Vote for Frank Gregoire August 26, 2008

Here are a few links to prior posts to save you the time of searching for pertinent information about the Primary Election.

List of Endorsements and Supporters - This includes appraisers, members of real estate appraisal boards and regulatory agencies and Past Presidents and current leadership of the Florida Association of Realtors. This is only a partial list of supporters as their are over 300 contributors to the Frank Gregoire Campaign

Frank's Qualifications and synopsis of Professional Experience - There is also a link to my resume

Letter from Governor Charlie Crist - Governor Crist recognizes Frank's service on the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board

Ken Harney quotes Frank Gregoire

Ken Harney, author of the nationally syndicated column "The Nation's Housing", quotes Frank Gregoire in his August 22, 2008 article.

Appraisers feel pressure to hit the high
numbers

By Kenneth R. Harney

The Nation's Housing

Have the real estate valuation shenanigans and inflated home appraisals that characterized the boom years disappeared from the marketplace?

Are mortgage loan officers and realty agents — even individual home sellers — continuing to influence or attempting to interfere with appraisals despite new federal rules that ban such behavior?

Ask appraisers and many will tell you: It's still business as usual. Attempts at encouraging inflated appraisals continue to be commonplace, though in some cases the techniques have become subtler.

..........

The obvious intent here, according to Frank Gregoire, immediate past chairman of the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board and an appraiser in the St. Petersburg-Tampa area, "is really to find out: Will this guy play ball? Will he be cooperative when we need him?"

Gregoire says appraisers still routinely receive probing e-mails and phone calls from lenders and brokers designed to elicit the same information: Will an appraiser "pre-comp" a property with a sales contract pending at a specific price? Can a specific valuation number needed for a refinancing — which may be far out of line with current local property values — be reliably reached by the appraiser?

Part of the reason in today's market environment, he said, "is that things are tough, sales volumes are down, and some lenders know that they'll eventually find someone who'll cooperate" — often a newcomer to the appraisal field who badly needs an assignment. "It's not easy for some of them to say no, especially when they see business go to folks who everybody knows are playing the game."

Only when federal and state governments severely punish unethical appraisers and the people who pressure them "will all this start to get under control," Gregoire said. But he sees some signs for optimism: State regulators in Florida and elsewhere are cracking down increasingly on appraisers, even stripping away their licenses. And the new federal legislation authorizes financial penalties to be imposed by the secretary of housing when appraisers are found to have caved to pressure and cooked the books to inflate values.

-------------------------

Although this article appears in today's St. Petersburg Times, use THIS LINK to read it in The Washington Post.

Mr. Harney has sought Frank Gregoire's thoughts on number of occasions. Follow the links below to a sample of The Nation's Housing columns.

Appraising a Shifting Market

High Appraisals Signal Change

Lawsuit Seeks to Deflate The Puffery in Appraisals

Pinellas County Primary Ballot

Here is a sample ballot for the Pinellas County Primary Election. Truthfully, this is what it should look like when you turn it in.

Sign Damage and Removal

Over the past two days there have been several reports by property owners that Frank Gregoire for County Property Appraiser signs have been removed or damaged. These include yard signs and large format signs, installed either by the property owner or with the permission of the property owner.

If you are missing a sign or see one missing or damaged, please call or email the campaign using the contact information in the left sidebar.

Let us know if you need a sign too.

Please refrain from damaging, defacing or removing any candidate's signs unless they have been placed on your property without your permission.

Times - Know Your Candidates

Take a look at the "Know Your Candidates" Special Section from the St. Petersburg Times which was published Wednesday, August 13, 2008.

Pinellas Property Appraiser Republican primary

This race is unfolding in the shadow of the county’s purchase last year of the current Appraiser Jim Smith’s vacant land for nearly four times its assessed value. Smith isn’t running for re-election. His longtime deputy, Pam Dubov is in the race, touting her experience and readiness. Her opponent, Frank Gregoire, stresses the need to restore public confidence in the office. The winner will face Democrat Ben Friedlander in November.

