Senate candidate Jim Norman co-owns boats that came with wife's land deal

TAMPA — Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman says he had nothing to do with his wife's cash purchase of a $435,000 home in Arkansas.

But at the same time Mearline Norman got the deed to the lakefront property in 2006, records show she and Norman also took ownership of two boats from the man who sold her the house.

The boats were registered to Norman and his wife at the time, and have remained that way, records show.

Norman said Thursday his wife put his name on the boat registrations "for liability and insurance purposes, she told me, in case I used them. I didn't realize she'd done that."

The boats and house previously belonged to Ed Roleson Jr., a Miller beer distributor who is now deceased.

Jim Norman has said his wife bought the home in the tiny town of Cherokee Village as an investment with the help of partners whose names are being kept secret.

The home, though, is in Mearline Norman's name. Florida and Arkansas state records don't show her as being part of any corporation or partnership.

Norman, who will face state Rep. Kevin Ambler in the Republican primary for the District 12 state Senate seat in August, continues to decline to say where his wife got the money for the house.

"Her investors are her investors and she has a right to have her own career," he said, describing any questions about her partners as a political attack.

Norman said his wife, who has not returned calls for comment, was familiar with the area because she has family there.

Neighbor Elisabeth Lawrence said she has never seen anyone but the Normans visit the property, and Mearline Norman is there more often then her husband.

"I think her parents live in the area," she said. "She and her husband come maybe on holidays and stay a weekend. I think the last time she was here, she was up two or three days and did some yard work. She's a very personable individual, easy to talk to."

Norman said he and his wife file joint tax returns, but he doesn't want to release them.

"I've already submitted all my personal financial disclosures that are required by law," he said.

Norman's campaign finance reports show donations totaling $2,150 from contributors in Arkansas.

One of those is from Mearl Taffar, Mearline Norman's father and owner of a saw shop in Ravenden, Ark., which is about 30 minutes from Cherokee Village. When asked about a $500 donation in June 2008, Taffar said: "I don't even know who you're talking about, ma'am. I'm getting pretty old and forgetful."

When pressed, he hung up.

The reports also shows a $500 donation from Jennifer Longmire and a $500 contribution from her husband, Joshua Longmire, in March 2009.

Joshua Longmire, who is Norman's nephew, said he wasn't sure if he made a contribution and wasn't aware if his wife did so.

"She might have made a contribution to the campaign," he said. "My wife does most of that stuff."

Joshua Longmire's Facebook page shows pictures of him with Jim Norman at the University of Florida national championship football game in Miami in 2009, and on the sidelines of a 2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers game in New Orleans. The New Orleans pictures show Norman, who serves on the board of the Tampa Sports Authority, with members of the Glazer family, who own the Bucs.

When asked about those sporting events, Longmire said he was mowing his lawn and didn't want to talk. Jennifer Longmire also declined to answer questions about the donations.

"I have no comment," she said. "I would appreciate it if you left me and my husband alone."

Norman said he bought tickets for himself and his nephew for the two football games, and ended up on the sidelines at the Saints game by putting in a special request to food distributors.

"It was someone I had grown up with," he said.

Norman said his family members were skittish when questioned about the campaign donations because they are not used to dealing with the media.

"But they are sweet people," he said.

Janet Zink can be reached at jzink@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3401.