Define irony.

On Wednesday, St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch, who faces a possible pink slip from voters next week, proudly announced support from Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, who Welch described in his post as “a great colleague.”

So, I’ve had a lot of colleagues. Some have been great. Some not so much. I tell you what doesn’t make a great colleague: The guy who keeps stealing your sandwich from the break room fridge.

Demings is part of a leadership team quietly attempting to woo the Tampa Bay, er, Orlando Rays to Central Florida, a theft from St. Petersburg that costs a hell of a lot more than a hastily thrown together turkey sandwich.

And it’s not even the first time Welch has victoriously proclaimed support from a mayoral “colleague.” Welch touted support from Tampa Mayor Jane Castor all the way back in April, at the height of stadium negotiations for St. Pete’s Major League Baseball team to pack up its Tropicana Field digs to head across the Bay. She might as well have said in her endorsement statement, “thanks for the baseball team, you can’t have it back.” And Welch might as well have responded, “want my wallet, too?” Well, at least he would have, if his former PC treasurer hadn’t already walked off with it.

In Demings’ case, the sandwich is still in the Ziplock baggie; maybe we can salvage our lunch. In Castor’s case, she’s already taken a bite and licked the bread.

Welch is celebrating support from Castor and Demings with the same enthusiasm Stewart Stevenson shows whenever his two supposed best pals throw him a crumb of attention. That’s absolutely crazy for an incumbent Mayor polling well behind one challenger, and only narrowly ahead of another — one who can’t seem to raise much money — when both Mayors are trying to rob him of one of the city’s most cherished assets.

Remember when Hurricane Milton tore the roof off Tropicana Field and the Rays moved into Steinbrenner Stadium for a season? The Pinellas County Commission sure does. The Rays were supposed to be crashing on the Yankees’ couch (ew). Castor started measuring for curtains, and now it’s on the verge of permanence.

But I get it. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Welch is in the political fight of his life, and the ringside doctor looks ready to call it. He’s bleeding support. People who were once in his corner — Sen. Darryl Rouson comes to mind — are heading for the exits or sitting out altogether. One of them, City Council Member Brandi Gabbard, climbed into the ring against him. (Charlie Crist also endorsed Welch in his first mayoral bid, so there’s also that.)

Endorsements are only worth the votes they deliver. And Castor and Demings seem far more interested in pulling the Rays out of St. Pete than dragging Welch’s flagging campaign across the finish line.

At the eleventh hour, all options are on the table. Welch should keep an eye on the silverware.

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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.