View section HERE.

In Friday's TIMES

To Friends and supporters of the Frank Gregoire for Pinellas County Property Appraiser Campaign,

This I will post with little in the way of comments. Comments are permitted on the St. Petersburg Times website. All I can say is I am humbled by the incredible support from within this county, and across the state and nation. Thank you.

Please keep checking out that CONTRIBUTE button!

Pinellas appraiser GOP primary draws distant donations

By Will Van
Sant, Times Staff Writer
In print: Friday, August 1, 2008

Joe Thouvenell of Chicago backs Frank Gregoire in the Pinellas County
property appraiser race.

So does Jack Rawlings of Altoona, Pa., Dennis Badger of Lexington, Ky.,
and James Amorin of Austin, Texas.

All are private real estate appraisers who have inked checks to the
Gregoire campaign. Donors outside Pinellas have given $20,111 to Gregoire, 50 percent of his total take to date.

Full Story
HERE

Rice outraising Flowers; Gregoire and Dubov close

From the St. Petersburg Times

In the race for Pinellas County Property Appraiser, Republican Frank Gregoire
had a solid quarter, taking in $25,736, bringing his fundraising total to
$44,506. His primary opponent Pam Dubov, who has thrown slightly less of her own
money into the race than Gregoire, took in $9,247 in the quarter, bringing her
total to $42,882.

Full Story and comments HERE.

Thanks to everyone for their support of my Campaign for Pinellas County Property Appraiser. However, to assure Pinellas County elects a Professional Appraiser as Property Appraiser, it's time to expend extra effort for the next few weeks.

There's a CONTRIBUTE button over there on the left. Please make an effort to give a bit to the Campaign. Your $25 - $100 donation helps get the word out.

THANKS, in advance.

Frank

Candidate Appearance

CANDIDATE FORUM

The NAACP

Clearwater/Upper Pinellas Branch

invites you to a

Candidate Forum

Facilitated by the League of Women Voters North Pinellas County
Assisted by members of:
Clearwater Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
and
Nu Beta Omga Chapter of Alpha Kapa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Monday, July 21st at 6:00 pm
6:00 p.m – 6:45 p.m. Voter Registration, Vote-by-Mail Requests

and
Voting Machine Demonstrations

6:45 p.m. – 7:35 p.m. County Commission Candidates
7:45 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. Property Appraiser Candidates
8:15 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Sheriff Candidates
at
North Greenwood Recreational and Aquatic Center

900 Martin Luther King Avenue North

Clearwater, FL 33755

View Larger Map

Candidate Appearance

The North Pinellas Republican Club is is providing time for a Candidate Forum during their meeting on July 17th, 2008. Property Appraiser Candidates Frank Gregoire and Pam Dubov will make presentations and take questions from attendees.

The meeting is held at the Rheba Sutton White Chapel, 1190 Georgia Avenue, Palm Harbor, Florida. It starts at 7:00 P.M. Call 727-725-4241 for more details.

Here is some information about the Rheba Sutton White Chapel - LINK

To find the location, a map is available at this LINK

Everyone is welcome. We hope to see you there.

Thank You Governor Crist!

Excerpted from a June 17, 2008 letter from Governor Charlie Crist to Frank Gregoire........



"Serving as a member of the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board and as Chairman, you have showcased dynamic leadership qualities and have enhanced the real estate industry here in the Sunshine State.


Your faithful service has helped to develop exceptional appraisal regulation in the Sunshine State. Thank you for selflessly giving of your time, knowledge, ans skills to ensure quality business practices in real estate."


Copy of the letter is HERE.

Campaign Website Update

The Frank Gregoire for Pinellas County Property Appraiser Campaign website is in the process of being updated. There have been some important additions over the past few days.



Take a look at http://www.vote4frank.org/ to see some of the additions. One of the first you will notice is "the Gregoire Guarantee".


