BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

On Tuesday, the Florida Supreme Court declined to review the case of former Tampa Police Captain Marion Lewis. City attorneys had requested the court hear the case.

The decision not to hear the case means that the earlier ruling by the Court of Appeals in favor of Lewis stands. The Court of Appeals ruled that Lewis did not have to resign in order to qualify for mayor. The battle began in 2007, after Lewis qualified for mayor and challenged then Mayor Pam Iorio.

The city took the position that Lewis could not seek office against Iorio because she was his boss.

In January 2011, after more than 4 years in the courts, the Second District Court of Appeals released a unanimous opinion in the case in Lewis’ favor.

City attorneys then requested that the Florida Supreme Court review the ruling. On Tuesday, their decision was posted on their website.

It read: “… The Court having determined that it should decline to accept jurisdiction, it is ordered that the petition for review is denied. No motion for rehearing will be entertained by the Court.”

When contacted by the Sentinel, Lewis said, “The ruling means that all of the appeals process is over and it goes back to the lower court. I am open to settlement and we can agree on a settlement. But, it must be approved by the Court.”

The City Attorney’s Office stated they had no comment on the case pending litigation.