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Letter to the editor

Garvey's vision: Slow down, listen

The former mayor wants fewer big projects in the city.

By MIKE DONILA Times Staff Writer
Published January 24, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT [Jim Damaske | Times] Rita Garvey says she hopes she is remembered as someone who made a difference.

CLEARWATER - She started her political career as an unknownhousewife who wanted the city to build more libraries.

Before long, the Minnesota native became the city's mayor, a role that lasted 12 years. For the most part, her tenure was well-regarded. But it ended in 1999, aftera much-publicized drunken-driving arrest.

Now Rita Garvey, a 62-year-old widow, mother of three and long-time library volunteer, is attempting a political comeback: She wants to be mayor again.

She says residents are fed up with local leaders and by running, she'll at least force incumbent Frank Hibbard to talk about current issues. The election takes place Tuesday.

"Up until a year ago, I hadn't planned to run, but a lot of people are upset about the way the city is being run," Garvey says. "And I figured it was time to put up or shut up."

Garvey says current city leaders are short-sighted. They should have recruited businesses before spending $10-million redeveloping Cleveland Street downtown. And they should have created new parking before work began on the $30-million BeachWalk promenades that have swallowed several Clearwater Beach parking lots, she says.

"Their view is: 'Let's do it today and figure out the rest later," she says.

The city needs to slow down, she says: No more big projects, less development.

Clearwater should get away from major beach and downtown ventures and focus elsewhere in the city, she says.

"How long should we babysit the downtown?" she asks. "We don't take care of Countryside Mall or the Clearwater Mall like we do the downtown. It's time that they take care of themselves."

* * *

The fourth oldest of 16 children, Garvey grew up on a Minnesota farm where she said she learned to compromise and work with others.

She and her husband Tim moved to Clearwater in 1969. Garvey quickly took an interest in volunteering at Light of Christ Catholic Church and the library.

That, she says, is where her political career began.

Garvey and a small group of residents worked with then-Clearwater commissioners to put a bond issue on the 1976 ballot to expand the city library system.

The referendum failed, so Garvey ran for a seat on the City Commission. She lost, but the race was close enough that she decided to run again and won in 1980.

She served as a commissioner until 1986 when she resigned to run for mayor. She won the mayoral election and served until early 1999 when she was defeated by political newcomer Brian Aungst in her bid for a fifth term.

Throughout her time in office, Garvey emphasized the city's small-town atmosphere and frequently attended neighborhood meetings, charity dinners and ribbon-cuttings.

Garvey was credited with helping to pass a strict sign code and starting a recycling program. She became known for making inroads in theNorth Greenwood neighborhood as well as opposing the Church of Scientology.

"I think she did a good job as mayor," says Jan Regulski, a friend of Garvey's since the early 1970s. "She wasn't owned by any group and that's a sign of strength. She didn't speak for the chamber or the beach or whoever. If she spoke, it was for the various communities that make up Clearwater."

But Garvey's tenure wasn't always smooth.

In the early 1980s, she incurred the wrath of 4,000 Calvary Baptist Church members when she voted against a rezoning the church wanted.

She was criticized as being too cozy with the city staff and former City Manager Tony Shoemaker, who resigned in late 1987 because of problems with Clearwater Pass Bridge and other city issues.

And for better or worse, Garvey and the commissioners she served with were known for their slow-growth attitude. The beach remained stagnant and businesses continued to leave downtown under her watch.

Some residents, including 74-year-old Duke Tieman, say the city was lulled into complacency during Garvey's tenure.

"We didn't have a lot of progressive action for a long time," says Tieman, a real estate broker who owns Bruce Taylor Realty and Academy of Real Estate Learning.

But Will Perry, 70, says he has few complaints about Garvey's time in office.

"Back when she was on the commission, taxes were reasonable, services were good and there was just a general feeling that the community was in good shape and well taken care of by people in charge," says Perry, a Countryside resident of almost 30 years.

* * *

Garvey's service as mayor came to an end shortly after her arrest on a DUI charge.

On her way to a City Commission meeting in November 1998, she drove into a parked van. No one was hurt, but her blood-alcohol level measured 0.335 percent - four times the limit at which Florida law presumes a driver to be impaired. She pleaded guilty to DUI, acknowledged her alcohol dependency and three months later lost to Brian Aungst.

In recent interviews with the St. Petersburg Times, Garvey acknowledged she has allowed herself an occasional drink in recent months. In other interviews, though, she said she doesn't drink at all anymore.

After losing the mayor's seat, Garvey ran for a City Commission seat in 2001, but was narrowly defeated by Hoyt Hamilton.

Since then, Garvey has continued to volunteer for a number of local and state organizations.

"My philosophy is that if I think I can make a change then I will and if I don't then I'll stay out of the race," Garvey says.

For this race, Garvey says she's reaching back to her beginnings: grass roots campaigning. She has raised at least $6,000, compared to Hibbard's $26,000-plus, according to Jan. 11 campaign treasurer's reports.

"This race is going to come down to dissatisfaction," Garvey says. "Hibbard is articulate and he looks good, but there's a lot of dissatisfaction."

Regardless of the outcome on election day, Garvey says she hopes she's remembered as someone who made a difference.

"Whether it was through volunteer work, or public office or even by running for office - because at least that can get the issues out there," she says. "Hopefully that will encourage people to make healthy decisions."

Mike Donila can be reached at mdonila@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4160.

Coming Friday: A profile of Mayor Frank Hibbard.

Fast facts

Rita Garvey

Age: 62

Occupation: Community volunteer, former Clearwater mayor

Family: Two daughters, Lisa and Catherine; son, Mike

Education: Bachelor's 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); Friend Book & Gift Store at the Main Library (volunteer).

Memberships: NAACP, Clearwater Sister Cities Inc., Marine Science Center, 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 23, 2008, 23:02:03]