St. Pete mayor: Former Gov. Charlie Crist defeats incumbent Ken Welch
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Charlie Crist (left) and Ken Welch. Photos: Octavio Jones/Getty Images
Charlie Crist defeated incumbent Ken Welch on Tuesday to become St. Petersburg's next mayor, according to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections' unofficial results.
Why it matters: The former governor and member of Congress' 62% lead signals a new direction for a city grappling with Tropicana Field's future, cost-of-living challenges, and drainage and sewer system vulnerabilities laid bare by the 2024 hurricanes.
- It's also a sharp rebuke of Welch, who sought a second term after cruising into City Hall five years ago with widespread support — including from Crist.
- Welch conceded Tuesday night, telling WTSP and other outlets that he wishes Crist "the best in his next administration."
State of play: The election ends a contentious race that saw the allies-turned-opponents and their supporters trading barbs at forums and on social media.
- Crist went into Tuesday as the front-runner after winning 35% of the vote in the August primary. Welch finished a distant second among six candidates.
Zoom out: City voters also approved a new property tax to accelerate upgrades to the city's drainage and sewage infrastructure and elected two new City Council members to replace term-limited incumbents.
- Hillsborough assistant public defender Gabriel Hament will represent District 2, which covers the northeastern end of the city, per unofficial results.
- Nonprofit consultant Linsey Grove won the District 6 seat, which represents downtown, Historic Uptown and neighborhoods to the south from Roser Park to Bayou Shores and east to Coquina Key.
What's next: The new mayor and council members will be sworn in Jan. 7, leaving about two months for Welch to cement his legacy and Crist to tap his picks for the transition.
The intrigue: One pressing question is whether Welch will take any steps to advance his chosen plans for the Trop.
- Welch made it a cornerstone of his campaign to redevelop the 86-acre property in a way that honors residents of the Historic Gas Plant District who were displaced by the ballpark decades ago.
- Crist said at a debate last month that he would reevaluate the redevelopment proposals, including Welch's picks.
- When asked about his vision for the property, he didn't mention the historically Black neighborhood.