Politics

Lina Teixeira won’t seek re-election, Sam Wilson expected to file to replace her

Published

5 hours ago

January 16, 2026

Clearwater City Council member Lina Teixeira will not seek a second term in office, she announced on Facebook, citing a desire to “focus on my family at this challenging time.” She did not elaborate on what she meant by “challenging time.”

“I’m deeply grateful for the trust you placed in me and proud of the work we accomplished together. Thank you to my colleagues, city staff, and this incredible community for the support and kindness you’ve shown me,” she wrote

First elected in 2022, the artist and gallery owner defeated Aaron Smith-Levin after a race filled with drama. Smith-Levin is a former Church of Scientology member who defected and became a vocal critic, but also found himself with some drunken run-ins with the law along the way, which Teixeira used as campaign fodder against him.

After her victory, she replaced former Clearwater City Council member Hoyt Hamilton on the dais.

Teixeira is the only non-Republican currently serving on Clearwater City Council. She is a registered independent.

But that could change, with political circles already whispering about a potential front-runner to replace her. Sam Wilson, who currently serves as the District Director for Republican U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, said he’s seriously considering a bid. He 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.

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.

Sources tell Florida Politics Wilson will likely be the front-runner if he runs.

In a Facebook post Friday, Wilson hinted at a possible announcement next month.

“The momentum is building, and February is shaping up to be an incredibly busy month ahead with key developments on the horizon. Stay tuned for more updates, exciting things are coming,” he wrote, adding an American flag emoji.

In a conversation with Florida Politics, Wilson, a member of Generation Z, said he has received encouragement from Clearwater residents eager for a fresh perspective.

“My generation wants to be engaged,” he said, adding that if he runs and is elected, he would utilize social media to ensure residents are informed of what’s going on in their city.

“I feel like a lot of times issues come up in our City Council, whether it be dealing with the Church of Scientology or Duke Energy; you just really don’t know where your Council members stand unless there is a work session or a City Council meeting,” he continued, adding that residents with whom he has spoken to “often feel they’re not in the loop.”

His top priorities, should he run, would be addressing affordability issues in the city and ensuring transparency in city business.

In his Facebook post, Wilson said he has been “approached by many residents in Clearwater to run for local office.”

“I’ve listened to your concerns and ideas. Now, more than ever, our city Council needs strong leadership laser-focused on making Clearwater more affordable, by cutting property taxes to ease the burden on homeowners and families, while preserving the unique charm, character, and coastal vibe that makes our community special,” he wrote.

Speaking with Florida Politics, he added that he would work to ensure continued momentum on revitalizing downtown Clearwater.

If he runs, and is elected, Wilson has the opportunity to turn City Council entirely red. Teixeira represents Seat 5 on the Council. Seat 4 is also up for election this year. Incumbent David Allbritton is also not seeking re-election.

Candidates cannot officially file for the 2026 race until Feb. 19.

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Politics

Bianca Latvala mulling Clearwater City Council bid

Published

1 hour ago

January 16, 2026

May Greene

Bianca Latvala, a local GOP political strategist and wife of Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala, is seriously considering running for Clearwater City Council.

If she jumps in, she would be running for Seat 4, currently held by David Allbritton. Allbritton is not seeking re-election, so it will be an open race. Allbritton is also a Republican.

“I am interested in running for Clearwater City Council because public service has been a defining calling throughout my life — one I have already been committed to in meaningful and consistent ways. Serving others is not an abstract idea to me; it is work I have done, responsibilities I have carried, and values I have practiced,” Latvala told Florida Politics Friday.

“I want to continue that service by helping protect Clearwater’s quality of life, ensuring our first responders have the support they need, and encouraging thoughtful, responsible development in our downtown and throughout the rest of Clearwater.”

Latvala is affiliated with a political committee established this week, Friends of Bianca. Jamie Jodoin, a prominent Treasurer for candidates, filed paperwork to open the committee Wednesday. She is listed as the registered agent, Chair and Treasurer for the committee. The paperwork did not list a supporting candidate.

Chris Latvala was instrumental in what turned out to be a red wave in Clearwater in the 2024 election cycle. He helped now-Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector get elected, and backed Republican Council members Ryan Cotton and Mike Mannino as they won seats.

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.

Allbritton was first elected to the seat in 2018, in which he collected 67% of the vote, according to the city. He won re-election in 2022, earning 56% of the vote in a three-way race.

Allbritton is a contractor and served on the Board of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

Seat 5 is also up for election this year, and will be an open race. Incumbent Lina Teixeira announced this week she would not seek re-election. Sam Wilson, the District Director for Republican U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, is expected to run to succeed her.

