2020 Clearwater, Florida, municipal elections explained

Flag Image:Seal_of_Clearwater,_Florida.png
Type:Presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2018 Clearwater, Florida, municipal elections
Previous Year:2018
Next Election:2022 Clearwater, Florida, municipal elections
Next Year:2022

Clearwater, Florida, held a general election on March 17, 2020, to elect a mayor and two members of the city council (seat 2 and 3). These elections coincided with the Democratic and Republican presidential preference primaries.[1]

Background

The Clearwater City Council consists of a mayor and four council members, who each serve four-year terms.[2] Incumbent mayor George Cretekos, who was first elected in 2012 and re-elected unopposed in 2016, was ineligible to run for re-election to a third consecutive term.[3]

City council elections were held for seat 2 (held by Jay Polglaze) and seat 3 (held by Bob Cundiff).[4] [5]

Issues raised throughout these elections included the proposal of a new amphitheater downtown,[6] diversity in city government,[7] rights of nature,[8] [9] and Scientology.[10] [11] The COVID-19 pandemic in Florida began two weeks before the elections, which raised concerns for the safety of in-person voters and poll workers.[12] [13] [14] [15]

Mayor

Election Name:2020 Clearwater mayoral election
Country:Florida
Flag Image:Seal_of_Clearwater,_Florida.png
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2016 Clearwater mayoral election
Previous Year:2016
Next Year:2024
Election Date:March 17, 2020
Nominee1: Frank Hibbard
Party1:Nonpartisan politician
Popular Vote1: 13,194
Percentage1: 55.17%
Nominee2:Elizabeth Drayer
Party2:Nonpartisan politician
Popular Vote2:5,727
Percentage2:23.95%
Nominee4:Bill Jonson
Party4:Nonpartisan politician
Popular Vote4:3,862
Percentage4:16.15%
Nominee5:Morton Myers
Party5:Nonpartisan politician
Popular Vote5:1,133
Percentage5:4.74%
Mayor of Clearwater
Before Election:George Cretekos
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Frank Hibbard
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

Candidates

Fundraising

Upon the launch of her campaign, Drayer pledged not to accept any money contributions, saying, "The sea turtle cannot be bought."[16] She led the first campaign fundraising numbers between September 19 to September 30, with a $20,000 personal check from herself; Hibbard raised $19,950 (including $1,000 of his own money); Jonson raised $6,370.20, including a $5,000 personal loan and a $20.20 cash contribution; and Myers did not report any fundraising numbers, as he filed to run after the first fundraising report deadline.[30] It was subsequently reported that Myers had raised $2,100 (all from himself via a personal loan) before November.[31]

Hibbard and Jonson, the two former officeholders in the race, were the only candidates who raised money in November, earning $8,926 and $6,785 respectively; this raised Hibbard's total to $100,419 and Jonson's total to $20,475.40.[31] As of a January article from Tampa Bay Times, Hibbard had reportedly raised $110,469 total, while Jonson had raised $25,340 total.[32] Drayer and Myers, the two non-politicians in the race, continued to self-fund their campaigns, with earned totals of $20,000 and $3,100 respectively (the former's total remaining the same since September).[32] As of January, Hibbard had earned 25% of his donations from businesses, compared to Jonson's 9%; however, Jonson led Hibbard in individual donations from Clearwater residents.[32] Hibbard received donations from powerful political and wealthy figures such as Florida State Senator Ed Hooper, DEX Imaging CEO Daniel Doyle Jr., and political action committees associated with Jack and Chris Latvala.[32]

Results

City council elections

Seat 2

Incumbent councilmember Jay Polglaze declined to run for a new term.

