Bruce Rector was sworn in as the 36th mayor of Clearwater, Florida in April of 2024.
Since relocating to Florida in 2015 to serve as General Counsel for the Clearwater-based company, The Sports Facilities Companies, Mayor Rector has held a number of leadership positions and been involved in many organizations.
Mayor Rector served as the Chair of the non-profit Jolley Trolley Transportation of Clearwater, Inc.; Vice-Chair of the city of Clearwater Community Development Board; Vice President of the Clearwater Beach Association; a board member of Ocean Allies; past Vice-Chair of the Clearwater Regional Chamber; past member of the city of Clearwater Charter Review and Affordable Housing Advisory committees; and Chair of the city of Clearwater Parks and Recreation Board. He is a 2017 graduate of Leadership Pinellas. He is a member of Calvary Church and the Clearwater Bar Association. He graduated in Fall 2019 Class from Clearwater Citizens Academy and has worked as a volunteer for many area organizations, causes and events throughout Tampa Bay.
Mayor Rector’s extraordinary international experience has also shaped his leadership style, passion for community service and respect for diversity of experiences and opinions. He was the 58th President of Junior Chamber International (JCI), a 200,000-member organization of young leaders and entrepreneurs from 110 countries. In 2003, he traveled to nearly 50 countries as JCI World President and for a seven-year period as a volunteer JCI leader, he worked with thousands of leaders and communities across the globe.
Mayor Rector's book, Monday Morning Messages: Teaching, Inspiring and Motivating to Lead (Xephor Press, 2005) enjoyed international success. With endorsements from best-selling authors Ken Blanchard (The One Minute Manager), Stephen Covey (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People) and Jennifer Kushell (Secrets of the Young & Successful), the book has been used throughout the world as a leadership training resource.
Born in Anderson, Indiana in 1963, Bruce attended the University of Kentucky where he worked as a student athletic trainer (sports medicine) assistant for Wildcats athletic teams. He also spent four summers and one full season working as an athletic trainer assistant to the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League.
Mayor Rector received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Kentucky in 1990, was admitted to practice before the Kentucky Courts, and practiced law there for 23 years. He has been an adjunct faculty member at Indiana Wesleyan University where he taught in the MBA program and a part-time professor at the University of Kentucky, where he taught in the graduate program in Sports Leadership.
Mayor’s Rector’s son, Trevor currently lives and works in Clearwater.