Clearwater Council Candidate Says Nasty Campaigning Must Stop

CLEARWATER, FL — While the rest of the community is hoarding toilet paper and hunkering down in their homes, waiting for the coronavirus to run its course, it's politics as usual for Clearwater candidates for mayor and city council as Election Day approaches Tuesday.

Despite the last-minute shuffling of polling places previously located at assisted-living facilities, which now have restricted access, the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections said Tuesday's presidential preference primary and municipal elections will go forward.

Some Clearwater candidates, however, say the campaigning has taken a nasty turn.

Bob Cundiff, who’s running for reelection to the Clearwater City Council, said he's saddened to see the negative campaigning taking place in the Clearwater races.

Thirteen candidates for three seats in the Clearwater city elections are scrambling for votes in the remaining days before the March 17 election. Four candidates are running for Seat 1 for mayor, five for the open Seat 2 and four for Seat 3, occupied by Cundiff for the past four years.

“A number of inexcusable campaign incidents have occurred lately that I consider hitting below the belt,” said Cundiff. "I ask all candidates and those who support them to take the high road and comport themselves in an ethical manner. I've endeavored to run a positive campaign about my tenure as a city council member and goals for the future."

"Some of my campaign signs have disappeared," said mayor candidate Elizabeth Drayer. "I’ve heard about other incidents secondhand. On Monday, we three female candidates came together in front of the early voting site in Clearwater to wave signs in support of clean campaigning."

See related story: Clearwater Candidates Debate Politics of Campaign Yard Signs

Much of the negativity has been directed to candidates who have been endorsed by members of Citizens for Social Reform, a Scientology Political Action Committee. The headquarters for the Church of Scientology are in Clearwater, and there's been long-running resentment by some Clearwater residents and business owners over the church's acquisition of hundreds of acres of property in downtown Clearwater.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, Clearwater voters have received robocalls from someone sounding like a Scientology member, urging them to support council candidate Kathleen Beckman. The Times discovered that the calls were actually coming from the Republican-backed Florida Values Coalition.

The apparent intent was to tie Beckman to the Church of Scientology, which could negatively impact how she's viewed by some Clearwater voters.

Beckman, a retired teacher, is not a member of the Church of Scientology. While her endorsements include three members of the Citizens for Social Reform, her major endorsements are from the Sierra Club Suncoast Chapter, the Pinellas County Democratic Hispanic Caucus and the National Organization for Woman.

"I did not seek this endorsement, nor can I control what residents say about me," said Beckman.

Seat 2 council candidate Eliseo Santana Jr. and mayor candidate Frank Hibbard were also endorsed by the same three Citizens for Social Reform members.

Beckman said she made a commitment to run a positive campaign early on and has stuck to that promise no matter what stones are thrown her way.

"I'm so very proud of our positive campaign," she said on one of her Facebook posts. "The last days of our campaign will be spent like the first- walking neighborhoods, talking to residents, registering voters and promoting civic engagement. I love my volunteers. I’ve loved this journey- love the relationships I’ve gained and the stories I’ve heard. I'm so lucky to have met so many amazing, thoughtful, intelligent and compassionate Clearwater residents."

The impact of the Church of Scientology on the Clearwater elections is most evident in the candidacy of filmmaker Mark Bunker, who is running for council Seat 2.

A critic of the Church of Scientology, Bunker's been endorsed by actress Leah Remini, who produced and co-hosted the television series, "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath," in which she denounces the church.

Seat 2 candidate Michael Mannino implored fellow candidates to stick to the issues.

"It’s bigger than winning an election and more important than just the next four years," said Mannino. "It’s about the shape and direction of Clearwater’s future."

“I sincerely hope for the sake of unity in our city that these low-handed acts cease,” Cundiff said. “It’s bad enough to witness all the negativism and partisanship in our national elections – we just don’t need that in Clearwater.”

Seat 3 candidate Bud Elias seconded Cundiff's comments.

However, competitor for Seat 3, Scott Thomas, suggested Cundiff follow his own advice.

"The first criticism in this entire campaign came from Bob Cundiff that had to do with campaign yard signs. He then followed it up with a mailer by specifically attacking another candidate (Bud Elias) for his leadership in the strong mayor campaign," said Thomas. "Voters care about issues and the candidate’s approaches to those issues. That’s where I have spent my time. My campaign has been focused on bringing fiscal leadership to city hall."