supervisor quits

TAMPA — Jim Reed, a boyhood friend and chief assistant to Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson, is leaving to take a job in Virginia — the third top assistant to leave Johnson's employ in four years.

Hired in 2003 by Johnson, with whom he played Little League as a boy, Reed initially was paid $50,003. He leaves as assistant supervisor of elections with an annual salary of $125,000.

Johnson said in a statement that Reed had taken a position with a Virginia company and would move there to join his family in a few weeks. His wife, former Tampa Tribune managing editor Donna Reed, is an executive with the newspaper's corporate owner, Media General, in Richmond, Va.

Before Reed's departure, top assistants Dan Nolan and Helene Marks left Johnson's office.

Nolan, a former Central Command Army colonel, lasted less than a year as chief of staff before distrust developed between him and Johnson. Nolan resigned after the 2004 election.

Attorney Helene Marks was recruited by Johnson to replace Nolan but lasted a little more than a year before Johnson diminished her role and sent her home for several months to write an employee handbook. She retired in July 2006.

Johnson's statement quotes Reed, "It has been the chance of a lifetime to work with Buddy Johnson," adding that Johnson's office "has conducted smooth and flawless elections while simultaneously transitioning to a whole new voting system."