Find out what happened in the 2024 Pinellas County municipal elections

Voters decided on several key decisions this week, including a new mayor in Clearwater.

A shot of Clearwater Beach, taken from the ocean back toward the sand. There are high rises jutting out, with condos and apartment complexes lining the beach. The ocean is turquoise, and the skies above are cloudless and pale blue.

The people of Clearwater have spoken.

Earlier this week, several elections took place across parts of Pinellas County. Three new mayors were chosen, as were several council members + commissioners. Let’s break down the results:

Attorney Bruce Rector won a reported ~62% of the vote to become the next mayor of Clearwater. The race between Rector and City Council Member Kathleen Beckman was an expensive one, with both candidates raising $125,000+ in their campaigns.

Megan Zemaitis won the mayor’s race in Kenneth City with a reported ~72% of votes against the incumbent Robert J. Howell. And in Indian Shores, current Vice Mayor Diantha Schear will take over from Patrick Soranno, who has served as mayor since 2016.

Voters in Safety Harbor voiced their desire for a centuries-old oak tree’s preservation. The treasure has stood for an estimated 300+ years, and is believed to be the oldest living oak in the county.

In Clearwater, people voted in favor of a run-off system to replace single winner-take-all elections starting in 2026.

Check out the full results.