Pinellas County hires new administrator

After a year of caretaker administration under Fred Marquis, Pinellas County secured a new permanent top executive Tuesday.

The County Commission hired Bob LaSala, a veteran government administrator living in California, to assume a job last held by Steve Spratt, who resigned in September 2007, after a land deal between the county and Property Appraiser Jim Smith was exposed.

LaSala, 59, begins work Oct. 12.

Six commissioners voted to approve LaSala's contract, with County Commissioner Karen Seel casting the lone dissenting vote. Seel said she's enthusiastic about LaSala, but is wary of paying him more than Spratt at a time when the county budget is being slashed.

LaSala will be paid $225,000 a year. When Spratt resigned, he was making $223,500. LaSala also will get a monthly car allowance of $750, $250 more than Spratt. The county will cover LaSala's moving expenses too, which are not to exceed $30,000.

Most recently city manager in Lancaster, Calif., LaSala has held posts in New York, New Jersey and Florida, where he worked for Pinellas County from 1979 to 1989. For most of that time, he was chief assistant county administrator under Marquis.

Marquis, who has been serving as interim county administrator, will step down Nov. 12.