Karen#1
Well-known member
TONY ORTEGA
Excerpt:
In 2020, Scientology critic Mark Bunker was elected to Clearwater, Florida’s city council with 6,170 votes. Four years later, he garnered even more support in a re-election bid — 8,907 votes — but lost to Ryan Cotton. He ran again this year, and in the meantime the city had changed its rules (specifically because of his 2020 victory) requiring a runoff if a council race didn’t produce a majority winner. In the August primary, Bunker again received more than 8,000 votes, but the winner, Sam Wilson, didn’t achieve a majority. So yesterday, Bunker and Wilson faced off in a runoff, and Bunker this time received 19,491 votes, more than twice than he had ever gained before and a sign of the respect that he deserves. However, it wasn’t enough to defeat Wilson, who received 23,381 votes after a massive and relentless ad campaign. Last night, we asked Mark Bunker for his thoughts.
I knew this would be a tough race, but I had hoped I could win because I did grow my support in the community over the years. A lot of people were counting on me because no one else on the council cares about a neighborhood such as the one next to The Landings golf course. I was on the council when developers proposed a light industrial complex on the site, which would have delivered some new jobs but also more traffic, more noise, and more disruptions for the people living there. Those people made their objections clear. The land use would have required a change from recreational use to light industrial and that needed the approval of all the voters. They said no, so that project died.
Now developers are proposing a massive sports complex for The Landings which will be even more disruptive but does not require a change to the land use. Voters didn’t get the option to vote yes or no this time. We have a council that wants the project to move forward no matter what the neighborhood wants. No one on the council sided with the people. Sam Wilson being on the council will ensure developers get their way. Business will always come first.
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tonyortega.substack.com
Excerpt:
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In 2020, Scientology critic Mark Bunker was elected to Clearwater, Florida’s city council with 6,170 votes. Four years later, he garnered even more support in a re-election bid — 8,907 votes — but lost to Ryan Cotton. He ran again this year, and in the meantime the city had changed its rules (specifically because of his 2020 victory) requiring a runoff if a council race didn’t produce a majority winner. In the August primary, Bunker again received more than 8,000 votes, but the winner, Sam Wilson, didn’t achieve a majority. So yesterday, Bunker and Wilson faced off in a runoff, and Bunker this time received 19,491 votes, more than twice than he had ever gained before and a sign of the respect that he deserves. However, it wasn’t enough to defeat Wilson, who received 23,381 votes after a massive and relentless ad campaign. Last night, we asked Mark Bunker for his thoughts.
I knew this would be a tough race, but I had hoped I could win because I did grow my support in the community over the years. A lot of people were counting on me because no one else on the council cares about a neighborhood such as the one next to The Landings golf course. I was on the council when developers proposed a light industrial complex on the site, which would have delivered some new jobs but also more traffic, more noise, and more disruptions for the people living there. Those people made their objections clear. The land use would have required a change from recreational use to light industrial and that needed the approval of all the voters. They said no, so that project died.
Now developers are proposing a massive sports complex for The Landings which will be even more disruptive but does not require a change to the land use. Voters didn’t get the option to vote yes or no this time. We have a council that wants the project to move forward no matter what the neighborhood wants. No one on the council sided with the people. Sam Wilson being on the council will ensure developers get their way. Business will always come first.
READ MORE
Mark Bunker’s message for Clearwater as it faces Scientology’s relentless ambition
In 2020, Scientology critic Mark Bunker was elected to Clearwater, Florida’s city council with 6,170 votes.
tonyortega.substack.com
