City Council candidate Sam Wilson sees little choice but to work with the Church of Scientology and its affiliated property owners if Clearwater wants to fill the vacant storefronts that have long troubled its downtown.
His opponent in the Nov. 3 runoff, former council member Mark Bunker, says he is willing to consider deals with the church. But after more than two decades of documenting Scientology’s activities and questioning its influence over city government, he has little faith in its leader, David Miscavige.
“They own so much property, so you have to work to some capacity with anyone willing to invest in Clearwater,” Wilson said. “A lot of people have been concerned about properties that have been closed, so as long as those properties are open to the public and serve the public interest, then I’m for it.”
The church and its affiliated entities own more than 200 downtown properties, many of which have remained vacant.
Bunker said the city should not rule out agreements involving those properties, but wants Scientology to fulfill its obligations before receiving anything in return.
“When I was on the council, any deal we made with Scientology, which I’m open to any deal that makes sense, but Miscavige has to come with his part of the bargain first, because he has stabbed us in the back many times,” Bunker said.
Bunker accused Scientology representatives of presenting their development plans as broadly supported by Clearwater residents while avoiding scrutiny from the news media.
“The way Scientologists roll things out is very disturbing,” he said, adding that reporters would ask “hard questions” about the proposals and are therefore never invited to events.
Wilson, 26, pointed to the proposed EVO Entertainment Center, an 83,000-square-foot complex planned for Cleveland Street and Myrtle Avenue, as an example of the type of investment he supports.
The $50 million project would include movie theaters, bowling, dining and arcade games. EVO Entertainment would operate the venue, while Scientology-affiliated Myrtle Development LLC is behind the development.
“It’s not a Scientology project. It’s leasing, but again, it’s open to the public and it provides a great opportunity downtown,” Wilson said.
“Young people are getting jobs, and I care about things that bring revenue into our city.”
The proposal has required action from City Hall. In September, the council voted 3-2 to give initial approval to vacating portions of Grove and Laura streets and an alley to accommodate the development. The council approved the street vacations on second reading Oct. 1.
The developer has argued that the street closures are necessary to accommodate the complex and provide safe access between the entertainment center and its parking areas.
“The movie theater is the type of catalyst we need downtown,” Bunker said. “If we can create a booming economy downtown that goes along with what we are doing on the beach, that would be great, but Scientology has been the reason people refuse to come downtown.”
His concern is whether the church will deliver the promised development. Bunker began documenting Scientology’s activities long before winning his first council election in 2020.
He founded XenuTV in the late 1990s, producing videos and interviews critical of the church, which established its international spiritual headquarters in Clearwater in the 1970s.
At a council work session in 2020, Bunker proposed asking the FBI to investigate whether Scientology-affiliated property purchases downtown involved racketeering. Other council members did not support the proposal, and the city did not authorize a request for an investigation.
His distrust extends to Miscavige, who became Scientology’s leader following the death of founder L. Ron Hubbard in 1986.
Miscavige has faced allegations of physical abuse and intimidation from former church officials and members. The church has denied allegations of abuse and challenged accounts from former members.
Miscavige’s name also surfaced in litigation following the 1995 death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson, who died after spending 17 days under the care of church members in Clearwater. In 1999, a judge allowed Miscavige to be named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit brought by McPherson’s family, which alleged he had directed aspects of her care. Miscavige denied directing her treatment, and the litigation did not establish personal liability against him.
“I don’t trust Miscavige, and the council doesn’t want to address it,” Bunker said.
The disagreement over Scientology’s relationship with City Hall became particularly visible this year when the council approved the church’s request to take control of a block of South Garden Avenue.
The stretch between Franklin and Court streets runs alongside Scientology’s Flag Building. The church wants to incorporate the roadway into its long-planned L. Ron Hubbard Hall, a proposed 3,500-seat auditorium and public plaza.
In an earlier agreement, the council had approved a transaction that would have brought the city approximately $1.3 million for the roadway. That arrangement was abandoned after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued an opinion that the church likely owned the underlying land and could seek to have the public right of way vacated without paying market value.
The council subsequently approved the vacation in June by a 3-2 vote. Council members David Allbritton, Ryan Cotton and Mike Mannino supported it, while Mayor Bruce Rector and Councilwoman Lina Teixeira opposed it.
Rector argued that a court, rather than the attorney general’s opinion, should determine ownership. Teixeira raised concerns about transportation access and future stormwater infrastructure.
Scientology representatives have said the planned hall and plaza would be open to the public. Under the city’s approval, the church must open the hall within six years.
Bunker, who lost his council seat to Cotton in 2024, said the decision surrendered an important piece of downtown infrastructure.
“Ryan Cotton lost South Garden Avenue,” Bunker said, referring to his successor. “It was a transit hub.”
“Scientology is steamrolling City Council.”
The decision also prompted opposition from Save the Garden, a citizens group seeking voter approval for certain future transfers of public rights of way. A legal dispute over the group’s proposed ballot initiative followed.
Wilson has declined to say how he would have voted on the Garden Avenue transaction, instead emphasizing whether individual development proposals benefit downtown.
Wilson serves as district director for U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and sits on the Clearwater Housing Authority board. His campaign has attracted endorsements from Luna, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, Rector and former Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard.
Bunker served on the council from 2020 to 2024. He has pointed to the North Greenwood Community Redevelopment Area as an example of city work beyond his opposition to Scientology.
The candidates are competing for the seat being vacated by Teixeira. Wilson finished first in the Aug. 18 municipal election with approximately 49% of the vote, followed by Bunker with about 35%. Kevin Laughlin finished third, sending Wilson and Bunker to the Nov. 3 runoff.
“I wish Bunker focused on more issues than just Scientology,” Wilson said. “I think he would have done better.”
“Mark Bunker and I both love Clearwater,” Wilson said. “When it comes to policy we are not the most aligned, but I cannot doubt his love of Clearwater. You don’t run for City Council if you don’t love your city.”