Jared Leone launches Clearwater City Council bid 2.0, will face Bianca Latvala

Jared Leone, a local journalist and former candidate for Clearwater City Council, has filed to run again.

Leone is the second candidate to enter the Seat 4 race to replace incumbent David Allbritton, who is not seeking re-election. Leone joins Bianca Latvala, a local GOP strategist and wife of Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala.

Leone previously sought the District 3 seat in 2024, finishing third. Mike Mannino won that race to replace former City Council member Kathleen Beckman, who left office to run for Mayor, a race she lost that same year to now-Mayor Bruce Rector. Rector has now endorsed Bianca Latvala in the Seat 4 race.

Clearwater City Council and Mayor’s races are nonpartisan, meaning candidates’ political affiliations don’t appear on the ballot. But all current City Council members are registered Republicans, as is Latvala. Leone is not affiliated with a political party.

“I am running in this election as a non-partisan candidate to better represent all of Clearwater, not special interests or political parties or ideologies,” he said. “My priorities are affordability for everyone, public safety and smart growth for our city.”

Leone enters as a clear underdog. He finished his race two years ago with just 13% of the vote after raising just $6,000. Mannino, by comparison, raised more than $46,000. And Mannino had significant institutional backing from prominent local Republicans.

Latvala is already showing signs that her race will feature some of those same advantages, including through Rector’s endorsement and, just this week, support from Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.

The Latvala name has long been synonymous with behind-the-scenes work on behalf of GOP candidates. Chris Latvala’s father, Jack Latvala, is a well-known force in local and state politics once considered one of the most powerful political professionals in Florida.

And Chris Latvala was largely behind a red wave that struck Clearwater in its last municipal election cycle, including Mannino’s victory over Leone.

While Leone might be the underdog, he does have a solid résumé on which to run. Leone served as Chair of the city’s Environmental Advisory Board for nearly 10 years, where he helped shape policies and initiatives to strengthen environmental protection and improve local resiliency.

Leone also founded the Spring Branch Neighborhood Association along with local residents in 2018, and served as its President. During his tenure, he worked with the city to expand State Street Park, through a $1.5 million renovation project.

Leone is currently the President of the Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition, representing 40 neighborhood associations and more than 20,000 homeowners.

Leone’s entrance into the race means Latvala is no longer unopposed. The two will face each other in the Aug. 18 municipal election. If no other candidate enters the race, it will be decided at that time. If the race draws an additional candidate and no candidate receives more than half the vote on Aug. 18, the top-two vote-getters would advance to a General Election on Nov. 3.

Qualifying for the race begins May 4 and ends May 15 at 5 p.m.

Latvala, who entered the race last month, has not yet filed her first campaign finance report, which is due next month. That report should set the tone for how much cash this race might attract.