The Suncoast Sierra Club is endorsing St. Petersburg City Council Member Brandi Gabbard in the city’s mayoral race, citing her record on resilience, sustainability and coastal protection.

The endorsement comes as St. Petersburg confronts aging water infrastructure, stronger storms, sea-level rise and continued development pressure — issues the organization said should be central to the next Mayor’s agenda.

“Brandi Gabbard has become one of Suncoast Sierra Club’s strongest allies on the St. Petersburg City Council because she understands that resiliency is not a side issue; it is the foundation for how our city must govern,” Political Committee of the Suncoast Sierra Club Co-Chair Pat Fling said.

“At a moment when St. Petersburg is facing aging water infrastructure, stronger storms, sea-level rise, and intense growth pressure, Brandi brings the experience, independence, and working knowledge needed to lead from the Mayor’s Office.” 

During her time on the City Council, Gabbard has supported the St. Pete Youth Farm, advocated for using BP settlement funds to expand the city’s tree canopy and worked to advance a municipal seagrass mitigation bank.

Gabbard previously chaired the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, where she worked on the Regional Resilience Action Plan. She currently chairs the council’s Tampa Bay Regional Resiliency Coalition and the City Council’s Health, Energy, Sustainability and Resiliency Committee.

She said that, as Mayor, she would fully implement the city’s Integrated Sustainability Action Plan, prioritize stormwater projects intended to keep pollutants out of Tampa Bay, expand transportation options and support blue-green infrastructure.

Gabbard said she is honored to receive support from the Suncoast Sierra Club.

“As your Mayor, I will make resiliency and sustainability an integral part of every decision we make, from protecting our waterways and neighborhoods to improving affordability, accountability, and quality of life,” Gabbard said.

Gabbard is one of six candidates seeking to lead St. Petersburg. The field also includes incumbent Mayor Ken Welch, former Gov. Charlie Crist, former St. Petersburg Fire Chief Jim Large, community advocate Maria Scruggs and former Shore Acres Neighborhood Civic Association President Kevin Batdorf.

The Primary is Aug. 18. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two finishers will advance to a Nov. 3 runoff.