CLEARWATER - City Council Member Frank Hibbard launched his campaign to become Clearwater's next Mayor last Monday at the Island Way Grill. A crowd estimated at 240 people attended the event, including County Commissioner Karen Seel, Sheriff candidate Jim Coats, Hibbards Council colleagues Hoyt Hamilton and Bill Jonson, and outgoing Mayor Brian Aungst.
Hibbard could have run for another term as a Council Member, but chose to run for Mayors seat instead. Explaining his decision, he said, "I think I have the leadership skills required to be Mayor and to lead the Council."
When asked what his priorities would be should he win the election, Hibbard said, "I think we need to look at more neighborhood projects." He cited traffic calming as a priority, but suggested that future projects might be more like "Chevrolets" than the "Cadillacs" that have been recently constructed in North Greenwood, Grandview Terrace and North Clearwater Beach. Hibbard also wants to accelerate the build-out of the City's reclaimed water system.
At this time, Hibbard has no announced opponent for the Mayors seat.