Candidates

Results

Seat 3

Candidates

Results

References

Citations

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 Presidential Preference Primary and Municipal Elections March 17, 2020. Vote Pinellas. January 26, 2020.
  2. Web site: CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR. City of Clearwater, FL. January 26, 2020.
  3. Web site: Guerra. John. Candidates hear good news, bad news about running for office in Clearwater. Tampa Bay Newspapers. May 17, 2019. January 26, 2020. CLEARWATER.
  4. Web site: COUNCILMEMBER JAY POLGLAZE (SEAT 2). City of Clearwater, FL. January 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200127061518/https://www.myclearwater.com/government/city-departments/city-council-and-mayor/councilmember-seat-2. January 27, 2020.
  5. Web site: COUNCILMEMBER DR. BOB CUNDIFF (SEAT 3). City of Clearwater, FL. January 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200127061636/https://www.myclearwater.com/government/city-departments/city-council-and-mayor/councilmember-seat-3. January 27, 2020.
  6. Web site: Wilson. Kirby. McManus. Tracey. Clearwater election could clinch — or kill — downtown amphitheater. Tampa Bay Times. February 25, 2020. July 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200307105733/https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2020/02/12/clearwater-election-could-clinch-or-kill-downtown-amphitheater. March 7, 2020. CLEARWATER.
  7. Web site: McManus. Tracey. In Clearwater, a new campaign pitch: City Council needs diversity. Tampa Bay Times. February 1, 2020. February 29, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200203054600/https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2020/02/01/in-clearwater-a-new-campaign-pitch-city-council-needs-diversity. February 3, 2020.
  8. Web site: Drayer. Elizabeth. Natural wonders should have their own legal rights. Orlando Sentinel. December 26, 2019. July 22, 2020.
  9. Web site: Drayer. Elizabeth. Nature Runs For Mayor In Clearwater, Florida. Earth Law Center. May 12, 2020. July 22, 2020.
  10. Web site: McManus. Tracey. How Scientology is playing in a critical Clearwater election. Tampa Bay Times. December 23, 2019. January 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20191223161553/https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2019/12/23/how-scientology-is-playing-in-a-critical-clearwater-election. December 23, 2019.
  11. Web site: McManus. Tracey. Taylor. Langston. Where every Clearwater City Council candidate stands on Scientology. Tampa Bay Times. December 23, 2019. January 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20191223144850/https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2019/12/23/where-every-clearwater-city-council-candidate-stands-on-scientology. December 23, 2019.
  12. Web site: Ross. Allison. Voting and coronavirus: Florida officials ready with handwipes, mail ballots. Tampa Bay Times. March 5, 2020. July 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200322232421/https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2020/03/05/voting-in-the-age-of-coronavirus-florida-officials-ready-with-handwipes-mail-ballots. March 22, 2020.
  13. Web site: Ross. Allison. Coronavirus fears shut down Florida voting sites at assisted-living facilities. Tampa Bay Times. March 11, 2020. July 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200311183026/https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2020/03/11/coronavirus-fears-move-florida-voting-sites-from-assisted-living-facilities. March 11, 2020.
  14. Web site: Ross. Allison. More polling sites moved over coronavirus fears, five days before Florida primary. Tampa Bay Times. March 13, 2020. July 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200316131143/https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2020/03/12/more-polling-sites-moved-over-coronavirus-fears-five-days-before-florida-primary. March 16, 2020.
  15. Web site: Ross. Allison. Florida primary still on even as other states postpone over coronavirus. Tampa Bay Times. March 17, 2020. July 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200320162453/https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2020/03/16/coronavirus-pandemic-threatens-floridas-tuesday-primary. March 20, 2020.
  16. Web site: Wilson. Kirby. A Florida woman wants a turtle to be mayor of Clearwater. She's not kidding.. Tampa Bay Times. September 26, 2019. January 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20190927042728/https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2019/09/26/a-florida-woman-wants-a-turtle-to-be-mayor-of-clearwater-shes-not-kidding. September 27, 2019. CLEARWATER.
