Sun Coast PBA backs Sam Wilson for Clearwater City Council

The Sun Coast Police Benevolent Association (PBA) is endorsing Sam Wilson for Clearwater City Council in his bid for Seat 5.

The local PBA represents local law enforcement officers throughout Pinellas County, offering Wilson support from the area’s law enforcement community.

“I’m honored to have the support of the Police Benevolent Association. Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our community, and they deserve leaders who will stand with them, support them, and ensure they have the resources they need to do their jobs effectively,” Wilson said. “Public safety will always be a top priority for me.”

The PBA not only represents officers and their families, it also advocates for policies that protect personnel and the communities they serve. With its endorsement, the Sun Coast PBA is signaling its trust in Wilson to share in that mission.

The nod follows endorsements last month for Wilson from Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector and former Mayor Frank Hibbard. Wilson also has support from U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, for whom Wilson serves as a congressional staffer.

Wilson is running to replace outgoing City Council member Lina Teixeira, who announced in January that she would not seek re-election.

Wilson has worked with Luna in various roles since mid-2022, first as a scheduler and later as a District Field and Legislative Coordinator. He was promoted to District Director in November 2024. Luna was the first to endorse Wilson.

Prior to his work with Luna, Wilson served as an intern for several federal officials, including for U.S. Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Gus Bilirakis in Florida. Prior to that, he interned with then-U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. He also previously served as an intern research liaison with the group Citizens Defending Freedom, according to his LinkedIn bio.

Wilson also has secured endorsements from incumbent Clearwater City Council members David Allbritton, Ryan Cotton and Mike Mannino.

Wilson was the first to file for the race, but recently drew a challenger: former Clearwater City Council member Mark Bunker, an anti-Scientology activist who was unseated in 2024.

Wilson raised nearly $23,000 in the first quarter of 2026, bringing his total fundraising above $38,000. The totals are split between Wilson’s campaign account and affiliated political committee, Clearwater Families for Affordability. Of the Q1 fundraising, nearly $16,000 of it went to the campaign, while $7,000 was raised for Wilson’s campaign.

Compare that to Bunker and it’s clear Wilson has an edge. Bunker has raised just over $1,200, with just two of his seven contributions coming from Clearwater residents. Two of the contributions were from out of state, with the remaining three coming from residents in Nokomis, Sarasota and Palm Harbor.

Wilson previously told Florida Politics his top priorities include addressing affordability issues in the city and ensuring transparency in city business.

The Clearwater City Council election is Aug. 18.