CROWN POINT | A life ban from public office is a virtual certainty for Lake County Councilman Will Smith Jr., D-Gary, following his Thursday felony conviction of filing a false tax return.

Lake County officials reacted with regret Friday to the federal conviction of three public figures -- including Smith -- who were tried on public corruption charges in Hammond federal court.

Smith was found guilty of failing to report his taxable income.

Gary attorney Willie Smith and Roosevelt Powell, a former tax collector for the county, were found guilty in the same trial of a conspiracy charge they illegally profited from a fraudulent legal settlement that cheated local government out of taxes that should have been paid.

Smith was acquitted of the conspiracy charge.

Lake County Council Attorney Ray Szarmach said Friday he is researching the law to determine when Smith will have to resign from the council. He said Smith may be able to remain until his sentencing, which is scheduled for early next year.

Nevertheless, Szarmach said state law forbids a felon from ever holding public office, so Smith's only hope is if the tax conviction is reversed on appeal.

"It will be a shame if he has to resign," said Szarmach, who said he has worked with Smith for many years.

Councilman Larry Blanchard, R-Crown Point, said Friday morning, "The outcome could have been a lot worse for him."

But having served with Smith for several years, Blanchard said he knows the most difficult consequence for Smith will be losing his job of helping to steer county government finances.

Smith, a Gary resident, served as 3rd District county councilman from 1989 to 1993, when he resigned to take part in an failed casino investment project. He was re-elected in 1997 and has held the seat since then. At the time of Smith's 2006 indictment, he was serving as Lake County Council president.

Smith becomes the fifth elected county official and the third county councilman to fall in Operation Restore Public Integrity, a continuing federal probe of public corruption that has been ongoing during the last five years.

Gary Mayor Rudy Clay expressed regret Friday for the conviction of Powell.

"I was one of the first to hear because (Smith's co-defendant) Roosevelt (Powell) and I have been friends, and I am not a fair-weather friend," Clay said.

Clay said that as county Democratic chairman, he will have to call a caucus of party precinct committeemen 30 days after Smith's resignation to name a replacement to serve out the remainder of Smith's term.

Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter couldn't be reached Friday for comment on the verdict. Harris is a former campaign manager for Carter.

Dorothy Ard, Carter's sister, testified in this week's trial that Harris forged her signature to further the scheme.