Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Mayoral forum: no clear winner

Incumbent Frank Hibbard and former Mayor Rita Garvey say where they stand.

By MIKE DONILA, Times Staff Writer
Published December 14, 2007

The race to become Clearwater's top elected leader kicked off Wednesday night with the city's first mayoral forum in almost a decade.

Former Clearwater Mayor Rita Garvey and incumbent Frank Hibbard spent two hours at the Clearwater Beach Recreation Center answering questions about the waterfront, downtown, Scientology, taxes and the Community Development Board.

The election, set for Jan. 29, marks the first time a Clearwater mayor has been challenged since Garvey faced two candidates in early 1999.

Roughly 50 people attended the meeting and the audience appeared split on who they favored.

"I don't think there was a clear winner tonight," said Jerry Murphy, president of the Clearwater Beach Association, one of three homeowner groups hosting the event. "I had this feeling that I'd want them both on the council. It's not going to be an easy choice."

After years of being out of the political spotlight, Garvey conceded she had a lot of catching up to do on city issues. She didn't have answers to questions about boat dock codes, beach marina plans or how to attract new hotels to the beach.

Still, she said, because of her previous experience, it wouldn't be too tough to learn.

"You either put up or shut up and I've been doing the shut up for a long time and now it's time for me to put up," said Garvey, 62, who served as mayor from 1987 to 1998 and served as a city commissioner before that.

Garvey, who is now a volunteer at the downtown library gift shop, said she entered the race to "get people involved ... and help them get a sense of accomplishment that I'm not feeling is out there right now."

Hibbard, 40, who is seeking his second three-year term, said the city has "unfinished business" and faces "interesting times as far as the budget goes." He promised to use his "devotion and tools" to guide Clearwater through these issues.

Here's some of the topics discussed and where the candidates stand:

- Beach parking: Both agreed more parking is needed, but they would not put a garage on the sand.

- Beach hotels: Hibbard says the city should pass ordinances allowing builders to add more hotel rooms to their developments. Garvey disagreed, saying it would increase traffic and affect emergency evacuations.

- Downtown: Garvey says the recently completed Cleveland Street revitalization project "doesn't go over very well" with residents because it cost $10-million. She said the area has too many property owners who do not want to cooperate with the city's revitalization efforts and enough time and money has already been spent in the district. Hibbard said "all sections of the city have to be healthy" for Clearwater to succeed, and the city has a responsibility to bring business to downtown. That means upgrading Cleveland Street, he said.

- Scientology: Both said it's hard to talk with church officials. Garvey, who fought the Scientologists while mayor, said she will not run an anti-Scientology campaign. Hibbard said he is "diametrically opposed" to the church's beliefs but said he would keep an open-door policy.

- Possible future budget cuts: Hibbard said he'd look at reducing operating hours at recreation centers and libraries. Other operations might also be consolidated, he said. Garvey said the city should cut back on landscaping.

- Waterfront development: Both said the city could get sued if they tried to stop most of the current development because of property rights.

- Greatest achievement in office: Hibbard says his is increased communication with residents through town hall meetings and monthly breakfasts, instituting Clearwater Veterans Appreciation Day and working with local schools to encourage healthy living. Garvey is proud she helped pass a restrictive sign code that limits the size of signs and practically eliminated billboards on Gulf to Bay Boulevard. She said community-oriented policing and the library system were expanded immensely during her time.

- The Community Development Board: Garvey said she'd like to eliminate the board, which makes recommendations to the City Council. She said the board is doing a job that elected leaders should do. Hibbard said the board is important because it includes professionals - such as engineers and architects - and the council doesn't.

Since losing her fifth bid for mayor in 1999 after pleading guilty to a charge of driving under the influence, Garvey has volunteered for a number of state and local organizations and rebuilt her reputation.

Hibbard, an investment officer with Morgan Stanley, took office in December 2004. He was a first-term council member at the time, having defeated incumbent Ed Hart in 2002.

[Last modified December 13, 2007, 22:16:24]