Another addition is titled "What They're Saying about Frank". This includes links to letters from Governor Charlie Crist, Governor Jeb Bush and a Resolution adopted by the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board.

Soon to be added to this section is the list of Endorsements and Supporters. Although there have been additions to the "Endorsements" page, the list has yet to be been added. Here is a preview of those names:

Endorsements and Supporters

James Amorin, MAI, SRA, President-Elect, Appraisal Institute

Paul Amirto, Appraiser
Ben Anderson, Appraiser
Timothy Andersen, MAI

Dennis Badger, Appraiser, Investigator-Kentucky Real Estate Appraisers Board
Patricia Birch, Past Chair, Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board
Harry Bright, Appraiser

Bruce Buzzell, Appraiser
Bill Coffman, Appraiser
Earle "Jack" Crahan, MAI
Thomas Crockett, MAI, SRA
Bruce Cumming, Chair, Membership Admissions, Development and Retention
Paul DelleDonne, Appraiser
Brent Diehl, Appraiser
Robert Dunham, MAI, SRA
James Earle, Appraiser
Henry Entreken, MAI, SRA
Ted Faravelli, Appraiser
Robert E. Galliher, MAI, SRA, GAA
Phil Gehres, MAI, SRA
H. Linwood Gilbert, MAI
John Gillott, MAI, SRA
Karen Goforth, MAI
Bob Gorman, MAI
Joni Herndon, SRA, Chair, Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board

Tom Hockensmith, SRA
Andrew Hupp, MAI
Patricia Kathman, Appraiser
William Barry Kelley, SRA

Debbie LaJeunesse, Appraiser, Past Chair Wyoming Certified Real Estate Appraiser Board

Charles Ledet, Appraiser
Leslie McKeon, MAI, SRA
Steve Marshall, MAI, SRA, Past Chair, Region X, Appraisal Institute
James Millspaugh, MAI
Stephanie Monaghan, Appraiser
Evalyn "Fran" Oreto, Past President National Association of Master Appraisers

Mack Provart, Appraiser, Past Chair Wyoming Certified Real Estate Appraiser Board
R. Wayne Pugh, MAI, President, Appraisal Institute

Janet Rabin, Appraiser
Gina Rascati, SRA
Jack Rawlings, GAA

Dan Richardson, PhD, MAI, AICP
Mike Rogers, MAI
Donald Rousseau, Appraiser
Donald Sarley, SRA, Chair, Florida Appraisal Council

David Sawyer, Appraiser
Sam Slater, RAA
Eric Schwartz, MAI, SRA
Jay Small, Esq., Past Chair, Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board
Joe Thouvenell, MAI, CRE
C. Richard Tobias, MAI
Joe Traynor, Past President, Indiana Association of Realtors, Member, Appraisal Foundation Board of Trustees, Chairman, Indiana Real Estate Appraisers Licensure and Certification Board
Joyce Tubb, GAA
Joan Trice, SRA
Chris Van Slooten, SRA
Steve Van Slyke, Appraiser
Jesse Vance, MAI, SRA, Chair, Region X, Appraisal Institute
Carl Velie, SRA, Vice Chair, Region X, Appraisal Institute

Robert Vespa, IFA, ASA
Andrew Wheaton, Appraiser
Judith Whitehead, Appraiser
Danny Wiley, SRA, Past Chairman Appraisal Standards Board
Cynthia Wright, MAI

Don Asher, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Chuck Bonfiglio, President, Florida Association of Realtors
Claude "Chip" Boring, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Todd Dantzler, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Michael Dooley, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Roger Enzor, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors, Member, Florida Real Estate Commission
Summer Greene, Secretary, Florida Association of Realtors

Russell Grooms, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Bob Hudgens, Treasurer, Florida Association of Realtors
Dale Jundt, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Jim Kasper, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Mike Owen, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Nancy Riley, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors, State Committeewomen, Pinellas County
Cynthia Shelton, CRE, President Elect, Florida Association of Realtors
Maurice (Moe) Veissi, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors

