Dunedin mayor running for Rep. C.W. Bill Young's seat

DUNEDIN -- Mayor Bob Hackworth today confirmed he will run for the seat in Congress held by Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores.

Hackworth also said that he recently changed his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat. He said he'll address the reason for the switch and other specifics of his candidacy Tuesday at 5 p.m. outside of City Hall in Dunedin.

Hackworth, who can remain on the City Commission while he runs, has not yet qualified to be a candidate. The qualifying deadline is May 2.

"I'm very excited about it," he said. "It has been a whirlwind as far as making the decision and making it late."

Hackworth, 53, was elected mayor two years ago. He has another year left on his term. Before that, Hackworth served as a City Commissioner for four years. He left his second term early to run for mayor. He graduated from Dunedin High School and the University of Florida.

He is a co-owner in an educational publishing firm. He and his wife, Gwynne Hackworth have been married for 27 years and have two children, Maddie, 10, and Bobby, 7.

Young, 77, is seeking a 20th term. Others who have announced their candidacy are Jason Diviki, an independent from St. Petersburg, Samm Simpson, a Democrat who ran against Young in 2006 and Max Linn who ran for governor in 2006 as the Reform Party Candidate. Linn will run as a Democrat.

-- Tamara El-Khoury, Times staff writer