A new political committee formed this month to raise money for Charlie Crist\u2019s potential run for mayor of St. Petersburg next year.<\/p>\n
All paperwork was filed with the state Nov. 12 to create St. Pete Shines. St. Petersburg-based attorney Joe Saunders, listed as the treasurer, confirmed to the Tampa Bay Times on Wednesday that Crist asked him to serve on the political committee.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe asked me to get started and be the treasurer and I told him, I said, \u2018Well hey, I think it\u2019d be great if you ran,\u2019\u201d said Saunders, who served as a registered agent on the Friends of Charlie Crist political committee that operated during Crist\u2019s 2022 run for governor.<\/p>\n
Crist, the former Florida governor and congressman representing St. Petersburg, told the Times in October that he was considering jumping in the race<\/a> to challenge incumbent Mayor Ken Welch. While he has not formally announced his candidacy, the opening of a new political committee is a sign Crist is more serious about running for mayor of his hometown<\/a>.<\/p>\n Crist did not immediately return a call and text message seeking comment.<\/p>\n St. Pete Shines\u2019 chairperson is Michelle Todd Schorsch, Crist\u2019s former aide and wife of Florida Politics publisher Peter Schorsch. The St. Petersburg couple worked on Crist\u2019s 2010 U.S. Senate campaign and held a fundraiser for him in 2015 during his run for Florida\u2019s 13th congressional district.<\/p>\n Michelle Todd Schorsch did not immediately return a phone call and text message seeking comment.<\/p>\n Saunders said he has not been involved in any fundraising so far and could not say if any donations or pledges have been made. St. Pete Shines\u2019 first report detailing funds raised and spent is due Jan. 12.<\/p>\n \u201cI know he has legions of people over the years who support him and will,\u201d Saunders said. \u201cHe\u2019s definitely considering running.\u201d<\/p>\n Welch has not filed for reelection but has began campaigning via email blasts. His political committee, The Pelican Political Action Committee, has raised $234,575, according to its last report.<\/p>\n Welch\u2019s biggest donors are almost all developers with local projectspending or proposed. Among them: Siddhartha Pagidipati, a limited partner in the new Tampa Bay Rays ownership group and the co-founder of Ellison Development, which submitted an unsolicited proposal<\/a> to redevelop the Tropicana Field and the Historic Gas Plant District<\/a>.<\/p>\n