Alan Clendenin will continue to wield the gavel as Chair of the Tampa City Council after members voted to re-elect him to the role, extending a tenure that began last year after a contentious leadership shake-up.
Clendenin’s selection came as City Council members appeared apprehensive about stepping into leadership roles, particularly after a public spat between former Chair Guido Maniscalco and Council Member Bill Carlson — who recently launched a bid for Tampa Mayor.
Clendenin, who represents the citywide District 1 seat, first assumed the Chair position in May 2025 after Carlson successfully moved to reconsider Maniscalco’s reappointment to the role — and subsequently swinging his vote to select Clendenin as Chair.
Thursday’s vote, by contrast, was a far less dramatic process and signaled continued support for Clendenin’s leadership heading into another year of major city issues, including redevelopment negotiations, infrastructure planning, public safety discussions, and high-profile discussions over a proposed Tampa Bay Rays ballpark.
No other Council member was nominated, nor appeared eager to be.
“I just thank you. It’s been a very interesting a little less than a year being Chair. We have so much good work to do for the city of Tampa, and I’m happy to be a part of it to move the city forward,” Clendenin said after the vote.
Council Member Lynn Hurtak was also re-elected as Chair Pro Tempore following similar hesitation by other members. Hurtak — who is also running for Mayor — told members she would continue serving in the role if no one else would relieve her of the duties, and explained that the role requires additional effort.
“If no one else will do it, I will do it,” Hurtak said. “So I have to say, Chair and Chair Pro-Tem: It’s work. It’s work on top of work you already do. I’ll fill in if I have to, but if anyone else wants it, I’m happy to …”
Other Council members interjected before Hurtak finished her thought, but indicated various reasons for declining the role themselves.
Asked for a few words about the appointment, Hurtak simply turned to Clendenin and said “don’t be absent,” eliciting a chuckle from the crowd.
“I think we make a good team, so I appreciate that you’re still sitting here. Thank you,” Clendenin said in response.
Meanwhile, the Council did select its youngest member, Naya Young, as Chair of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), and a highly experienced but term-limited Luis Viera — who is set to leave office in about six months as he runs for House District 67 to succeed term-limited House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell — was selected to serve as the CRA’s Vice Chair for the remainder of his tenure.
Carlson’s decision to withdraw support for Maniscalco after initially backing him for another term as Chair came after learning of a March 2025 letter from Mayor Jane Castor to Maniscalco criticizing what she described as a lack of civility from some Council members toward city staff. The political fallout escalated further after Maniscalco briefly appointed Carlson to lead the Public Safety Committee before reversing course and instead naming Viera to the role following objections from the Tampa Police Benevolent Association.
Born in Sanford, Clendenin has lived in Tampa since 1985 and spent 32 years as an air traffic control specialist with the Federal Aviation Administration before entering city politics. In addition to serving on the City Council, he also sits on the Transportation Planning Organization, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and Tampa Sports Authority, according to his city profile.
Despite the political drama surrounding his initial rise to the position, Clendenin has become a lynchpin for the Tampa City Council. His re-election keeps continuity atop the seven-member board and keeps the drama (potentially) at bay.
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Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics contributed to this report.