BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

A tentative settlement between a former Tampa Police Captain and the City of Tampa has been reached. The settlement brings a 5-year battle to a close.

Mayor Bob Buckhorn said the two sides reached an agreement and both sides are dropping their lawsuit. “It’s time we put this behind us. I’m willing to put it behind us and to let Marion put it behind him and move on as well. It wasn’t a lawsuit I started and I think this is best.

Mayor Buckhorn said the city has agreed to pay Marion Lewis an undisclosed amount. According to a source, Lewis will receive $350,000.

Mayor Buckhorn further said that the settlement has to be approved by members of City Council and by the presiding judge.

The circumstances that prompted the lawsuit began five years ago. In 2007, Lewis was a Captain with the Tampa Police Department when he decided to launch a campaign for the office of Mayor against former Mayor Pam Iorio. He said before filing for the office, he had contacted the State of Florida Elections Office and was told he did not have to resign his job to seek the office.

However, after filing his paper work with the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office, Lewis was forced into retirement.

Lewis filed a lawsuit and Judge Marva Crenshaw ruled in his favor. The City of Tampa appealed the judge’s decision and Lewis filed an appeal with the Second District Court of Appeals. That ruling resulted in a split decision with the courts handing it back to the lower courts.