St. Pete City Council elections: Who's running and what's at stake
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St. Petersburg City Hall, pictured during Pride Month. Photo: Kathryn Varn/Axios
Along with a crowded mayor's race, St. Petersburg voters will have the chance to send new representatives to City Council this election season.
Why it matters: City Council members approve budgets and set policy on issues ranging from housing to climate resiliency. Among the major issues that will carry over to the next slate of Council members:
- The future of Tropicana Field.
- Whether to continue exploring a city-run alternative to Duke Energy.
- How to make up funding shortfalls should voters approve a constitutional amendment overhauling property taxes.
State of play: Seven candidates are vying for two seats representing districts 2 and 6. Incumbents Brandi Gabbard and Gina Driscoll are vacating their seats due to term limits. Gabbard is also running for mayor.
- District 2 covers the northeast part of the city, including Riviera Bay, Caya Costa, Barcley Estates and the Gandy area.
- District 6 represents downtown and Historic Uptown and neighborhoods to the south from Roser Park to Bayou Shores and east to Coquina Key.
How it works: Five candidates are vying for the District 6 seat. Only district residents can vote in the primary on Aug. 18.
- If no candidate receives 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will advance to a citywide runoff during the Nov. 3 general election. Then the race will be open to all city voters.
- The District 2 race has drawn two candidates, so it won't be on the ballot until November. It will be open to all city voters.
Zoom in: Here's a quick look at the candidates, based on their websites and comments made at a recent Suncoast Tiger Bay candidate forum.
District 6
Terri Balliet: The CEO of the Children's Network of Hillsborough said at a recent candidate forum her priorities are supporting small businesses, investing in infrastructure, and keeping the city clean and safe.
Linsey Grove: A nonprofit consultant with a background in public health, Grove said she's running because "the city is at a crossroads, with rising costs, a changing downtown landscape and increasingly extreme weather."
Doug Homeyer: The financial planner argues the city should "focus on the issues that affect daily lives," like affordable housing, investing in infrastructure and parks, and welcoming tourism, per his website.
Trevor Mallory: The president of a homebuyer assistance nonprofit who has run for local office before, Mallory's plan for the city includes investing in youth and bringing more healthy options to the city's food deserts.
Jameka Williams: As a community organizer who has advocated for tenant and LGBTQ+ protections and for leaving Duke Energy, Williams said she wants to bolster accountability and transparency at City Hall.
District 2
Courtney Bermudez: While Bermudez, who is a community association manager, wasn't present at the forum, her website lists storm preparedness, equity and housing affordability among her priorities.
Gabriel Hament: The assistant public defender said he's an openly gay civil rights advocate who would focus on storm preparedness, cost-of-living challenges and strengthening the identity of his district.
Go deeper: Watch League of Women Voters-organized candidate forums for District 2 and District 6.