Mayor Ken Welch\u2019s reelection campaign has recently taken two significant hits: His warchest was allegedly robbed of over $200,000, and a formidable opponent in the St. Petersburg race reported a fundraising windfall.<\/p>\n
Welch, who has remained mum on the recent setbacks, insists he is not down for the count. He expressed confidence in his ability to overcome challenges and pride in his community-based support.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been here,\u201d Welch told the Catalyst. \u201cWe\u2019ve been in the battle, and our opponent has not.\u201d<\/p>\n
The incumbent was referring to former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who is mulling a mayoral campaign in his hometown. A political committee created to gauge support for his potential run, St. Pete Shines, raised $338,687 between Nov. 12 and Dec. 31, according to state records.<\/a><\/p>\n St. Pete Shines also transferred $336,458 from Friends of Charlie Crist, a disbanded political action committee (PAC) established in 2022 to support his last gubernatorial bid. The challenger now has $712,283 on hand, nearly 15 times the amount remaining in Welch\u2019s account.<\/p>\n Welch\u2019s political committee, The Pelican<\/a>, raised $282,800 last year. However, former treasurer Yolanda Brown stands accused of stealing<\/a> $207,500.<\/p>\n Chairperson Adrienne Bogen said in a prepared statement that the committee \u201cassumed the funds would be returned.\u201d The money is still missing, and The Pelican is \u201cin the process of notifying the appropriate state and federal authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked if he was concerned about the situation\u2019s campaign impacts, Welch said, \u201cNot at all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been in family businesses that have been the victims of theft, and it\u2019s a horrible feeling,\u201d he added. \u201cAnyone who has been through that understands it. But you can\u2019t let that deter you from doing the job.\u201d<\/p>\n Welch said his team \u201cdid exactly what they should have done the minute they saw the disparity \u2013 they reported it.\u201d They also uncovered \u201cwhat looks like a lot of bad activity\u201d by Brown.<\/p>\n