Belleair Shore loses longtime mayor and councilperson over financial disclosure form

BELLEAIR SHORE, Fla. — The tiny town of Belleair Shore has lost its mayor and one of its commissioners over a new law requiring detailed financial disclosures from elected officials. 

Mayors and elected leaders across the state must now complete the Florida Commission on Ethics’ Form 6, which collects information on income, net worth, business interests and assets and liabilities over $1,000. 

According to the town clerk, Mayor Robert Schmidt, Jr. and Commissioner Dorothy Niewiarowski both resigned their positions before the start of the new year. 

"I have personally struggled with this decision but with the requirement of Form 6 for the State of Florida I have no alternative but to resign as mayor," Schmit said in a letter 10 Investigates obtained through a public records request. 

10 Investigates also obtained a copy of Niewiarowski's resignation letter, where she stated: "the requirement of Form 6 has put me in this position."

Across the Tampa Bay area, dozens of elected leaders have resigned rather than comply with the state's new law that requires mayors and elected commissioners and councilpersons to complete Form 6. Some cities, like Belleair Beach, have had trouble filling the vacancies. 

"Belleair Beach and many smaller communities just like ours, are suffering from SB 774," said Mayor Dave Gattis. "I and I am begging for the Florida legislature to please consider amending this bill to bring relief to our community and others across the state that are suffering from Form 6."

State Sen. Jason Brodeur, who sponsored SB 774 that expanded requirements for Form 6, said in a December statement: “It takes 82 votes in the Legislature to spend taxpayer dollars [A simple majority in both the Senate (21) and in the House (61)]. In a city, you can spend tens of millions of dollars with as little as three votes. Taxpayers deserve transparency. If a simple disclosure that hundreds of other elected officials already do makes someone quit, then voters should be glad.”

Emerald Morrow is an investigative reporter with 10 Tampa Bay. Like her on Facebook and follow her on X. You can also email her at emorrow@10tampabay.com.