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Republican enters 2016 race for Pinellas County property appraiser

 
Published Aug. 5, 2015

There's another Republican in the wide-open 2016 Pinellas County property appraiser race.

Michael Twitty, senior managing director of Valbridge Property Advisors, filed papers Tuesday to run for the post that Pam Dubov is leaving to become a Methodist deacon. The 48-year-old Largo resident's entry into the race sets up a primary with at least one other Republican, former state Rep. Jim Frishe, who filed in April.

A lifelong Pinellas resident, Twitty has been a real estate appraiser for 25 years, according to his campaign biography. He was vice president of St. Petersburg-based Entreken Associates four years ago when it joined 41 other appraisal firms to form Valbridge. The national appraisal company has more than 650 employees and 67 offices nationwide, according to Twitty.

"I have true boots on the ground experience in evaluating and solving difficult valuation assignments in dynamic real estate markets on complex property types," his bio says. "I know I am the right candidate to allow for a smooth transition of leadership within the office, maintaining the fine course that Pam Dubov has already set while staying attuned to valuation issues on the horizon … such as flood insurance."

Twitty has a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Florida and a Florida real estate broker's license. He also has earned the "MAI" designation from the Appraisal Institute, a professional appraisal organization. He is married and has two sons, ages 17 and 23.