Split endorsements often suggest a newspaper is hedging its bets. However, the Tampa Bay Times still delivered a clear snub to incumbent St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch when its two endorsements went to his challengers: former Gov. Charlie Crist and City Council Member Brandi Gabbard.
Times Publishing Co. Chair and CEO Conan Gallaty recommended Gabbard, while Tampa Bay Times Viewpoints Editor Graham Brink chose to support Crist. They disagreed over who should replace Welch, but united around the conclusion that the city needs a change.
Brink launched his case for Crist with a lengthy indictment of Welch’s first term. He pointed to the failed Moffitt Cancer Center proposal, workplace allegations involving Welch’s former Deputy Mayor, transparency disputes, unusually high water bills and the improper bonuses awarded to city employees who worked on the now-defunct Tampa Bay Rays stadium deal.
Brink, who was part of the editorial board that endorsed Welch in 2021, argued the Mayor has spent his first term convincing him to change his mind.
“He had the maturity, experience and cohesive agenda for improving the city. He was the better candidate,” Brink wrote of Welch’s first run.
“Not anymore. He’s had 4 ½ years to prove otherwise. His track record isn’t awful. But that’s not the right measure. St. Pete deserves better than ‘not awful.’ Too often he chose poorly, communicated poorly or wasn’t around enough. And now it’s time for a change.”
Brink also criticized Welch for frequent absences from City Hall, citing Tampa Bay Times reporting from 2022 that found Welch had used his badge to enter City Hall on only 34% of workdays during his first eight months in office.
Brink said the low attendance likely made it possible for Welch to miss turmoil within his administration that led to hostile-work-environment claims made by his former Communications Director, Janelle Irwin Taylor, who currently works for Florida Politics.
“Mayors shouldn’t spend every day at City Hall, but 34%? No wonder he didn’t notice the bullying,” Brink said.
Brink described Crist as an imperfect candidate but credited him with the ability to build coalitions, communicate during crises and move an agenda forward.
Gallaty’s recommendation was more cautious. He opened by saying the race offered “no great options” and threw support behind Gabbard — whom he called “a rising talent.”
“Her work has given her exposure to both the growth and development issues facing downtown and the concerns of some of the city’s most challenged neighborhoods. Capable service among a broad range of constituents bodes well,” Gallaty said.
He said moving from City Council to the Mayor’s Office would test Gabbard’s ability to manage a large workforce and communicate the administration’s accomplishments. Gallaty also warned that her campaign against Duke Energy would eventually require more detailed and realistic financial, legal and operational plans.
Still, he concluded that Gabbard’s Council experience, community connections and policy priorities offered voters a stronger foundation for the city’s next chapter.
“This choice comes with risk. Just as Welch went from a County Commission role to an executive seat, voters have to hope Gabbard can command a staff of public servants and communicate their results better than the current administration,” Gallaty said. “Being Mayor requires skills and responsibilities that differ from a deliberative body.”
The recommendations arrived after a particularly combative stretch in the race.
Welch has spent much of the race playing defense against barbs about his administration’s handling of the COVID pandemic, five hurricanes, the collapse of the Rays deal and mounting infrastructure concerns. He has highlighted increased housing production, repairs to Tropicana Field, negotiations with The Burg Bid for Tropicana Field redevelopment, and a proposed $600 million infrastructure bond that will appear before voters this year as highlights of his campaign.
Crist skipped a Suncoast Tiger Bay Club forum Tuesday, citing its admission fees, and instead held a free tele-town hall his campaign said reached more than 7,500 people. The five candidates who attended used his absence to question his proposed property-tax cut, hurricane messaging, campaign finances and connection to St. Petersburg.
The former Governor later defended the decision in an interview with Florida Politics the following day and sharpened his case against Welch. Crist has proposed a 0.4-mill property-tax reduction and argues that St. Petersburg should remain open to another deal with the Rays. He is critical of Welch over failed negotiations with the team and other lost economic-development opportunities.
Gabbard has distinguished herself from both candidates, arguing residents have lost trust in the Mayor’s Office and need an administration more focused on neighborhood concerns. Her platform emphasizes affordability, resilience and accountability, along with proposals to explore energy independence from Duke Energy, expand housing options and slow down redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District until the city settles on clearer priorities.
Six candidates are competing in the Aug. 18 election. Unless one receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two candidates will advance to the Nov. 3 General Election.
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Ed. note: Michelle Todd Schorsch is the Chair of St. Pete Shines, a political committee backing Crist for St. Petersburg Mayor. Todd Schorsch is married to Peter Schorsch, the publisher of Florida Politics.