Yesterday, Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala posted another public statement aimed at Clearwater City Councilmember Mike Mannino, complaining about records requests being made by the Church of Scientology.
Mannino was one of three council members who voted last month to turn over a public downtown street (S. Garden Avenue) to the church to use in its L. Ron Hubbard Hall project. Latvala criticized the move, saying he thought it was better for the city to delay that vote while the county is considering what to do with some properties in Clearwater. Meanwhile, Latvala’s wife, Bianca, is herself running for the city council and had voiced a similar opinion about delaying the vote.
Chris Latvala had accused Mannino of forwarding one of his text messages to Scientology, which then made a blanket records request for Latvala’s communications (something the church regularly does to any politician who opposes their initiatives). Mannino denied sending the text message to the church. But now, Latvala says he’s been subjected to even more prying by the church, and he suggests that the person who originally sent his message to Scientology may have been Mannino’s wife, Suzanne.
Well, that’s a lot of sniping over burdensome requests by Scientology, and we can understand Latvala’s frustration. We’re posting his entire public message for you to see, and then we’ve asked former Clearwater council member Mark Bunker for his thoughts.
Statement from Commissioner Chris Latvala
July 21, 2026
Today, my office released additional records in response to the public records request submitted by the Church of Scientology and answered several related questions with the assistance of the Pinellas County Attorney’s Office.
I wish I did not have to release the personal opinions of residents, but this is a direct result of Clearwater City Councilmember Mike Mannino releasing my text messages, which ultimately made their way to the Church of Scientology.
To date, Mr. Mannino has yet to fulfill all of the public records requests that residents have submitted seeking his public records, including requests for records identifying everyone to whom he forwarded my original text message. I will simply note that I am aware of many of those individuals.
Mr. Mannino has publicly denied sending my text message to the Church of Scientology or having prior knowledge of the public records request. On Saturday, June 20 a text was sent that said “Not by us but a public records request was sent. You will see everything he has been saying to our Mayor, Lina and my Husband to sway votes.” That text was received by Mike Mannino and my father. It was sent by his wife, Suzanne. The next day I did in fact receive a public records request — from the Church of Scientology.
On Friday, the day of my father’s funeral, with several of their members in attendance I received a broader public records request from the Church of Scientology targeting members of my family and private citizens in Clearwater.
While I fulfill the next Scientology request, I look forward to Mike Mannino fulfilling his. He has wasted plenty of tax dollars in the meantime.
Chris Latvala has every right to get whatever Mannino has that is responsive. As someone who was sent a super-sized record request by Scientology every two months for the four years of my term on the council, I can tell you they aren’t fun but hiding anything responsive is a big deal.
All Florida elected officials have to attend or watch on streaming a four-hour ethics seminar every year that lays out the rules of the game. Elected officials must follow strict rules regarding conflicts of interest, gifts, financial disclosure, public records, open meetings, lobbying, contracting, use of public resources, and transparency in government decisions. It is about understanding that the public’s trust is the most important asset an elected official has. Dallying with Scientology is a prime example of how to lose the public’s trust.
Latvala making all these maneuvers public isn’t necessary but I do think it informs the public about what shenanigans are going on between council members and Scientology and it is a good method of shaming those who should be ashamed. There’s a pomposity I see from Mannino and Cotton that I never saw from other council members when I was serving. This public tit for tat is like knocking the top hat off a stuffy high society person with a well placed snowball.
We don’t have snow here in Florida so one must rely on the press to embarrass those who are deserving.
It is very easy for anyone to make a record request from the City of Clearwater. You just click here.
Now, for a reminder of what a Scientology public request looks like, here's a sample of what Glen Stilo of Flag routinely asked of Councilmember Bunker.
To the citizens of Clearwater, please vote for me on August 18th and I will happily return to fulfilling Flag’s bi-monthly snooping requests.
Ready to serve. Raring to go. Visit my site and click on “Donate” and make Glen Stilo’s dreams and Slappy Miscavige’s nightmares come true.
— Mark Bunker
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Source Code: Actual things founder L. Ron Hubbard said on this date in history
Avast, Ye Mateys: Snapshots from Scientology’s years at sea
Overheard in the Freezone: Indie Hubbardism, one thought at a time
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Scientology per policy gleefully uses every legal method available to harass it alleged enemies. It could be called a quasi religious cancer of the soul. It is persistent, virulent and hard to remove once it settles in. Mark is a champion for Clearwater citizens. He has consistently exposed the toxicity of the cult. He will get my support.
On the day of his father's funeral...