Harry Vordermeier, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors, Past Chairman, Florida Real Estate Commission
William Watson, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Cathy Whatley, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors, Past President, National Association of Realtors

Richard Butler, Vice-Mayor, City of Pinellas Park
Leslie Curran, St. Petersburg City Council

Neva Conway, Esq., Counsel, Alabama Real Estate Appraisers Board
Henry Faircloth, Chair, North Carolina Real Estate Appraisal Board
Dr. Robert Melby
Dr. Jack Ross

Frank Gregoire Supporters

Meet two of the most ardent supporters of the Frank Gregoire for Pinellas County Property Appraiser Campaign!

Donald and Claire Gregoire

THANKS!!

Donald Gregoire, my Father, is the FIRST Generation Real Estate Broker, Certified Appraiser, Real Estate and Appraisal Instructor of the Gregoire family. I was fortunate to have been trained and mentored by one of the best and to have the honor of continuing the family business. Thanks Dad.

Crist is engaged

CRIST IS ENGAGED

ST. PETERSBURG - Florida’s most powerful bachelor is getting hitched.
Gov. Charlie Crist, single for nearly three decades, on Thursday became engaged to his girlfriend of nine months, Carole Rome.

(Full Story)

Congratulations, Governor Crist!!

I have some news for you all too, but will just give you a picture for the time being

Land Deal Clouds County Election

Jim Smith land deal clouds county election

by Will Van Sant, Times staff writer
In print: Saturday, June 21, 2008

When the Jim Smith land deal exploded into view last summer, conventional wisdom was that the scandal would overshadow Pinellas County's 2008 elections.

But on Friday, as qualification for the ballot closed, just two candidates linked to the controversy remain: County Commissioner Karen Seel and property appraiser candidate Pam Dubov, who worked for Smith..........

.......Dubov, who has never answered questions before about the Smith deal, did so for the first time Friday, a day after she resigned her post as deputy property appraiser in Smith's office to campaign.

Dubov said she warned Smith the public would look askance at the difference between the appraised value and the sales price.

In the Aug. 26 primary her opponent is Frank Gregoire. A private appraiser for 30 years, Gregoire, 55, said Dubov should have gone public with her feelings about Smith's decision to cut a deal with the county.

.....full story here
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This has everything to do with ethics, integrity and public trust. Voters and Taxpayers in Pinellas County deserve better than an individual with the "integrity" to disclose their views only "a day after she resigned her post as deputy property appraiser in Smith's office to campaign."

Pinellas County deserves a Property Appraiser that believes "in government or business, ethics and integrity are a full time job from which there can be no vacation."

IT'S OFFICIAL!

Today, June 18, 2008, Frank Gregoire qualified to have his name on the ballot for Pinellas county Property Appraiser.

You may use this LINK to take a look at the official page.



Watch this space for upcoming news about signs, fundraising receptions and appearances. In the meantime, you can help by talking with property owners and arranging for sign locations in high traffic areas. We have several, but need many more, particularly north of Ulmerton Road.


Thanks for all your help.

Governor Crist Signs - CS/HB 909 - Ad Valorem Taxation

Today, Governor Crist signed into law CS/HB 909 - Ad Valorem Taxation. This bill, sponsored by the Government Efficiency & Accountability Council and Representative Peter Nehr, adds clarification to the definition of Highest and Best Use, one of the eight criteria to be considered by County Property Appraisers in arriving at "Just Valuation". Representatives Jim Frishe and Ed Hooper, both of Pinellas County, co-sponsored this bill.

The legislation also requires important and much needed changes to the composition and conduct of Value Adjustment Boards.

The clarification to Highest and Best Use include requirements that the County Property Appraiser take into consideration the legally permissible use of the property, including any applicable judicial limitation, local or state land use regulation, or historic preservation ordinance, and any zoning changes, concurrency requirements, and permits necessary to achieve the highest and best use.

