Voters have choice of contrasts Tuesday

Two incumbents and a pair of challengers are in the running for two Clearwater City Commission seats.

By CHRISTINA HEADRICK, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 10, 2002

CLEARWATER -- Two of the candidates criticize city government on a range of issues, questioning whether anybody at City Hall is really listening to residents.

The other two are more upbeat, saying the city has put itself on a better path over the past year and they want to continue the course.

On Tuesday, voters will decide which candidates they agree with as they go to the polls to select two commissioners to serve for the next three years.

In the race for Seat 2, incumbent Ed Hart says "participatory democracy" needs to be restored to the city, and the commission needs him to continue to be its most critical voice.

His opponent, investment officer Frank Hibbard, contends he would be a more credible member than Hart and that his financial expertise would benefit the city.

In the race for Seat 3, incumbent Hoyt Hamilton is touting his experience, having served a one-year term during which the city finally started on projects such as building a new downtown library and hiring City Manager Bill Horne.

Meanwhile, challenger Patricia Bates-Smith, a political newcomer, has suggested Hamilton is beholden to "monied" interests, while trying to cast herself as a candidate who will listen more to residents.

On some issues, all four candidates agree: When asked about the biggest challenge in the near future, they have said they want to renew discussion over how to revitalize downtown.

In addition, all the candidates are committed to attracting new resort hotels to the beach when the economy recovers, rather than allowing the beach's tourist areas to be redeveloped with condominiums.

All of them laud the importance of neighborhoods, although only Hibbard offered specific suggestions, such as installing more "traffic calming" projects like speed tables to thwart speeding cars.

And all speak of the need to continue looking for cuts in the city budget -- even as the city has plans to expand services, such as adding a northwest Clearwater fire station, over the next few years.

However, they do have fundamental disagreements, often about each other's qualifications.

Hart vs. Hibbard

In the race for Seat 2, credibility has been a central issue.

Hibbard has reminded voters of how Hart flip-flopped on some issues and how Hart has been criticized by fellow commissioners for statements that they felt were divisive, misleading or simply inaccurate.

Many people in the city's business community who once supported Hart are now supporting Hibbard, who has been endorsed by the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce. Hart was endorsed by the Pinellas Realtors Organization.

"I know that I'm going to get things accomplished," said Hibbard, who is a bank investment officer. "That's the difference between Ed and me. He's blown his relationships with people because he's been so antagonistic."

Hart, meanwhile, dismisses such criticism as the product of misunderstandings and reiterated at forums that he will to try to unify the city. He contends his base of support is actually larger now than it was three years ago, when he first ran.

Hart plays up his experience, which includes three years on the commission, in addition to careers as an associate Presbyterian minister, certified public accountant, state bureaucrat and small business owner.

He argues the City Commission needs someone like him who is critical of city workings.

"I want to continue to be the voice of the people and make sure their voices are heard at City Hall," Hart said.

When asked about how open the city is to public input, the men express their different perspectives.

Hart suggests city staff members just give "lip service" to the idea of public input. Hibbard supports City Manager Bill Horne, saying he's done a good job of increasing the number of meetings the city holds where people can express opinions about issues.

Both men play up their financial expertise as being essential to future budget talks this year, as the city ponders millions of dollars in cuts, or a tax increase. Both say they will try to hold the line on taxes.

But there are differences in their priorities.

Hart says that his priority is infrastructure and he wants to keep the budget focused on doing the essential tasks that government traditionally does. Although Hart voted for a property tax increase in 1999, his campaign literature states in error that there have been no property tax increases over the past three years. Now Hart says he wants to keep the current tax rate level. If needed, Hart says he would limit the programming on C-VIEW, the city's cable station, to meeting broadcasts.

Hibbard says his budget priority is balance. He wants the city to continue upgrading its old infrastructure, while trying to keep taxes as level as possible. At the same time, Hibbard says it is important to promote redevelopment projects that increase the city's tax base and generate new revenues for the city to prevent future tax increases.

Hamilton vs. Bates-Smith

In the race for Seat 3, Hamilton criticizes Bates-Smith for not bothering to meet with city administrators to gather information during her election bid.

"I believe I'm much more up to speed on the issues than she is," Hamilton said.

Hamilton notes proudly that he is the only candidate in this year's race to have won every endorsement from city employee unions and local business groups.

However, Bates-Smith suggests that Hamilton is beholden to "special interests" and that she would be a better steward of the city's resources. She has urged voters to elect her to be part of a "new majority" at City Hall.

The Philadelphia Phillies stadium deal shows their differences.

Bates-Smith says that the Phillies need Clearwater more than the city needs them. She criticizes the city's proposal to build the team a new spring training stadium, which is being revised and will face approval by the new commission. Bates-Smith criticizes the deal as favoring the Phillies, entitling them to most profits from the stadium while taxpayers have to shoulder most of its costs.

