Of the two candidates filed to run for Pinellas County Property Appraiser, only one kicked off his 2016 election campaign with a jam session: Mike Twitty.
He also happens to be the lone candidate Pam Dubov, Pinellas’ current Property Appraiser, has chosen to endorse as her successor.
“Mike is a business man,” said Dubov of Twitty at his Thursday night campaign kick-off party. “Mike has been responsible for running a business that has to make payroll, that has to live within a budget, that has to use new technology to keep the company on the cutting edge. His experience [relates] an awful lot [to what] we have to do in the Property Appraiser’s Office every day.”
Twitty, a 48 year-old Republican, is a 25-year state-certified general real estate appraiser whose most recent work has been with Valbridge Property Advisorsors and Entreken Associates, Inc. He graduated from the University of Florida in 1989, earning a degree in Business Administration, with a major in Real Estate and Urban Analysis. Twitty‘s a member of the Pinellas Realtors Association, the Florida Gulfcoast chapter of the Appraisal Institute, the National Association of Realtors, and the Florida Gulfcoast Commercial Association of Realtors. He also holds an MAI membership designation with the Appraisal Institute, a global association of real estate appraisers.
“[It’s] the best, highest, most honored designation that can be awarded to an appraiser who works in the private sector,” Dubov said.
The designation is reserved for appraisers “experienced in the valuation and evaluation of commercial, industrial, residential, and other types of properties,” according to the Appraisal Institute.
Dubov also mentioned Twitty’s local roots as a reason for support, reminding a crowd of about 150, according to the Twitty camp, that the Pinellas County Property Appraiser hopeful was “born and raised” here.
Twitty, his wife Michelle and one of their sons, all graduated from Largo High School. Another son is currently enrolled there. Both of Twitty’s parent’s graduated from Boca Ciega High School.
“I love this place,” Twitty said. “I love its real-estate, its geography, its people.”
After showing some love for Pinellas County, Twitty made sure to set his sights on what he hoped was to come though.
“Pam’s done a phenomenal job,” Twitty said. “And I feel like I’m the guy that can take the baton from her and lead the Office into the future […] I have the background and tool box to take to the Property Appraiser’s Office to get the job done.”
While he has the tools, experience, and local-boy charm, he’s still quite a bit behind his only competition, fellow Republican and former state Rep. Jim Frishe, 66, when it comes to campaign contributions.
So far, Frishe has hauled in over $20,000 in his bid for Pinellas’ Property Appraiser in 2016. Twitty has yet to officially declare a dime. Though that’s likely to change quite soon, as he not only formally launched his election campaign with a party at IRB Sushi, out on Indian Rocks Beach, last night, but has another fund-raiser planned for September, among his Delta Tau Delta fraternity brothers.
“We know it’s a long road,” Twitty said. “It’s going to be a long campaign trail. We’re still a year out from the primary.”
As was first reported by SaintPetersBlog‘s Janelle Irwin, “Twitty’s first batch of campaign materials indicate he hopes to ‘identify areas to cut spending and streamline the system to ensure the taxpayers’ dollars are used wisely, with full accountability and transparency’ and ‘update office technology to increase efficiency and provide taxpayers with greater access to the information they need.’”
This will be Twitty’s first run for elected office. His Host Committee includes, aside from Dubov, Pinellas County Clerk of the Court Ken Burke, former Pinellas County Commissioner Susan Latvala, and state Rep. Mike Miller.
“I never thought, several years ago, I would even think about doing something like this,” Twitty concluded before taking the stage to play some Beatles and Old Crow Medicine Show. “But I feel like my highest and best use at this point is to represent the people of Pinellas County.”
For more on the Mike Twitty Property Appraiser campaign, visit facebook.com/VoteMikeTwitty.
