St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch’s new political committee — created after his old one was revoked for repeated reporting violations — is rife with cash before Welch has even filed for re-election.
The PC, The Pelican Political Action Committee, raised $142,300 in the third quarter of 2025, spanning July through September. The haul — the committee’s largest since forming in January — brings Welch’s total funds raised to more than $234,000. With less than $26,000 spent overall, Welch entered October with a little less than $209,000 on hand.
Welch’s previous PC, Pelican PAC, was revoked in November by the Division of Elections over repeated failures to file required reports.
The new committee enjoyed several large contributions from both local and out of town interests.
He collected $25,000 each from Reza Yazdani, a local developer behind the Marina Bay gated community next to Eckerd College; investment banker and flood insurance executive Trevor Burgess; and Coral Gables-based developer Atlis Cardinal, which is developing the Sky Town mixed-use development in the Skyway Marina District.
SMD Services, which is registered to Orlando-based construction lawyer Robert Edwards II with HORUS Construction Services Superintendent Sheldon Arnolie listed as the manager, contributed $20,000.
Real Estate development firm VC Management Florida contributed $15,000. Mack Feldman of Feldman Equities contributed $10,000. Feldman Equities revitalizes office buildings, among other projects, in St. Pete.
Welch also collected $5,000 checks from Will Conroy, a local corporate real estate lawyer; Orlando-based travel executive Jared Meyers; and developer Ben Willner, who is part of the ownership group behind the 18-acre SkyBeach Hotel and Marina near the Skyway Bridge.
Susan Churuti, a local real estate management and local government law professional who manages Parkshore Plaza and 400 Beach Drive, contributed $2,500. Developer Craig Sher contributed $2,000.
Shumaker’s Ron Christaldi and real estate investor Valerie Williams each contributed $1,000. Five contributions came in for less than $1,000, including a $500 contribution from businessman Jason Mathis, who has worked on the city’s Community Benefits Agreement process. Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers donated $100.
Welch’s PC spent less than $11,000 in the third quarter, including $5,000 split between two payments to AB Strategy in Dunedin for general consulting services. The firm is run by Alain Berinstain, a business strategist and fundraiser.
The PC paid out $3,000, also split between two payments, to Brown Financial and Consulting in Ft. Lauderdale. That firm is run by Yolanda Brown, the PC’s Treasurer. Other expenses were for bank and finance fees, and Democratic web hosting service NGP Van.
Only one candidate has filed to run for Mayor in 2026 so far, Maria Scruggs. She reported raising just shy of $13,000 in the third quarter, including a $4,000 candidate loan. With nearly $9,000 spent in the period, Scruggs entered October with just over $4,000 in the bank.