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Politics

Early election quickens race

Election Day for the mayor's race is Jan. 29, but voters can cast their ballots beginning Monday.

By MIKE DONILA, Times Staff Writer
Published January 13, 2008

CLEARWATER - It was supposed to be a marathon between a popular incumbent and a former mayor making her political comeback.

But this year's race for Clearwater's mayoral seat is more like a sprint.

With early voting starting Monday, the two candidates- former longtime mayor Rita Garvey and incumbent Frank Hibbard - had a little more than two months to campaign. And most of the politicking was suspended during the holidays.

Now, it's time to get down to business, the two say.

Hibbard has begun putting up small billboards throughout the city and he has collected more than $26,000 in campaign contributions. Garvey, who's brought in about $6,000, is sticking to a grass roots campaign, knocking on doors and hitting neighborhood meetings.

Both have appeared at two forums. Three more are planned before Election Day Jan. 29.

"It's a weird time frame to campaign, especially with the holidays," said Hibbard, 40, an investment officer.

"I had to stop worrying about the campaign and get Christmas shopping out of the way," said Garvey, 62, a volunteer at the downtown library.

The council in September moved the city elections from March 11 to the end of January to coincide with the presidential primary and to lure voters who are more likely to cast a ballot for a presidential candidate than they are for a City Council member.

In addition to the mayoral race, the Clearwater ballot will ask voters to consider six changes to the city charter, including extending council term limits from three years to four years.

Council members John Doran and George Cretekos are also up for re-election but both will retain their seats because neither is facing a challenger.

* * *

Garvey initially didn't plan to run, but said she was encouraged to run by other volunteers from the city's library.

"The biggest problem we get is the apathy from the citizens because there hasn't been a (mayoral) election recently and without an election it's pretty hard to get excited," said Garvey, who served 18 years as a city leader, including mayor from 1987 to 1999.

The race officially kicked off in mid December with the city's first mayoral forum in almost a decade. Garvey and Hibbard spent about two hours at the Clearwater Beach Recreation Center answering questions about the waterfront, downtown, taxes and the Community Development Board.

Although beach residents have regularly rallied against Hibbard, who is often blamed for big development in the area, the incumbent mayor received just as much applause as Garvey at the forum.

Hibbard, sharp and well-prepared, appeared to know much more than Garvey about what was going on in the city and his plans for the future.

Garvey, out of the spotlight for years, seemed rusty and conceded as much, saying she had a lot of catching up to do. She didn't have answers to questions about boat dock codes and revisions, plans for the beach marina or how to attract new hotels to the beach.

She said it wouldn't take her long to get prepared. And during a short forum at the Long Center last week, she seemed to have regained some of the confidence she had while in office.

"I think it's going to be interesting because you have some dissatisfaction with issues at a state level, such as property taxes and insurance, yet a lot of people hold local officials wrongfully accountable for them," said Clearwater lawyer Ed Armstrong, who keeps his thumb on the city's political pulse.

Armstrong, who contributed $500 to Hibbard's campaign, said "it's hard to say how this will turn out, but there's a lot of anger out there."

At least one angry resident is Ewa Kunowska, who owns the small Tropical Sky Ranch Motel on Clearwater Beach. A vocal critic of City Hall, she blames the mayor for "the mistakes on the beach," referring to traffic congestion and the loss of parking that occurred during the BeachWalk promenade development.

Others, though, are trying to figure out who will get their vote.

"I don't think there's going to be any radical change that can be done by either of the two parties," said Lee Regulski, a city commissioner from 1985 through 1992.

* * *

Hibbard said that he has unfinished business to accomplish, such as establishing a senior center, and that he still feels passionate about his role as a city leader.

"Hopefully I've been an agent in guiding us through some changes that inevitably would occur and things that we do will benefit us for years to come," he said.

Garvey said she wants to get people involved in local government and help "them get a sense of accomplishment that I'm not feeling is out there right now."

Here's a look at some of the topics the candidates have discussed with the St. Petersburg Times and where they stand:

Beach development: Both ay they'd like to see a parking garage built on the southern portion of the beach, but away from the sand. Hibbard says the city should pass ordinances that let builders add more hotel rooms to their developments, which would discourage condo development. Garvey is opposed to the plan. She says it would increase traffic.

