On Thursday during their regular City Council meeting, board members approved without discussion, the tentative settlement between a former Tampa Police Captain and the City of Tampa. The settlement brings to a close a lawsuit that has spanned 5 years.

Mayor Bob Buckhorn said the City has agreed to pay former police Captain Marion Lewis $350,000.

The presiding judge over the lawsuit must also approve the settlement.

When contacted by the Sentinel, Lewis said, “Obviously, it has been a long journey and I’m glad that it has come to a conclusion. It was a family decision.”

He further stated that three important issues have been clarified by the lawsuit.

“The Courts have ruled that qualifying for an election by taking the Oath of Candidate is not an automatic resignation and that’s why I was discharged. Secondly, the Courts showed in the case where the law is applicable, the remedy for the government to take is to remove the person from the ballot and not from his or her job.

“This case has set precedent and the government must abide by the Court’s decision in the future. If my journey has cleared the path so that no other government employee wanting to run for office has to experience the trials and tribulations that I went through, then my journey was worth it. This was never about money, it was about principle.”

Lewis said he believes retirement should be a happy time and that was taken from him in the manner in which he left the Tampa Police Department.

He said now that it is over, he can close this chapter and move on to the next chapter in his life. He said he is grateful for the prayers and support he received during this journey.