Both the clarification to Highest and Best Use and the change in the composition and conduct of the Value Adjustment Boards are important victories for Florida Taxpayers.

Congratulations!

Valuation Professionals Fundraiser

Just a quick post to show my appreciation to Joni Herndon, SRA, Henry Entreken, MAI, H. Linwood Gilbert, MAI and Dan K. Richardson, PhD, MAI, AICP for their hosting and the success of last night's reception.

It was an honor to have such distinguished and well respected appraisers host the reception and humbling to for the elite of Tampa Bay Valuation Professionals to express their support with their attendance and contributions.

Thanks to you all!

Here's a couple photos.

Someone ought to tell tax man that housing boom's over

A column from Friday's St. Petersburg Times:

By James Thorner

Times Staff Writer

In print: Friday, June 6, 2008

When home sales were blazing three years ago, property values soared on the blast of hot air. These days, with sales as cool as Dick Cheney at an Osama bin Laden rally, values are thunking back to earth.

Unless you're Juan Lopez, resident of St. Petersburg's Allendale Terrace neighborhood.
At the height of the housing boom in December 2005, Lopez and his wife, Joyce, paid $250,000 for a rough-around-the-edges 904-square-foot house near 36th Avenue N and Seventh Street. It was built in 1941 and suffered from renter's rot. A new appraisal values the home at $237,000.

Try telling that to Pinellas County. The property appraiser's office values the house at nearly $300,000 and taxed the Lopezes $5,600. Here's the twist: The county admits his house is nearly worthless, but claims his land alone would sell for $300,000.

Full Article

The article does not tell the entire story. The Just Value of the Lopez property increased by 32.75% between 2006 and 2007. What is interesting is the increase in Just Value for the residence to west was just 26.17% and the residence to the east increased by only 12.33%!

Three residences, all on the same block, all built between 1940 and 1941, each of wood frame construction and between 904 and 987 sq.ft. of base area. How is it that the rate of appreciation (there was appreciation between 2006 and 2007?) ranges from 12.33% to 32.75%.

It's clear that the time in NOW to elect a Professional as Pinellas County Property Appraiser.

vote4frank.org

You Are Invited!

You Are Invited

to

the Campaign Kickoff Fundraising Reception

to elect

FRANK GREGOIRE

Pinellas County Property Appraiser

Kickoff Fundraiser
Wednesday, May 28th
5:30 – 7:00 pm

Reception to be held at

THE VENUE

Tampa Bay’s newest leader in entertainment and culinary elegance
2675 Ulmerton Road, in Feather Sound

Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and cash bar will be available
Please RSVP to Frank@Vote4Frank.org by Monday, May 25
or call Frank at 727-410-7065

Election laws limit contributions to $500.00 per person or corporation

vote4frank.org

Political Advertisement paid for and approved by Frank Gregoire, Republican, for Property Appraiser

Petition Signatures!

Yesterday, April 19th, two different locations were worked to obtain Candidate Petitions. At 9:00 A.M., we visited Puyear Park in northeast St. Petersburg to watch the opening of the first public outdoor Jai Alai court in North America. The afternoon was spent along the seawall in Vinoy Park talking with voters enjoying the Mainsail Art Festival.

Among the voters at Puyear Park signing the petition to get Frank Gregoire on the ballet was St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker.

We're working at another location today in an effort to get closer to the goal of 6,200 signed Candidate Petitions before the qualification deadline. You can help by surfing over to http://www.vote4frank.org/ and downloading a pdf of the Candidate Petition. Mail to the address on the petition. Please take a minute to forward the link to your friends, family and colleagues that are registered to vote here in Pinellas County. Encourage them to download the Candidate Petition and forward the link to their friends. If you forward to 20 people in your address book, we are that much closer to the goal.

Your help is essential to elect a Certified Appraiser to the office of Pinellas County Property Appraiser and restore competency, credibility and integrity to the office.