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Tipton Plans To Join County Clerk Race

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 18, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Mayor Dan Tipton is expected to join a crowded field of candidates running for county clerk of the circuit court in next year's general elections.

Tipton, 54, has not launched his candidacy, but real estate broker Greg Armstrong, who bowed out of the race Wednesday, said the mayor plans to seek the clerk's job.

Tipton could not be reached for comment, but Armstrong said he expects his friend to make an announcement this week about a bid to replace Jed Pittman, who plans to retire.

Tipton, who like Pittman is a former Democrat turned Replican, owns an interior design business and was elected mayor in 2004 and re-elected in 2006. In 1992, he ran unsuccessfully for a county commission seat.

Armstrong, who recently purchased F.I. Grey Realty's residential real estate business, announced in a news release that he officially was backing out of the race.

He cited the demands of running a real estate firm as his reason for dropping out.

Besides Tipton, two other candidates have come forward in the past year to vie for the post occupied by Pittman since 1977. They are lawyer Robert Altman, a Democrat who lost a challenge to Pittman in 2004, and Pittman's chief deputy, Republican Paula O'Neil.

The clerk is elected countywide to a four-year term. Official qualifying for the Nov. 4, 2008, election is set for June 16-20. The new clerk will take office Jan. 1, 2009.

In addition to overseeing court records, clerks of the circuit court in Florida act as county treasurer, recorder, auditor, finance officer and clerk of the county commission.

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (727) 815-1082 or cwade@tampatrib.com.

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