By Steve Huettel, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, December 9, 2010
TAMPA — Former Tampa International Airport executive Lou Russo didn't violate state law when he put himself in a position to influence a contract to a company where his wife worked, an attorney who investigated the case said Thursday.
David Smith told the airport's governing board he not find evidence that Russo tried to influence members of a committee that gave design firm Gresham, Smith and Partners the top ranking for a pending contract. Four of the five members worked for him or his subordinates.
But Russo, 52, who resigned Nov. 30 as the airport's $156,000-a-year senior director of planning and development, wasn't blameless.
Smith said Russo rejected advice to distance himself from evaluations that included proposals by Gresham Smith. "Clearly he did not understand or give much credence to the 'appearance of impropriety' issue and ...