George Cretekos, Sand Key resident and longtime District Assistant to Congressman C.W. Bill Young, today became the first candidate to qualify in the 2007 Clearwater City Council elections, when he filed petition cards for the Clearwater City Council, Seat 3. This is the one-year seat vacated by the resignation of Councilman Hoyt Hamilton.
Cretekos, a Pinellas County native who moved to Clearwater in 1976, retired earlier this year after working for 35 years for Congressman Young.
"For the past 35 years I have worked on behalf of the people of Clearwater and Pinellas County. I have enjoyed the relationships I have developed with citizens from all walks of life and leaders at every level of government. My entire life has been about public service and I would like to continue that service as a member of the Clearwater City Council," said Cretekos in making his announcement.
"The City of Clearwater has been my home, and over the past 30 years I have seen how our city has changed. I believe that decisions made over the next few years will be critical to our future. We must maintain the quality of life that we have all enjoyed by properly balancing our growth and development. At the same time we must be mindful of the threat to home ownership that is posed by rising property taxes and insurance costs.
"Years of helping Pinellas residents with their problems with Social Security, Medicare, the Veterans Administration and other agencies has taught me the value of constituent service and being accessible to citizens. I promise the people of Clearwater that I will be accessible to them, that I will work hard to study the issues that come before our Council, and that I will make the best decision possible on each issue for the good of our entire community."
During his tenure with Congressman Young, Cretekos was involved in securing funding for several critical Clearwater projects including the new bridge to Clearwater Beach, the construction of Sand Key Park and the ongoing improvements to U. S. 19.
George Cretekos is a graduate of Davidson College and has a Masters of Public Administration in Urban Affairs degree from the University of Pittsburg. Cretekos and his wife, Carolyn, have been married for 17 years.