Candidates cannot officially file for the 2026 race until Feb. 19.

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Politics

Democrats fear ICE could open a detention facility in Orlando

Published

2 hours ago

January 16, 2026

May Greene

‘Let me be clear. We oppose any effort to place an ICE facility here and will fight it at every turn.’

An immigration advocate and a Democratic Senator said they are worried Orange County could be used as a large immigration facility by U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE).

“We’ve seen reports that ICE is considering a large detention center or process facility in Senate District 17. An Orlando ICE detention center would be an unacceptable and dangerous escalation of immigration enforcement in our area,” Orlando Democrat Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith said in a statement Friday. “Let me be clear. We oppose any effort to place an ICE facility here and will fight it at every turn.”

When reached for comment, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said the county has not heard directly from ICE so he was unable to confirm any news about a possible facility. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer could not be reached immediately Friday evening.

Since. Jan. 1, there have 831 bookings on immigration hold at the Orange County Jail although a significant number of those bookings have been re-bookings, according to Orange County.

Meanwhile ICE is ramping up its presence in the region, said Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, Executive Director, Hope CommUnity Center.

“We have received multiple verifiable and credible reports that ICE and Border Patrol agents are stopping individuals in our communities, requesting documentation, and detaining people, often without a clear explanation,” said Sousa-Lazaballet, who is running for House District 42 as a Democrat and has been a longtime immigration advocate.

Sousa-Lazaballet said he was concerned ICE will use a warehouse to hold up to 1,500 people.

“I have personally visited the suspected site and can state unequivocally: this is a warehouse built to store goods and merchandise, not to house human beings. Using such a space for detention would constitute a profound humanitarian failure,” he said in a statement. “Detaining individuals in a warehouse setting is not enforcement; it is dehumanization, and it stands in direct opposition to our most basic values and principles of human rights.”

Sousa-Lazaballet is scheduled to hold a press conference Monday in Apopka with U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost to address the situation. Orange County jail officials will also release more information on the jail bookings next week.

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Politics

Hotel lobby backs Fontainebleau’s family-focused revamp as Preservation Board review nears

Published

3 hours ago

January 16, 2026

May Greene

South Florida’s biggest hotel lobbying organization lobby is cheering a Fontainebleau makeover now headed to preservation review in Miami Beach.

The Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association (GMBHA) is urging the city’s Historic Preservation Board to approve Fontainebleau Miami Beach’s proposed “family-friendly improvements,” arguing the project would help keep the city competitive as a global hospitality destination.

In a letter to the Board, GMBHA President and CEO Curtis Crider framed the plan as a reinvestment play for the broader hotel ecosystem, calling such projects “essential” to Miami Beach’s economic future.

The group said the proposal would enhance the guest and resident experience while respecting the resort’s historic character.

“Projects like this are not only beneficial, but they are also essential,” Crider wrote. “On behalf of the hotel community, we believe this initiative strengthens the city’s competitiveness, supports sustainable economic growth, and reflects the evolution necessary to ensure Miami Beach’s continued success.”

Fontainebleau Development, led by Chair and CEO Jeffrey Soffer, said the proposal is designed to “responsibly repurpose” existing outdoor areas without expanding the hotel’s amenity footprint or altering its architectural character.

“Fontainebleau is an institution in Miami, from its iconic design to the incredible experiences it has long offered, and it remains as a part of what makes Miami Beach so special,” he said in a statement.

Anthony Stahl, Fontainebleau’s Senior Vice President of Development, said the goal is a “thoughtful evolution” that preserves what makes the Fontainebleau iconic while ensuring “it continues to resonate with today’s families.”

GMBHA’s endorsement adds organized industry support as the long-running debate over Miami Beach’s identity — party town, family destination, or both — continues to shape major redevelopment proposals.

The Fontainebleau, designed by architect Morris Lapidus and opened in 1954, is one of Miami Beach’s signature MiMo-era landmarks and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The city’s Historic Preservation Board reviews alterations affecting designated historic properties and recommends guidelines for evaluating proposed changes.

Recent reporting has described Fontainebleau’s plan as a sweeping rework of its outdoor pool deck aimed at attracting more families, including a proposed water-park concept featuring 11 waterslides — one reportedly about 120 feet tall — along with other pool-deck upgrades.

The concept has drawn attention because it would require Preservation Board scrutiny for work on a historically significant site, even as the developer argues it can be achieved through reconfigured, existing outdoor spaces rather than an expanded footprint.

A Preservation Board hearing on the project was scheduled for Jan. 13, but the city canceled the meeting Monday. The Board’s next meeting is on Feb. 10, though the construction of a new fire station building is currently the only matter on the agenda.

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