She may not have been a household name around Pasco County, but Katherine “Kristi” Sims was a familiar face representing Pasco County at court hearings.
During her 20 years with the Pasco County Attorney’s Office, the senior assistant county attorney litigated nearly 6,000 ordinance violations.
But that’s just one aspect of the work she did, until retiring in October.
Her other accomplishments include the creation of the first local government ordinance in Florida to address “spice”/synthetic drugs, based on deficiencies in package labeling.
Her legal work also led to the county’s demolition ordinance, which requires demolition or repair of slum, blighted or dangerous structures. Ultimately, that led to nearly 1,000 structures torn down or repaired.
Sims also was a driving force in a county initiative known as the “High Return Enforcement” task force, which combined personnel from multiple agencies to collaborate on enforcement issues. Strategies they employed included filing nuisance lawsuits under state law and petitioning for a guardian to be appointed in hoarding situations.
Those are just a few of the creative investigative and legal approaches that Sims harnessed to enforce laws and improve safety for Pasco County residents, according to a resolution, adopted by the Pasco County Commission as an expression of the board’s appreciation.
Pasco County board members at that meeting lavished Sims with praise and County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder remarked that Pasco was fortunate to have someone with Sims’ background representing it in the arena of code enforcement.
Typically, litigators handle those types of cases for about five years and then move on to the other things, he said.
Sims didn’t move on, though, giving the county the luxury of being represented by a highly experienced and knowledgeable attorney to tackle those issues, Steinsnyder said.
Sims also was known for her willingness to share her institutional knowledge with her peers, regarding county laws and previous litigation.
She also served as counsel for the Pasco County Construction Board and the Pasco County Canvassing Board, and she drafted all orders issued during local states of emergency, the resolution notes.
Sims legal work, county board members said, improved life for Pasco County residents.
“Kristi, it goes without saying, you’re going to be missed. You’ve done a fantastic job and I certainly appreciate everything you did for Pasco County. You worked very hard. You were very successful, in what you do,” said Commissioner Ron Oakley.
Commissioner Jack Mariano added: “Kristi, you’ve been nothing but amazing. As far as a litigator goes — none better. Your passion has been phenomenal in making this county better. You have made a huge difference. You have helped this county in tremendous ways.
“You can hold your head high, you’ve made Pasco County a better place.”
Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey lamented Sims’ departure.
“It’s just a huge hole for me. I just want to thank you for taking my calls, at all hours.
“Gosh, your dedication to your job and the challenges that we face here — immeasurable.
“When you said you were leaving, it was really hard to take. I’m very sad this day has come.
“You really have left your mark on this county, and I’m really going to miss you.”
At the podium, Sims addressed the board by first announcing herself: “Kristi Sims, senior assistant county attorney for the Pasco County Attorney’s Office.
“I just wanted to say that one more time,” she told the board, keeping her composure, but acknowledging that she was feeling emotional.
When she was hired and made her first appearance before the board, she said she kept her remarks to these six words: “Thank you, I will do my best.”
“I did,” she said.
“We did,” she added.
She acknowledged many others — including the county board, the county attorney, her peers on the county’s legal team, and both county and constitutional personnel — for helping her to succeed.
She expressed gratitude for being granted “creative freedom, support, respect … to do all of these things that I find to be important.
“Thank you so much, for five years ago recognizing that there was a path to do more than what we had been doing,” Sims said. “I’m proud of what was accomplished.”
The work required long hours away from family, Sims said.
As well as stress, Steinsnyder said.
But, as she and her family set off on the next chapter of her life, Sims summed up her time in Pasco this way: “It was all worth it.”
Published December 07, 2022
