Hibbard romps to victory

The incumbent stops a former mayor's comeback try.

 

By MIKE DONILA, Times Staff Writer
Published January 30, 2008

CLEARWATER - Frank Hibbard easily won re-election in the city's first mayoral race in almost a decade, defeating a former longtime mayor and community volunteer who campaigned against big development.

Hibbard, an investment officer and vice president of Morgan Stanley and a popular city leader, beat challenger Rita Garvey, garnering about 60 percent of the vote with all precincts reporting Tuesday night.

"Hopefully, it's a vote of confidence from the citizens of Clearwater, but on a daily basis you have to continue to earn it," said Hibbard, 40. "It still means that there were (40) percent who aren't convinced, so we'll keep working on them."

Incumbent City Council members George Cretekos and John Doran were automatically re-elected because no one qualified to run against them.

Throughout the election, Hibbard campaigned on his efforts to bring Clearwater into the 21st century through a number of revitalization efforts, all aimed at luring more residents, visitors and businesses to the city.

Hibbard supporter and Clearwater attorney Ed Armstrong called the mayor's victory a "big, big win, a clear mandate."

"This is a very clear statement that Clearwater citizens are far more interested in moving forward than looking backward," Armstrong said. "This is unequivocal."

About 39 percent of registered Clearwater voters cast ballots in the mayoral race.

During Hibbard's first three-year term, the city spent $10-million on downtown Cleveland Street, adding sidewalks, planters, landscaping and upgrading infrastructure. It also spent $30-million - almost $10-million of it from developers and federal aid - on the Clearwater Beach BeachWalk promenade.

Garvey, a library volunteer first elected to office as a city commissioner in 1980, was critical of these actions and said people visit the beach for the sand, not a promenade and that downtown property owners should take care of themselves now.

But Garvey's slow-growth message apparently failed to catch on with voters. And after nine years away from the political spotlight, she at times seemed rusty and unsure of herself during community forums and campaign events.

Garvey's political career ended shortly after she pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in 1998. During interviews with the Times leading up to Tuesday's election, she gave different answers when asked when she last had a drink. However, voters did not cite alcohol as a deciding issue. Instead, many of those who cast a ballot for Hibbard said he seemed more in tune with the city's needs.

Clearwater Beach resident Mark McCrary, 45, felt a Garvey victory would "shut the city down for progress."

"I think Rita would take it backwards," said McCrary, a property manager.

Coincidentally, the last time a Clearwater mayor was challenged was in March 1999 when Garvey lost to political newcomer Brian Aungst.

On Tuesday afternoon, Garvey, 62, said she will continue to volunteer and work in the community. She could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

For his second term, Hibbard says he wants to work on building a senior center, using Penny for Pinellas sales tax money, and try to lure a movie theater downtown.

But, he's also going to have to work with an ever-decreasing budget. Regardless of whether voters approve a statewide plan that reduces the amount of property taxes cities and counties can collect, the mayor said the city will probably have to make further cuts. If Amendment 1 does not pass, city leaders have said they expect state officials to come up with another plan later this year or early next year.

The mayor, though, says whatever cuts the council and city staff make will first be vetted by the public.

Hibbard caught the political bug in 2001, but lost in a race for a City Commission seat. As an advocate for diversifying the city's economy, he won a seat on the commission - now known as the City Council - in March 2002. He was automatically elected to the mayor's post in December 2004 when no one filed to run against him.

 

 

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