Dr. Clifford "Cliff" R. Merz, PE
Professional

  • 4-term Safety Harbor Commissioner: Serving the Community consistently since 2012
  • Vice Mayor (2013; 2014-2015; 2019-2020)
  • City representative to the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) Board (2012-2014)
  • 2-time City representative to the Pinellas County: Forward Pinellas (MPO/PPC) Board (2014-2016; 2020-2022)
  • City representative to the Suncoast League of Cities (2012-Present)
  • City representative to Forward Pinellas School Transportation Safety Committee (2017-Present)
  • City representative to the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) Board (2023-Present)
  • Florida League of Cities 2014 Home Rule Hero Award recipient, awarded to "legislators who have shown strong and consistent support of municipal home rule issues."
  • Over 40 years of private and academic sector experience with local municipalities, inter-governmental, state, and federal agencies
  • FireOps 101
  • Leadership Pinellas Class of 2018

Education

  • B.S. Ocean Engineering, Florida Atlantic University.
  • M.S Ocean Engineering, University of Connecticut.
  • M.S Civil/Water Resource Engineering, Florida Atlantic University. 
  • Ph.D. Engineering Science, University of South Florida (USF).
  • Florida Registered Professional Engineer (PE).
  • Faculty research engineer at USF’s College of Marine Science in St Petersburg.
  • Founder of Dialytics, Inc., a university technology R&D start-up.
  • Institute for Elected Municipal Officials (IEMO) courses completed, Florida League of Cities and the John Scott Dailey Florida Institute of Government

Family

  • 25-year Resident of Safety Harbor
  • Cliff and his wife Michelle of 41 years are the proud parents of 5 children and 5 grandchildren

Church & Civic

  • Active member of Espiritu Santo Catholic Church in Safety Harbor.
  • Active member in Safety Harbor’s many and diverse community activities.
  • Countryside High School Advisory Board member (2012 – 2015) for the Center of Computer Technologies (CCT) and the Institute for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (ISTEM). 
  • Continuing efforts to strengthen community development through closer connections between local business and surrounding civic/school and educational training programs.
  • 2017 Pinellas County Economic Leadership Symposium: Workforce development panelist invitee and speaker.