Downtown development: Garvey says that after spending $10-million to rehab Cleveland Street, officials should focus on other parts of the city. She says the city should have recruited businesses before starting the revitalization effort. Hibbard disagreed, saying the city had to revitalize first to prove it was serious about investing in downtown.

Possible future budget cuts: Hibbard said the city will do "whatever we have to do to have a balanced budget" but "I don't have all the answers yet." Garvey said the city should cut back on high maintenance parks projects including landscaping.

Greatest achievement in office: Hibbard said he's increased communication with residents through monthly breakfast meetings with residents and council members; establishing Clearwater Veterans Appreciation Day and working with schools to encourage healthy living. Garvey says she was key in helping to 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 on her watch.

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

Hibbard took office in December 2004. He was a first-term council member at the time, defeating incumbent Ed Hart in 2002.

Early voting sites

Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Offices, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Election Service Center

Starkey Lakes Corporate Center

13001 Starkey Road

Pinellas County Courthouse

315 Court St., Room 117

Clearwater

County Building

501 First Ave. N

St. Petersburg

Garvey vs. Hibbard

Compare the two candidates for Clearwater mayor, side by side, and get details about the next mayoral forum. Page 3

Ballot questions

The mayor's race isn't the only thing going on. Take at look at the six ballot issues.

Mayoral forum: The next one is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Clearwater Council Chambers at City Hall, 112 S Osceola Ave. It will be televised with replays continuing through Election Day on channel 615 on Bright House and channel 15 on Knology cable.

Six questions for voters

In addition to the mayor's race, Clearwater residents will be asked whether the city's charter should be amended. Here's a synopsis of the six ballot questions:

-To allow Clearwater to donate city-owned property of a 1/2 acre or less if it is used to build affordable housing.

-To allow Clearwater to grant easements to extend and connect utilities in Coachman Park without voter approval.e_SClB-To extend the terms for the mayor and the City Councilseats from three years to four.

-To require the appointment of a Charter Review Advisory Committeeevery eight years instead of every four or five years.

-To prevent a council member whose name appears on a ballot to serve on the committee canvassing the returns on that ballot.

-Remove the requirement that revenue bonds for projects that cost more than $1-million be put to voters.

At a glance

Mayoral contest

The Clearwater mayor's seat is a part-time position with mostly ceremonial duties. The mayor also votes on matters brought before the City Council and runs the meetings. The job pays $30,689 annually, which includes benefits. The mayor also gets $7,120 for city-related travel and $50 per month for a cell phone. Here's a look at the two candidates voters will decide on Jan. 29:

Frank Hibbard, 40 Occupation: financial adviser and vice president of Morgan Stanley, incumbent mayor Family: wife, Teresa; son, Spencer; daughter, Whitney Education: Bachelor of science in business, a bachelor of science in economics and a masters in business administration from Florida State University Community involvement: United Way, Pinellas County Mayors Council (president), Metropolitan Planning Organization (chairman); Jim Moran Board for Entrepreneurial Study Florida State University Business School; member of Advisory Board Clothes for Kids; member of the board of directors for the Florida League of Mayors, Tampa Bay Regional Transit Authority (board member) Hobbies: golf, tennis, keeping up with college football Web site: none Quote: "There's an expression that says: 'After all is said and done, more is said than done,' and I'd prefer to run counter to that - I'd like to get more done than just talk about it."

Rita Garvey, 62 Occupation: community volunteer, former Clearwater mayor Family: two daughters, Lisa and Catherine; son, Mike Education: earned a degree in sociology from the University of Minnesota Community involvement: Community Pride board member (president); Friends of the Clearwater Library (president); American Association of University Women (president); Main Library volunteer; NAACP; Clearwater Sister Cities Inc.; Marine Science Center; and Clearwater Historical Society Hobbies: reading Web site: www.garveyformayor.org Quote: "When I was mayor and on the commission, I had to make some tough decisions, but my basic philosophy is that the decision has to be something I have to sleep with. I've had a lot of people say I didn't agree with it, but I understand and I don't hate you for it."

[Last modified January 12, 2008, 20:47:22]