CLEARWATER, Fla. — Eleven cities across Pinellas County are holding municipal elections Tuesday, but one expected to drive voter turnout is the race for Clearwater mayor.

Julie Marcus, supervisor of Elections in Pinellas County, says this election is relatively unique for Florida. With only a Republican presidential primary where many candidates have suspended their campaigns, it’s hard to compare to 2016 or 2020 when presidential primary elections were held for both parties.

“We have an election held in March, based on Florida law, and it’s only a Republican primary,” Marcus said. “I think a driving force in Pinellas elections right now is these municipal elections and hopefully republicans will turn out the vote.”

Once again this year, the presidential primary lines up with the Clearwater mayoral election. On the ballot are city council member Kathleen Beckman and lawyer Bruce Rector.

The backbone of Beckman’s campaign has been lowering city and resident costs, transparency with city plans and spending, and sustainability. Rector’s campaign sits on making public safety a priority, improving roads, sidewalks and neighborhoods, and fiscal responsibility. Rector has been critical of the $90 million allocated to build a new city hall.

The race for Clearwater mayor is also shaping up to be one of the most expensive in the city’s history.

The most recent campaign finance filings dated March 15 show Beckman’s contributions at $147,687 and Rector’s at $132,785. Both candidates are creeping closer to the record $155,000 set in the 2020 election by former mayor Frank Hibbard.

Clearwater’s last mayoral election also had relatively strong voter turnout at 32%.

For those not in Clearwater, Marcus says to keep in mind Florida law is specific when it comes to the withdrawal period for candidates. If a candidate didn’t formally withdraw by Dec. 12, their name will remain on the ballot and the supervisor of elections must count the vote.