Writers

Tracey McManus, Times staff writer

Tracey covers Clearwater government and general topics in the city. Before joining the Times in August 2015, she spent five years covering everything from education reform to animal welfare for The Augusta Chronicle in Georgia. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she was raised in Palm City, Fla., and graduated from University of Florida in 2010 with degrees in journalism and Spanish.

[Photo courtesy City of Clearwater] Former Parks and Recreation coordinator Brian Craig was hired as a Clearwater police special operations coordinator on June 23. The transfer came while his former subordinate was being investigated for stealing money.

He listed a degree he doesn�t have, lacked stated requirements. Still got Clearwater police job.

CLEARWATER � The candidate did not, on paper, meet minimum requirements of the position. He was not the clear choice of the review board. He also listed a degree on his application that he did not really have. But then-Parks and Recreation...

Published: 08/16/18

JIM DAMASKE | Times Citizens can give feedback on the city's $52 million Imagine Clearwater waterfront redevelopment plan at two public meetings this month.

Clearwater is looking for resident input on redevelopment plan

CLEARWATER � Citizens can give feedback on the city�s $52 million Imagine Clearwater waterfront redevelopment plan at two public meetings this month. Hired consultants submitted preliminary engineering plans for the project June 22, two months...

Published: 08/16/18

Florida�s District 16 Republican primary pits longtime politician against first-time office seeker

A race between a well-funded, longtime politician touting experience versus a first-time office seeker rejecting any ties to special interests. This is no new election narrative.But that is the glaring dynamic in the Florida Senate District 16...

Published: 08/15/18

Voters will decide this fall whether Clearwater should change its government run by a profession city manager into a strong mayor system like Tampa and St. Petersburg. From left to right: Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman [Times | 2017, 2018]

Clearwater voters: a strong mayor question is official on the Nov. 6 ballot

CLEARWATER � Money is already flowing into the campaign to change Clearwater�s government run by a professional city manager into a strong mayor system like Tampa and St. Petersburg.The Accountable Government political committee, chaired by...

Published: 08/14/18

Updated: 08/15/18

JIM DAMASKE | Times A strong mayor referendum is not even officially on the Nov. 6 ballot yet, but the group of businessmen who pushed the initiative have already started their campaign.

Battle lines forming over Clearwater�s strong mayor referendum

CLEARWATER � A strong mayor referendum is not even officially on the Nov. 6 ballot yet, but the group of businessmen who pushed the initiative have already started their campaign. And they set up their political committee so it can pay for more...

Published: 08/14/18

The candidates for District 12 (left to right): Chris Hunter, a former FBI agent and federal prosecutor who lives in Trinity; Stephen Perenich, a Tarpon Springs tax consultant; and Robert Tager, a criminal defense attorney and former public defender from Lutz. [SCOTT KEELER | Times]

Three Democrats face off in primary to challenge Bilirakis for congressional seat

The three Democrats running in the Aug. 28 primary for the chance to go up against longtime District 12 Republican Congressman Gus Bilirakis have one major pitch in common.They all believe they can appeal to traditional Republicans in this...

Published: 08/09/18

OCTAVIO JONES | Times
Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton, President and Founder of National Action Network speaks during a press conference while the McGlockton family behind him to protest the killing of Markeis McGlockton, an unarmed Black man shot to death this month, on Sunday, August 5, 2018.

From Clearwater church, Sharpton and gubernatorial candidates call for �stand your ground� repeal

CLEARWATER �The two officials with power to arrest and charge the man who killed Markeis McGlockton during an argument over a convenience store parking spot last month were not sitting in the pews at St. John Primitive Baptist Church on Sunday.

Published: 08/05/18

Updated: 08/06/18

JIM DAMASKE | Times
City Hall will move into the sixth floor of the The Bank of America building (middle) at 600 Cleveland St. on Nov. 1. The temporary move will free officials to demolish the City Hall on Osceola Avenue so it can be redeveloped as part of the Imagine Clearwater waterfront plan.

Clearwater City Hall to be housed in a downtown office tower for at least five years

CLEARWATER � For at least the next five years, City Hall will be moved from its landmark perch on the Bluff and into the sixth floor of a prominent office tower downtown.The offices of city council, city manager, city clerk, city attorney, the...

Updated one month ago

[TRACEY MCMANUS/TIMES STAFF] In the middle of the City Council meeting Thursday, about one hour before officials would discuss whether to put a strong mayor referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot, Vice Mayor Doreen Caudell (center) walked unexpectedly into the chambers and flipped the outcome of vote.

Clearwater Council votes to put strong mayor question on November ballot

CLEARWATER � In the middle of the City Council meeting Thursday, about one hour before officials would discuss whether to put a strong mayor referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot, Vice Mayor Doreen Caudell walked unexpectedly into the chambers and flipped...

Updated one month ago

Pelican Walk Plaza [Photo by Google Maps]

Landmark Pelican Walk Plaza on Clearwater Beach sells for $14.4M

A landmark building on Clearwater Beach has a new owner. Pelican Walk Plaza, home of Hogan�s Beach Shop and the Brown Boxer pub and grille, sold to a company registered to investor Anthony Caruso for $14.4 million on July 23, according to...

Updated one month ago