ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) – Voters in St. Petersburg will have the chance on Tuesday to hear from candidates looking to unseat mayor Ken Welch. The incumbent mayor is planning to try to convince voters to give him a second term in office.

“What I’m focusing on is getting out the message of the promises I’ve made five years ago and how we’ve kept those promises and how we need to continue that work for inclusive progress,” Welch said.

The mayor held a campaign event on Monday. Several faith leaders announced their support for Welch.

The city’s former fire chief, Jim Large, is running to unseat his former boss. Mayor Welch oversaw the investigation involving former fire chief in 2023. Large was accused of making racists, homophobic, and sexist remarks.

“I was accused, I was investigated, I was exonerated, and I was reinstated. So, we need to move on from that and think about the future of the city,” Large said.

After 50 years of public service, Large retired in March 2024. He’s running, in part, from his experience as a high-ranking city leader.

“My hiring practices, my promoting practices, my interpersonal relationships, all of that throughout my career, I stand on those,” Large said. “I know this city very well. I have leadership experience. I’ve managed budgets, I’ve managed many crises in the city.”

Mayor Welch said he does not have an issue with Large being in the race.

“Not at all. Last time, we had nine or ten people running, a couple council members and a state rep. This is our process. Folks can run if they qualify,” Welch said.

Large said he will not participate in the debate after previous social media posts were made by NAACP St. Pete members who expressed concerns about his allegations.

Tomorrow’s debate will feature Mayor Ken Welch, former Gov. and Rep. Charlie Crist, Councilwoman Brandi Gabbard, former NAACP St Pete president Maria Scruggs, and neighborhood leader Kevin Batdorf.

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