Meet The Mayor
Chris Arbutine was born on Torrejón Air Base, Madrid, Spain in 1965 to his parents MSgt Art Arbutine and Patricia Arbutine. Art and Patricia would set up at local flea markets selling jewelry, coins, and odd and curious items. Upon retirement the family started Belleair Coins Inc. in 1972 and expanded to silverware, giftware and retail jewelry under the name of The Silver Queen Inc. in Largo, Florida.The businesses grew from there humble beginnings of 20,000 square feet with $15,000 in inventory to its present location that is approximately 15,000 square feet with $4,000,000 in inventory. The combined businesses currently do over $30,000,000 in sales each year.
Chris Arbutine is half owner of both companies and is CEO of the parent corporation Belleair Coins Inc. Chris has been actively buying, selling, and appraising precious metals, coins, jewelry, watches, diamonds, art work, and all sterling silver items since 1984 full time. He has traveled abroad extensively to Asia buying and selling with International dealers.
Chris has lived in Belleair Bluffs, Florida since 1976 and attended the local public schools from grade school to Graduation from Largo High School Class of 1984. Chris graduated in 1988 with an A.A. degree in Business Management from St Petersburg JR College. Formal education was postponed when his son Christopher Arbutine Jr. was born in November of 1988. Academia has always been a priority in his life and he most recently he graduated from Eckerd College in 2019 with B.S. Degree in Business Management.
In the year 2000, Chris was unhappy with the direction his hometown of Belleair Bluffs had taken. Businesses were leaving, the residents were divided on issues and the City was stagnating in general. Chris successfully ran a campaign and defeated two other candidates for a seat on the City Commission. As a first year Commissioner Chris spearheaded the approval of the building of a new City Hall/ Community Center. Chris then successfully ran for Mayor in 2001 and has held the position since. Chris is an extremely active Mayor and has held Board seats on many local, regional, and state Boards. He also gives back to the community through a long term history of donations to many local charities and fund raisers. Chris was a single parent with primary residential custody of his son after he and his wife divorced in 2003. Chris attends St Patrick's Catholic Church and remains involved in his community. Recently, Chris was married to his long term girl friend on February 29, 2021 at the Belleair Country Club. They currently reside in Belleair Bluffs with their three beautiful dogs.
Family and Civic:
Belleair Bluffs Rotary Board Member - 6 years
Belleair Bluffs Rotary President 2004-2005
Leadership Pinellas Graduate Class of 2000/2001
Lector at St Patrick’s Catholic Church
Board Member of Pinellas County Sheriffs Youth Ranch - 4 years
Graduate of Eckerd college bachelor of science business management.
Achievements
Graduate of Sheriffs Community Policing Institute – Class 5 Pinellas County
Board Member of Gulf Coast Museum of Art – 2007-2008
Education and business: 2 year AA degree in business at St Petersburg College
Graduating Class of 2018 Eckerd College PEL (BS in Business Management)
Co-Owner of The Silver Queen Inc. and Belleair Coins IncPolitical: Mayor of City of Belleair Bluffs 2001-2019
