3 takeaways from St. Pete mayoral debate
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Moderator Holly Gregory speaks to former Gov. Charlie Crist and St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch before Tuesday night's debate. Photo: Kathryn Varn/Axios
With voting underway for the Nov. 3 election, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch and former Gov. Charlie Crist made their final appeals to voters during a debate Tuesday night.
Why it matters: The future of Tropicana Field, water and sewer infrastructure issues laid bare by the 2024 hurricanes, and an upcoming DEI ban were on the list of issues hashed out during the hourlong program, hosted by Spectrum Bay News 9.
- The candidates weren't given questions in advance or allowed to read from prepared materials.
Here are three takeaways from the debate, moderated by anchor Holly Gregory:
A telling exchange
The debate was largely tame, but one tense exchange during the last question illustrated the stakes of the race.
Zoom in: Gregory asked how a law going into effect next year banning cities from supporting programming that references race, gender or sexual orientation would impact St. Pete.
- Crist said it already has, pointing to the state's removal of the Central Avenue rainbow mural, among others.
- "If you're not going to fight for free speech for the citizens of your city, maybe you ought not be the mayor," Crist said of Welch.
The other side: "You weren't here for anything over the last five years," Welch said in his rebuttal, touting his endorsements from Equality Florida and the Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County.
- "It's easy to speak after the fact … but I didn't hear your voice when this was going down."
Then Crist squeezed in a rebuttal to the rebuttal:
- "We need a more proactive mayor that will fight for your rights, that will stand up in court if necessary to get that done, and this is one of the reasons I'm running."
Trop top of mind
The future of the Tropicana Field site is one of the biggest questions awaiting the next mayor.
- Welch has already picked redevelopment proposals for the property, while Crist said he would start the evaluation process over again.
Friction point: Welch said his top priority is doing right by the residents of the Historic Gas Plant District, who were displaced by the Trop's construction.
- When asked about his vision for the property, Crist didn't mention the historically Black neighborhood.
As for the Trop's tenant, Crist said he hasn't lost hope that the Rays could stay in the city, invoking the movie "Field of Dreams."
The other side: "We have to be realistic," Welch said. "The goal is not to pay any price to keep baseball here."
- Welch also pointed out that his administration helped repair the Trop from Hurricane Milton damage in time for this season.
- "If you're going to the Rays game, you're welcome," he said.
Crist flips on tax
After saying he was "probably going to vote for it" in a radio interview last week, Crist said Tuesday he doesn't support the city's ask to levy an additional property tax to accelerate upgrades to the drainage, sewer and water systems.
- Welch defended the measure, saying he's heard overwhelmingly from residents that they want a solution to flooding and hurricane damage.