Brian Aungst

Infobox_Politician
name = Brian Aungst, Sr.


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birth_date = Birth date and age|1954|1|22|mf=y
birth_place = Annville, Pennsylvania
residence =
death_date =
death_place =
office = Mayor of Clearwater, Florida
term_start = March 18,1999
term_end = January 4,2005
predecessor =Rita Garvey
successor = Frank Hibbard
constituency = Clearwater, Florida
party = Republican Party
religion = Methodist
occupation =
majority =
relations =
spouse =Karen Lynn Aungst
civil partner =
children = Brian Aungst, Jr.
website =
footnotes =

Political career

Brian Aungst served as the mayor of one of Florida's largest cities, Clearwater, for two terms from 1999-2005. Term limits kept him from seeking a third term [cite news | url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/699728861.html?dids=699728861:699728861&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Sep+25%2C+2004&author=AARON+SHAROCKMAN&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1&desc=Race+for+mayor%27s+seat+a+lonely+one+so+far| title=Race for mayor's seat a lonely one so far | publisher=St. Petersburg Times, September 25, 2004 | accessdate=2007-01-28 ] . He was credited with turning a stagnant city around, serving as the catalyst to attract unprecedented economic development to a once dormant community [cite news | url=http://www.stpetersburgtimes.com/2005/01/24/Northpinellas/Strong_mayor_made_cit.shtml| title=Strong mayor made city stronger | publisher=St. Petersburg Times, January 24, 2005 | accessdate=2007-01-28 ] [cite news | url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/116684743.html?dids=116684743:116684743&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Apr+28%2C+2002&author=&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=2&desc=In+difficult+role%2C+Aungst+has+found+success+Series%3A+EDITORIAL| title=In difficult role Aungst has found success| publisher=St. Petersburg Times, April 28, 2002 | accessdate=2007-01-28 ] .

During his six-year tenure he attracted nearly $750 million of economic development to Clearwater including a sweeping redevelopment of the city's number-one economic engine, Clearwater Beach [cite news | url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/782843091.html?dids=782843091:782843091&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+23%2C+2005&author=&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=2&desc=Mayor+leaves+strong+legacy+of+a+Clearwater+transformed+Series%3A+EDITORIAL| title=Mayor leaves a strong legacy of a Clearwater transformed | publisher=St. Petersburg Times, January 23, 2005 | accessdate=2007-01-28 ] .

Mayor Aungst served on Pinellas County's Tourist Development Council, the advisory board of Pinellas County's Convention and Visitors Bureau, using his position as mayor to encourage tourists to visit the area, especially after the events of 9/11/2001.

Aungst was instrumental in putting together a public-private partnership to build a new Community Sports Complex Bright House Networks Field to host Philadelphia Phillies Spring Training minor league team the Clearwater Threshers and other community events [cite news | url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/113591756.html?dids=113591756:113591756&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Apr+13%2C+2002&author=CHRISTINA+HEADRICK&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1&desc=Phillies+to+pay+for+more+of+stadium| title=Phillies to pay for more of stadium| publisher=St. Petersburg Times, April 13, 2002 | accessdate=2007-01-28 ] . In addition he spearheaded a public-private partnership to build a new 90,000 square foot signature public library in downtown Clearwater [cite news | url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/626391911.html?dids=626391911:626391911&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=May+2%2C+2004&author=CHRIS+TISCH&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1&desc=CLEARWATER+MAIN+LIBRARY+%2F%2F+A+four-floor+living+room| title=Clearwater main library a four-floor living room| publisher=St. Petersburg Times, May 2, 2004 | accessdate=2007-01-28 ] . Under his leadership the city built multiple community recreation centers and athletic complexes and was named Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sports Town USA" for the state of Florida [cite news | url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/544451961.html?dids=544451961:544451961&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Feb+12%2C+2004&author=ADRIENNE+P.+SAMUELS&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1&desc=City+wins+spot+on+Sports+Illustrated+map| title=City wins spot on Sports Illustrated map| publisher=St. Petersburg Times, February 12, 2004 | accessdate=2007-01-28 ] . He was the first Mayor of Clearwater, Florida to be re-elected unopposed since 1956 [cite news | url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/104798300.html?dids=104798300:104798300&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Feb+3%2C+2002&author=CHRISTINA+HEADRICK&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=3&desc=Unopposed%2C+Aungst+wins+long+before+March+election| title=Unopposed, Aungst wins long before March election| publisher=St. Petersburg Times, February 3, 2002 | accessdate=2007-01-28 ] . Aungst supported his successor Mayor Frank Hibbard who was elected unopposed to replace him in 2005 and re-elected in 2008 [cite news | url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/768321841.html?dids=768321841:768321841&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Dec+18%2C+2004&author=AARON+SHAROCKMAN&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1&desc=New+Clearwater+mayor+named| title=New Clearwater mayor named| publisher=St. Petersburg Times, December 18, 2004 | accessdate=2007-01-28 ] .

Brian Aungst presided over the Clearwater City Commission for almost six years of unprecedented growth [cite news | url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/116684743.html?dids=116684743:116684743&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Apr+28%2C+2002&author=&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=2&desc=In+difficult+role%2C+Aungst+has+found+success+Series%3A+EDITORIAL| title=In difficult role Aungst has found success| publisher=St. Petersburg Times, April 28, 2002 | accessdate=2007-01-28 ] .

References

###@@@KEY@@@###succession box
before= Rita Garvey
title= Mayor of Clearwater, Florida
years= 1999 – 2005
after= Frank Hibbard