![Mayor Frank Hibbard speaks to the public during a City Council meeting at the Clearwater Main Library on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. [ JEFFEREE WOO | Times ]](https://godfreytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/JKP6LZA77NARLH3VWJQUO5YTXU.webp)
Florida’s Clearwater Frank Hibbard, the mayor of the city, resigned unexpectedly at a contentious budget meeting because he was unhappy with the path his colleagues were going with public funding.
Hibbard opposed the council’s discussion of how to cover a $250 million gap for 30 projects, including a new $90 million city hall and municipal services building.
He stated he was no longer the ideal leader for the council and that his resignation was one of the hardest decisions he’s ever had to make. He served as mayor from 2004 through 2012, and he had already said he wouldn’t run again, thus this was his final year in office. His announcement took aback his fellow council members. They persevered with the budget workshop, anyway.
A special city election may be called if the City Council cannot agree on a replacement for him within 30 days.
You can read news report about this story here, here and here.
Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Times
