Official Records and Legislative Services

Election Information

March 9, 2010 Election 

NEW! - View complete March 9, 2010 election results on www.VotePinellas.com

Unofficial results indicate that Bill Jonson was elected to Seat 4 on the Council, and Paul F. Gibson was elected to Seat 5 on the Council. Newly elected Councilmembers will take office on March 15, 2010.  The Oath of Office ceremony will occur at the March 18, 2010, council meeting. The proposed Charter Amendment did NOT pass.

The most recent general election for the City of Clearwater was held on Tuesday, March 9, 2010. 

• View Sample Election Ballot
• View Streaming Video of the 2010 Candidates Forum
• www.VotePinellas.com - Web Site of the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections

Candidates for March 9, 2010 Clearwater Election:

Seat 4
Wayne C. Carothers (View Campaign Treasurer's Report)
Bill Jonson (View Campaign Treasurer's Report)
Joe Paige (View Campaign Treasurer's Report)
Herb Quintero (View Campaign Treasurer's Report)

Seat 5
Paul F. Gibson (View Campaign Treasurer's Report)
Mike Riordon (View Campaign Treasurer's Report)

Ballot Question for March 9, 2010 Clearwater Election:

CHARTER AMENDMENT TO ALLOW INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO SERVE MORE THAN FIVE CONSECUTIVE YEARS

"Shall Section 2.01(c)3. of the City Charter be amended as provided in Ordinance No. 8130-09 to require a Request for Proposals process every five years to select an independent auditor rather than a mandatory rotation of independent auditors every five years?"

Yes Vote:

Will eliminate the mandatory requirement to change auditors every five years at a minimum.

Will require a competitive public request for proposal (RFP) process for the selection of the auditors, every five years at a minimum.

Will require that the request for proposal process and auditor selection process be conducted by an Audit Committee appointed by the Council, in accordance with State Statute.

Will allow the City’s external auditors to fully compete for a renewal of their contract after the normal five year contract period.

Will allow the City Council the flexibility to decide whether renewing the contract with the current auditors is in the City’s best interest.

Will allow current auditors to compete for a renewal contract, giving Council the ability to review the cost/benefit of retaining current audit firm.

Could potentially decrease the cost of auditing services due to the increased competition from the current auditors.

Will require that the City Council make the final determination whether auditors should be retained or a new firm hired.

Will increase the limited pool of firms fully qualified to propose for the City’s external audit by allowing current firm to participate in the proposal process.

No Vote:

Will continue the current process of requiring a mandatory rotation of external auditors every five years at a minimum.

Will not allow the current auditors to participate in the request for proposal process after they have completed the normal five year contract.

Could potentially increase the independence of the audit process by bringing in a “fresh set of eyes” every five years at a minimum.

Could potentially increase the cost of the audit due to the substantial start-up costs in the first year of an audit engagement.

Could potentially increase the cost of the audit due to the decreased competition for the contract.

Will not allow the City Council to determine the cost/benefit of retaining the current auditors but will require the mandatory rotations irregardless of additional cost to the City.

Candidacy Information

All councilmembers are elected at-large for terms of four years and are limited to two terms.

Candidates must be qualified voters of the city, at least eighteen years of age, and have continuously resided in the City for at least one year prior to the start of qualifying.  In order to qualify for office, signatures of 250 registered voters of the City of Clearwater must be obtained on petition cards.  The petition cards will be provided to potential candidates by the City.  

What is a Candidate?

A candidate is any person who:

1. Appoints a campaign treasurer and designates a primary depository.


2. Receives contributions or makes expenditures or gives consent for any other person to receive contributions or make expenditures, with a view to bringing about his or her nomination, or election, or retention in public office.


3. Seeks to qualify for nomination or election by means of a petitioning process.


4. Files qualification papers and subscribes to a candidate's oath as required by law.

Who can be a candidate?

To become a candidate for the Clearwater City Council, you must:

1. Be at least 18 years of age.


2. Be a registered voter of the City of Clearwater.


3. Be a resident of the City of Clearwater for at least one continuous year prior to the first day of the qualifying period.

When may I announce my candidacy?

1. You may discuss your candidacy at any time; however, you are considered an "announced" candidate when you file your Appointment of Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository (Form DS-DE 9).  This form is available 180 days prior to the election date (September 10, 2009).  You must file the completed Form DS-DE 9 with this office before you accept any campaign contributions or make any expenditure toward your campaign.  This form shows:
   
   (a) Your name, address, and phone number.
   (b) Name, address, and phone number of your campaign treasurer.
   (c) Signature of campaign treasurer, showing acceptance of appointment.
   (d) Name and address of your depository (bank).
   (e) Seat number sought.


2. Form DS-DE 9 is not effective until the campaign treasurer signs it and it is filed with this office.


3. F.S. 106.023 requires that, within 10 days of filing the Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository, you must file a Statement of Candidate with the City Clerk, stating you have read and understand Chapter 106.  (This form will be provided upon filing Form DS-DE 9.)

Campaign treasurer

1. Your campaign treasurer may serve as treasurer for more than one candidate or political committee. You or your spouse may serve as your campaign treasurer. Your campaign depository may be any bank, savings and loan association, or credit union authorized to transact business in the State of Florida.


2. All contributions and expenditures are to be made through the campaign treasurer.


3. The campaign treasurer is responsible for keeping detailed accounts, current within not more than 2 days after the date of receiving a contribution or making an expenditure.


4. The campaign treasurer is responsible for filing the required treasurer's reports. Deadlines for filing the report are listed in the Candidates' Calendar.

Candidate qualifying and filing for office

A. When and where?

When: For the March 2009 election, the qualifying period began December 7, 2009, at 8:00 a.m. and ended December 18, 2009, at 5:00 p.m.

Where: Official Records & Legislative Services Department, City Hall, 2nd floor, 112 S. Osceola Avenue, Clearwater, FL 33756

B. What must I do when I file for office?

1. Submit State Financial Disclosure Form. (Provided upon filling DS-DE 9 with City Clerk)


2. Submit at least 250 petition cards, each signed by a registered voter of the City of Clearwater. (350 cards will be provided upon filing DS-DE 9 with City Clerk.)


3. Sign Loyalty Oath.


4. Pay a qualifying fee of $100 and an election assessment fee of 1% of the salary of the office being sought ($198.29). These fees must be paid by a check drawn on the campaign account.

Resign to Run Requirement

1. Per F.S. 99.012(3)(c), No officer may qualify as a candidate for another public office (whether state, district, county, or municipal) if the terms or any part thereof run concurrently with each other, without resigning from the office currently held. The resignation is irrevocable.


2. The written resignation must be submitted at least ten days prior to the first day of qualifying for the office. The resignation must be effective no later than the earlier of the following dates:
   
   a. The date the officer would take office, if elected; or
   b. The date the officer's successor is required to take office.

Please direct any questions to the Official Records & Legislative Services at (727) 562-4093.