Michael “Mike” Howard has served on the Indian Shores Town Council since April 2024, elected to complete an unexpired term following a council member’s retirement.  A Tampa Bay resident, and a visitor to the Pinellas County beaches for over 45 years, Mike holds a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from the University of South Florida and is a graduate of the Florida League of Cities (FLC) Institute of Elected Municipal Officials, a comprehensive educational initiative designed to equip municipal elected officials with the knowledge and  skills necessary to govern their municipalities effectively.  Mike has also graduated from the Florida Public Pension Trustee Association (FPPTA) School as a Certified Public Pension Trustee.

A retired Tampa Police Department Sergeant with 24 years of service, Mike later served in the U.S. Foreign Service’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security, retiring as Deputy Director of the Miami Diplomatic Courier Office.  He began his public service career by enlisting in the United States Army after high school.

Mike currently serves on the Florida League of Cities Tax and Finance Committee and as the Mayor’s alternate representative to the Barrier Islands Government Council (BIG-C).  He previously served for seven years on the Tampa Fire and Police Pension Board, overseeing a $1.5 billion fund, and brought that expertise to the Indian Shores Police Pension Board, where he led modernization efforts that improved member benefits at no taxpayer cost.  

A strong advocate for community engagement, Mike has organized a resident-focused program on beach renourishment to connect residents face to face with the Pinellas County Officials who managed beach renourishment.  He also engaged residents by bringing consultants to Town Hall meetings to discuss hurricane preparedness and insurance matters.  He prioritizes public safety and sustainable development as essential to the Town’s long-term success.

Mike is married to Jolynn “Jodi” Howard and has lived in Indian Shores for the past nine years.  They are both active in veteran support through American Legion Post 273, Madeira Beach and Honor Flight of West Central Florida.