Politics & Government

Who is Frank Chillura?

The former city council member has won his bid for mayor of Temple Terrace.

Mayor-Elect Frank Chillura is no stranger to Temple Terrace government.

He was first elected to the Temple Terrace City Council in 2000 and served two 4-year terms, the limit for any council member.

Now, he will serve Temple Terrace for at least the next four years as mayor. He replaces Mayor Joe Affronti, who has reached his two-term limit.

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Unofficial election results came in just before 9 p.m. Nov. 6.

“It’s humbling,” Chillura said shortly after the win. “I’ve had a lot of great support from the community. (Temple Terrace is) a great city, and I’m excited to guide it into the future.”

Find out what's happening in Temple Terracewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Chillura received 5,743 votes, or 53.73 percent, beating opponent and former executive director of the Greater Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce Cheri Donohue. She received 4,945 votes, or 46.27 percent, according to the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Election Office.

Chillura, 44, has lived in Temple Terrace since 1977. He is a longtime real estate and business owner, and during the campaign, he said he would “run the city like a business.”

He is the president and owner of Martino Chillura Management Inc., which he founded at age 18. The company specializes in residential, office and retail property management and leasing.

Chillura founded his first business, MC Lawn Pros Inc., when he was 9 years old. The company did lawn maintenance and landscaping work mostly in Temple Terrace. He sold the business after he turned 27.

In addition to his City Council experience, Chillura is the current chairman of the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission, a group he has served since 2008. He began his public service in 1995 as a member of the Temple Terrace Code Enforcement Board, a position he kept until he took office in 2000.

Once on the council, he was the:

  • Temple Terrace appointee to Hartline Board, 2001-03;
  • Temple Terrace appointee to Hillsborough County Interlocal River Board, 2004-05;
  • Temple Terrace appointee to Tourist Development Council, 2005-06; and
  • Temple Terrace appointee to Hillsborough County Transportation Commission, 2006-08.

He helped create the Temple Terrace River Watch Task Force in 2008 and has served on the task force ever since. He was also a member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, 2010-11.

Chillura is married to Angela, and the couple has five children.

Chillura is scheduled to be sworn in at the next Temple Terrace City Council meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. Nov. 20 at City Hall.

“I’m glad the campaigning part’s over with,” he said the night of the election. “I’m ready to get in gear. I was looking forward to this, and I look forward to working with everybody.”


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