LARGO -- Gov. Jeb Bush on Tuesday appointed Dr. Jon R. Thogmartin as the new Pinellas-Pasco medical examiner.

Thogmartin, 36, Palm Beach County's highly regarded medical examiner, replaces Dr. Joan Wood, who retired Sept. 30 after nearly 20 years in office. Thogmartin starts the $145,000-a-year job Dec. 1. Until then, Associate Medical Examiner Laura Hair will serve as the office's interim chief.

Thogmartin was the near-unanimous choice of a local search committee to replace Wood. The Florida Medical Examiner's Commission also recommended him to Bush. Wood, 56, was forced out of office after prosecutors earlier this year dropped charges against the Church of Scientology, blaming Wood's reversal of opinion in the death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson for damaging their criminal case.

http://www.sptimes.com:80/News/101100/TampaBay/Tampa_Bay_briefs_.shtml

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