  17. Web site: Taylor. Janelle Irwin. Clearwater mayoral candidate wants sea turtles to vote and hold office. Florida Politics. September 26, 2019. January 26, 2020.
  18. Web site: Coleman. Justine. Florida woman running for mayor aims to be sea turtle candidate. The Hill. September 26, 2019. January 26, 2020.
  19. Web site: Bowen. Jordan. Lawyer, former EPA employee running for Clearwater mayor as sea turtle. September 26, 2019. January 26, 2020. FOX 13 Tampa Bay. CLEARWATER, Fla..
  20. Web site: Virata. John. A Loggerhead Sea Turtle As Florida City Mayor? Why Not!. September 27, 2019. January 26, 2020. Reptiles.
  21. Web site: Taylor. Janelle Irwin. Meet the candidates for Clearwater Mayor. January 7, 2020. January 26, 2020. Florida Politics.
  22. Web site: Wilson. Kirby. Frank Hibbard is running for mayor of Clearwater again. Here's what he had to say about that.. Tampa Bay Times. June 26, 2019. January 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20190626194340/https://www.tampabay.com/clearwater/frank-hibbard-is-running-for-mayor-of-clearwater-again-heres-what-he-had-to-say-about-that-20190626. June 26, 2019. CLEARWATER.
  23. Web site: Former Clearwater mayor to announce election bid today at Clearwater campaign launch event. October 2, 2019. January 26, 2020. Judge PR. CLEARWATER, Fla..
  24. Web site: Staff Writer. Frank Hibbard announces new run for mayor of Clearwater. October 3, 2019. January 26, 2020. Whats Happening Tampa. CLEARWATER, Fla..
  25. Web site: Taylor. Janelle Irwin. Frank Hibbard: Clearwater candidates should hold off on yard signs. October 9, 2019. January 26, 2020. Florida Politics.
  26. Web site: Frank Hibbard-Running for Mayor of Clearwater in 2020. December 19, 2019. January 26, 2020. AM Tampa Bay. January 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200127061453/https://www.iheart.com/podcast/139-am-tampa-bay-25096598/episode/frank-hibbard-running-for-mayor-of-clearwater-54248496/. dead.
  27. Web site: Taylor. Janelle Irwin. Bill Jonson to run for Clearwater Mayor. September 6, 2019. January 26, 2020. Florida Politics.
  28. Web site: Wilson. Kirby. He sat on Clearwater's City Council for four terms. Now, Bill Jonson wants to be mayor.. Tampa Bay Times. September 10, 2019. January 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20190910233428/https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2019/09/10/he-sat-on-clearwaters-city-council-for-four-terms-now-bill-jonson-wants-to-be-mayor. September 10, 2019. CLEARWATER.
  29. Web site: McManus. Tracey. A candidate with Scientology roots is running for Clearwater mayor. Tampa Bay Times. November 12, 2019. January 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20191112225910/https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2019/11/12/a-candidate-with-roots-in-scientology-is-running-for-clearwater-mayor. November 12, 2019. CLEARWATER.
  30. Web site: Wilson. Kirby. That sea turtle running for Clearwater mayor is also the top fundraiser. Tampa Bay Times. November 5, 2019. February 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20191211164700/https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2019/11/04/that-sea-turtle-running-for-clearwater-mayor-is-also-the-top-fundraiser. December 11, 2019. CLEARWATER.
  31. Web site: Wilson. Kirby. One Clearwater mayor candidate has raised more than $100,000. The election's in March.. Tampa Bay Times. December 19, 2019. February 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200103200349/https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2019/12/17/one-clearwater-mayor-candidate-has-raised-over-100000-the-elections-in-march. January 3, 2020. CLEARWATER.
  32. Web site: Wilson. Kirby. Here's where the money in the Clearwater election is coming from. Tampa Bay Times. January 14, 2020. February 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200114175053/https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2020/01/14/heres-where-the-money-in-the-clearwater-election-is-coming-from. January 14, 2020. CLEARWATER.
  33. Web site: Taylor. Janelle Irwin. Nine candidates are running for Clearwater City Council this year; here's who they are. January 7, 2020. January 26, 2020. Florida Politics.

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