Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard resigns abruptly amid frustration with $90M City Hall project

Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard resigned suddenly Monday morning, less than an hour into the City Council’s budget meeting just before 9 a.m.

As a city manager form of government, Hibbard’s role as Mayor is to lead the City Council. He was the sole member of the board to express reservation over a new City Hall, a $90 million project that currently has a $60 million deficit.

During discussion, Hibbard called for a brief recess. When the Council returned, he immediately resigned and, as he offered a limited explanation, began packing his briefcase as colleagues looked on with shocked faces.

– Peter Schorsch, Florida Politics