Super Voters to Get Aquarium Referendum Information in Mailbox

Giving the Clearwater Marine Aquarium rights to redevelop a portion of the downtown waterfront will impact the whole city.

However, only several thousand of the Clearwater's nearly 67,000 registered voters will be sent information about a special election Nov. 5 that would allow the development of a $160 million aquarium facility downtown where City Hall is.

Leaders talked about whether to mail the information to super voters or to 49,000 homes in the city Thursday. 

Super voters are considered those who have gone to the polls in three of the last five elections, that is roughly 7,700 people in Clearwater.

“What I’m struggling with is trying to find out what number we ought to send it to,” said Mayor George N. Cretekos. “Because we have a $1.5 million-$1.4 million deficit that we have to go into reserves... I don’t think we should take $25,000 to send to every voter... I don’t know that it is our responsibility to reach out to more. I think we need to be consistent.”

A mailer, outlining what a yes and no vote means, has been sent out to residents, and paid for by the city, for other charter amendment changes, said Pam Akin, city attorney.

However, the amount of voters it is sent to varies.

For charter changes and renegotiating employees’ pensions in the 2012 election, a mailer was sent to super voters about 45 days before the election. A second post card mailer was sent out closer to the election date.

One mailer was sent out for the election that allowed development of the downtown boat slips in 2007. It cost about $3,600 to send mailers to 7,700 super voters at the time, said Joelle Castelli, city spokeswoman.

Because of low turnout in off election years, they can get more bang for voter buck sending to the more engaged super voters, Castelli said.

Information regarding the special election will be on the city’s website, it will be featured in an upcoming city magazine that is mailed to residents, and the mailer will be sent to specific voters about 45 days before the vote.

The expected cost of the special election is $100,000. Aquarium officials have said they will pay costs associated with creating the referendum.

However, leaders balked at asking aquarium officials to pick up what could be a $10,000 tab for the mailers.

“I would be uncomfortable asking them to pay for this mailing,” Cretekos said. “Because as was indicated, it was something we’ve done consistently.”

However if the city sends out a mailing it should be paid for by the aquarium, Cretekos said in May:

“I would not be comfortable paying for mailing,” he said.

• Aquarium Referendum Wording Set
• Aquarium Referendum Comes Back to Council in June