Hamilton says the stadium deal -- which will cost the city more than $6-million -- is fair. He notes that the Phillies have announced they will contribute $3-million to the project and probably more, and he says the team could leave the city for a much better deal somewhere else.

Bates-Smith also has made an issue of a rule the commission adopted last year giving itself the right to cap public comment on an issue to 30 minutes. The rule also expanded the amount of speaking time a group has to 10 minutes, up from three minutes. Bates-Smith has argued that the rule shows the commission isn't interested in resident input.

"Silencing or limiting the voters' rights to free speech will not build better communication, rapport or trust," Bates-Smith said.

Hamilton contends this commission cares more about public input than previous ones. He points out that the 30-minute limit has never been used, and says that he would vote to extend the amount of time if needed. Hamilton accuses Bates-Smith of blowing the new rule out of proportion.

They have different ideas about beach parking, too. Hamilton supports building a parking garage near the Pelican Walk shopping center in the Mandalay Avenue retail district. Hamilton favors creating another garage to serve beachgoers on land the city owns, which could include a lot next to his family's business, the Palm Pavilion Inn. (Hamilton says he would recuse himself from discussion of a garage there.)

Bates-Smith also would support building a parking garage at the Pelican Walk. But she is critical of a plan to build another garage somewhere on the beach and remove parking spaces from the beachfront south of the roundabout. The city has proposed removing the spaces in order to build a wide pedestrian walkway and redesign Gulfview Boulevard.

THE CANDIDATES AT A GLANCE

Patricia Bates-Smith

Bates-Smith, 68, is a Tennessee native who moved here in 1967. She has a bachelor's degree from Memphis State University and was a teacher for a few years before becoming a stay-at-home mom for her three sons. She was a den mother, Sunday school teacher and hospital volunteer among other activities. Twice a widow, Bates-Smith has managed a bookstore, owned an antique shop and worked for the county elections office. She starred in local theater productions, too. Recently, she taught drama classes in Elderhostel programs at college campuses in Florida and was treasurer of the Old Clearwater Bay Neighborhood Association. Now Bates-Smith works part time at Steinmart. This is her first try for public office. On the Web: www.psmith2002.com.

"I want a change in the majority vote on the commission. I have the time necessary to devote to this job and I will listen to the voters. I have made my home here since 1967 and served my community continuously."

Hoyt Hamilton

Hamilton, 43, is a Clearwater native who received his bachelor's degree from Georgia Tech, then returned home to manage his family's Palm Pavilion Inn on Clearwater Beach. He also is a sports agent with his own company, Pinnacle Sports Management. Outside of work, Hamilton has been president of the Clearwater Beach Rotary Club and a board member for Clearwater for Youth sports leagues, and he was an assistant coach at Clearwater High School for a decade, earning a spot in the school's basketball hall of fame. Last year, Hamilton was elected to a one-year term on the City Commission. He and his wife, Sheryl, have two sons and live in Imperial Park in central Clearwater.

"I have seen many changes in our city -- growth, development, decline of downtown, stagnation of some areas, to name a few. I feel that I can apply this knowledge and continue positive strides that we have made in my first year on the commission."

Ed Hart

Hart, 54, was born in Alabama. He has a bachelor's degree from Rhodes College in Memphis, as well as a master of divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga., and a master's degree in psychology from the University of West Georgia in Carrollton. He worked as an associate minister at Peace Memorial Presbyterian Church from 1978 to 1982. After that, Hart was a certified public accountant and an assistant secretary for the Florida Department of Professional Regulation. Now he has a Tampa employment agency, Availability Inc. Hart has served on multiple local nonprofit boards. He was elected to his first term on the City Commission in 1999. He and his wife Nancy, the daughter of drugstore founder Jack Eckerd, live on north Clearwater Beach. They have a son and a daughter. On the Web: www.edhart2002.com

"I will seek to promote the voice and will of the people and restore participatory democracy in Clearwater. Everyone should have equal access to government, and every voice should be heard and considered."

Frank Hibbard

Hibbard, 34, was born in Chicago and his family moved here when he was a child. He has a master of business administration degree and bachelor's degrees in business and economics from Florida State University. He works as an investment officer for SunTrust Bank. Hibbard's civic involvement includes serving on the city's Community Development Board, on the corporate partners board of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and on the board of the Jim Moran Institute at Florida State University, a group that aids entrepreneurs. Hibbard also teaches Sunday school at Calvary Baptist Church. Hibbard ran unsuccessfully for the commission last year and this is his second bid for office. Hibbard and his wife, Teresa, have a son and daughter and live in Harbor Oaks. On the Web: www.hibbardforclearwater.com

"I believe the commission needs to work together constructively to prioritize the way we utilize our taxpayers' money, with extensive feedback from citizens as to their desires."

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