That\u2019s the obvious, though. Looking beyond what\u2019s right in front of our faces offers even more evidence that St. Pete politicking is officially underway.<\/p>\n
On Friday, City Council member Brandi Gabbard, who has said she plans to run against Welch, filed an item for this week\u2019s City Council meeting<\/a> calling on colleagues to oppose any developer pitch related to the Historic Gas Plant District.<\/p>\n By seeking a resolution, Gabbard has quietly differentiated herself from her would-be opponent. She is setting up a major campaign talking point that, one can easily assume, will portray Welch as a failed leader who lost the Tampa Bay Rays (though technically the Rays deal crumbled<\/a> more because of Hurricane Helene than anything Welch did) then rushed an alternative development at the Trop site despite warnings that doing so could lead to a subpar product.<\/p>\n At issue is a 30-day submission window Welch opened last month for developers to pitch their ideas for the sweeping Trop site. The window closes Tuesday at 10 a.m. From there, the Welch administration will be tasked with reviewing proposals and determining which, if any, to move forward with.<\/p>\n Gabbard says the answer should be none \u2014 at least for now. Her proposed resolution, if approved, \u201crequests that the City Administration pause any action to select, negotiate with, or advance a developer for the Historic Gas Plant District until a comprehensive planning framework has been completed.\u201d<\/p>\n The resolution directly \u201cexpresses opposition to City Administration moving forward with any developer selection for the redevelopment\u201d of the site prior to a study creating a strategic roadmap. By failing to ensure due diligence, the city \u201crisks the omission of meaningful policy decisions and limits community input,\u201d Gabbard\u2019s proposed resolution reads.<\/p>\n Whether it passes is anyone\u2019s guess. The City Council will consider the resolution Thursday, two days after the submission window for proposals closes.<\/p>\n Gabbard could find some support. It was only a few months ago, in October, that the City Council voted unanimously<\/a> to have a community discussion about potentially hiring the Urban Land Institute to study the site. That was Gabbard\u2019s idea, too.<\/p>\n And City Council member Richie Floyd in November filed a resolution<\/a> expressing opposition to a 30-day submission window, calling instead for a 90-day period.<\/p>\n That indicates there is at least some appetite for taking things a bit slower.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a safe bet that Gabbard will vote in favor of her own resolution this week. If Floyd follows suit, that\u2019s at least two of the five votes needed to approve the resolution, though even if passed, it would still only be symbolic, as Welch is not bound to a resolution. And there are at least two Council members \u2014 Copley Gerdes and Deborah Figgs-Sanders \u2014 who have been consistent Welch allies, meaning there might be at least two votes against Gabbard\u2019s resolution, too.<\/p>\n While Gabbard has said she\u2019s running for Mayor, she hasn\u2019t officially filed for the race yet.<\/p>\n But already, Welch has said he will not extend the developer timeline<\/a> for the Gas Plant District, setting up a point of contention before much campaigning has even begun. Speaking during a media availability after filing to run for re-election Monday, Welch said the development has a unique history, and \u201cthere are promises tied to that,\u201d arguing it\u2019s more important to honor the site\u2019s history than selling to the highest bidder, which is what former Raymond James executive Tom Mullins has suggested<\/a>.<\/p>\n But Gabbard isn\u2019t Welch\u2019s only potential election foe. Former Gov. Charlie Crist, who also briefly represented the area in Florida\u2019s 13th Congressional District, is also expected to run. A political committee expected to support his eventual bid<\/a> has already raised more than $725,000<\/a>.<\/p>\n That\u2019s an important footnote in these early days of the 2026 mayoral campaign season, because it eclipses Welch\u2019s political committee. Since launching the committee last January \u2014 Welch\u2019s political committee from his last election cycle in 2021 was shuddered by the state over missed reporting deadlines and details \u2014 Welch\u2019s The Pelican Political Action Committee<\/a> has raised just $282,800 and has only a little more than $30,000 on hand.<\/p>\n Worse than the small account balance is the reason it\u2019s as small as it is. It\u2019s not because Welch\u2019s people have been spending appropriately on campaign-related items; rather, it\u2019s because the committee\u2019s former Treasurer, Yolanda Brown, stands accused of stealing $207,500<\/a> from the committee.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/FCG_Digitak-Ads_Rebrand728-X-90-copy.png\")
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