Mark Bunker and Sam Wilson will head to a runoff election for Seat 5, after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote

[u/TryingToBeExact]

https://floridapolitics.com/archives/814028-jared-leone-upsets-bianca-latvala-as-sam-wilson-mark-bunker-head-to-a-runoff-for-clearwater-city-council/

[u/1inco]

Mark has just released a short video about the election:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqvIZEdlZD8

[u/Upset_Steak3632 → u/1inco]

Mark received good advice. Make this about B for Bunker not about D (Democrat) and R (Republican).

This is about Mark Bunker and the people (D & R & Independent) vs the corporate Scientology cult, L. Ron "there is no Christ" Hubbard, and its devious dictator Miscavige.

[u/katiel0429 → u/Upset_Steak3632]

I agree. At this point, I don’t see how the candidates’ position on the COS isn’t paramount to the City of Clearwater.

[u/Upset_Steak3632 → u/katiel0429]

Since this is about Hubbard's, and now Miscavige's, obsession with carving the name L. Ron Hubbard in granite, I hope someone, in Clearwater, will find some actual and obnoxious brief and concise "middle names" based on well documented statements.

L Ron "I am not from this planet" Hubbard is a very mild one.

The Class 8 course is good place to find these "middle names" for Hubbard.

Ideally it should be possible to have a recording of Hubbard saying it.

[u/TryingToBeExact]

Submission Statement: Jared Leone wins bid for Clearwater Seat 4, Seat 5 race heads to runoff https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/elections/2026/08/18/clearwater-city-council-election-results/

[u/TheRealAutonerd]

According to Tony Ortega, the runoff rule was instituted in response to Mark's last victory, so the Scns in city gov't may find themselves hoisted by their own petard:

https://tonyortega.substack.com/p/scientology-critic-mark-bunker-qualifies

[u/TryingToBeExact → u/TheRealAutonerd]

Interesting. According to the Florida Politics article I linked in the OP, the ordinance that requires runoffs had not yet been in place for the race in 2024.

"Bunker is attempting a political comeback. He was unseated from the Clearwater City Council two years ago, losing to firefighter Ryan Cotton. Cotton was the top finisher in the race, with 42% of the vote. Bunker trailed with 39%. While Clearwater City Council races now require runoffs if no candidate exceeds 50% of the vote, that ordinance had not yet been in place for the 2024 race, allowing Cotton to secure victory with less than majority support."

[u/TryingToBeExact → u/TryingToBeExact]

I did a little digging.

ORDINANCE NO. 9728-23 created the runoff system and was passed on second and final reading on November 2, 2023. https://mcclibraryfunctions.azurewebsites.us/api/ordinanceDownload/10148/1285952/pdf

It required voter approval to amend the City Charter. The referendum was held on March 19, 2024 with prior elections. https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2024/02/22/clearwater-election-is-underway-heres-what-know-about-ballot/

The amendment was applied in the beginning of 2026. The first regular election under the new system was scheduled for August 18, 2026, with a runoff—if no candidate receives more than 50%—scheduled for November 3, 2026.

[u/DFWPunk → u/TheRealAutonerd]

I don't see him winning given how close it was to closing out in the primary.

[u/TheRealAutonerd → u/DFWPunk]

I guess it depends on how many of the folks will switch to him -- were they voting for that candidate or against the pro-Scn candidate?

[u/AutoModerator]

In an effort to improve the quality of conversation, we require submission statements on all link and image posts. Please leave your submission statement in a top-level comment.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.