Hear What Your Candidates are Saying
City Council and Mayoral Candidate Forums
The League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area, along with Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions (ISPS), co-hosted a set of two candidate forums. The first of these forums on Tuesday, July 13th was for the St. Petersburg City Council race. There were a total 10 candidates present: three candidates from district 1, three from district 4, and four from district 8. The candidates were grouped into two rounds of questions with districts 1 and 4 together, as they’re both coastal districts, and district 8 on it’s own. All questions for the forums were requested by community members in advance and candidates were not given the questions ahead of time. The forums were moderated by former Bay 9 News anchor Al Ruechel. The forums were also live streamed on Facebook and later uploaded to YouTube. The City Council Forum video currently has 176 views while the Mayoral Forum has 261 views. You can watch the City Council Forum here and the Mayoral Forum here.
The first round of questions went to the candidates from district 8. All four candidates on the ballot for district 8 attended the forum. Rather than an opening statement the candidates were asked two questions in which they were able to frame their candidacy and running platform. The first of these questions asked: what makes you most qualified for city council?
Candidate Jeffery Danner rooted his answer primarily in his past experiences as city council member between 2005 and 2012. Richie Floyd, a school teacher with an electrical engineering degree, answered by explaining his role as a community organizer and how his ability to garner community support will serve him well on the city council. Pinellas County-born Dane Kuplicki gave a succinct answer in which he explained his background in the medical field as well as various leadership roles throughout his schooling. Finally, Candidate Jamie Mayo addressed her experiences as a small business owner and mother saying, “After raising four teenagers I have the ability to say no even when you’re looking for a yes.”
The next question asked candidates to address their top three priorities specific to district 8. The issues of affordable housing, homelessness, and climate change were at the forefront. Candidates Floyd and Kuplicki also mentioned their goal of focusing on improving conditions for working-class people in St. Petersburg. Following this the candidates were asked to explain their approach to addressing the rising crime rate, specifically in South St. Pete. Candidate Mayo asserted the need for creating youth centered programs to empower and engage youth in the community. Whereas Candidate Danner focused his answer on a need for community policing to engage people in their own safety.
Some questions for the district 8 candidates revolved around race relations which some considered to be closely tied with safety. All candidates agreed that the Black community in St. Pete needs to be reinvested in. Candidate Floyd defined the current racial climate as a “stark contrast” between those in South St. Pete and other parts of the city.
A hot button topic in the city of St. Pete currently is the ongoing debate as to what the future holds for the Tropicana Field site. All candidates echoed potential for an agreement to be reached in which the revenue of the field can be beneficial to all, but specifically those who were most affected by its original development. Candidates Mayo, Kuplicki, and Danner called for maintaining the field and team and capitalizing on the opportunity. While candidate Floyd called for reparations and that these be under contractual obligation. He emphasized he was not concerned about the field itself, but rather that the outcome is beneficial to the community originally affected.
Following the candidates of district 8 were those of districts 1 and 4. The two districts were grouped together as coastal districts. There were a total of six candidates present, three from each district. Candidates from district 1 present at the forum were Edwin Carlson, Copley Gerdes, and John Hornbeck. From district 4, candidates Liset Hanewicz, Tom Mullins, and Douglas O’Dowd were present.
Like the first round of the forum, the candidates were asked what makes each of them qualified and what are their top three priorities. They were given a total of two minutes to answer both questions. Candidate Carlson spoke of his commitment to St. Pete as he was born and raised in the city. Carlson listed his top three priorities and parks and lakes management, youth development, and safety. Similarly, candidate Gerdes also referred to his St. Pete roots and said, “Now, I’m just raising my hand and asking to go to work.” Claiming safety as one of his main priorities, as well as commercial real estate and infrastructure. Hornbeck referred to himself and the other two candidates as “nice people,” but said his experience as an attorney is one that sets him apart. Among Hornbeck’s top three priorities were the environment and youth development.
Candidate Hanewicz, the only woman-identifying candidate on stage, called on her work in the Crescent Lake Neighborhood Association as her main source of expertise in community involvement. She also mentions her work as a state and federal prosecutor. Hanewicz makes clear her commitment to affordable housing as a key aspect of her other priority to maintain the vibe of St. Petersburg. Candidate Mullins began his statement saying he would be treating the forum like a job interview and continued by claiming he was the only candidate so far to put out new, specific ideas in regards to Tropicana Field redevelopment. Mullins’ priorities were largely of economic concern with his mentions of capitalizing on Tropicana Field and preventing tax increases. Finally, candidate O’Dowd showed his love for St. Pete by saying, “I wish I’d been born here.” Following that statement he listed ways in which he’s contributed to the city since 1993, including his investment in the public education system of St. Pete and his work as a small business owner. O’Dowd listed his priorities as affordable housing, sustainable infrastructure, and economic development, in that order.
The following question of the forum referred to both economic development, and particularly food deserts. All district 1 candidates answered with a community-oriented approach by developing small businesses rather than pursuing the help of national corporations. Hornbeck even called for a community co-op as a solution. District 4’s candidate Mullins took the question in a different direction. He referred to his success at Raymond James and claims it to be the number one provider of six-figure jobs in the area. He used this background as his justification for economic development among the private sector. Candidates O’Dowd and Hanewicz brought the conversation back to the community with both calling for investment in education and vocational training. Hanewicz said, “We’ve seen when the city actually focuses on an area, like they focused on downtown, it changes.”
When asked about the protection and development of the arts in St. Pete, all candidates agreed it was an essential part of the city. Hanewicz even referred to it as the “lifeblood” of our community. Every candidate also called for the allocation of development funds towards the arts. O’Dowd and Hanewicz even called for a portion of Tropicana Field funds to be used, specifically. Carlson deemed it the city’s job to protect the arts.
After Tuesday night’s City Council forum came the Mayoral Candidate forum. This turned out significantly more attendees than the previous night. Rightfully so, given that the mayoral salary is nearly $220,000. The candidates in attendance were Robert Blackmon, Peter Boland, Michael Ingram, Tori Nelson, Wengay Newton, Marcile Powers, Darden Rice, and Kenneth Welch.
Beginning the forum just as the night before the candidates were asked about their qualifications and top priorities. There was significant variation in the qualifications of each candidate. Blackmon cited his years in home renovation and executive experience. He vowed that if elected he would promote intentionality in leadership. Boland, a business owner, also referred to his years of executive leadership as a manager. He claimed he wants to, “…bring common sense back to the table…” in regards to his style of leadership. Ingram, who is the youngest of the candidates, primarily spoke about his ability to be held accountable in the future. Nelson responded with his own experience running a homeless shelter and even spoke to having the blueprint to ending homelessness. Newton spoke to his own commitment to St. Pete as he was born and raised in the southside. He also has 12 consecutive years in local and state government. Powers owns a small business and primarily orients herself as an environmentalist. Rice is a City Council member and said she has a more significant track record in local government than the other candidates. She claims to be successful in accomplishing “bold” goals, including securing 15 million in affordable housing funds. Finally, Welch, a third generation St. Pete resident, has 40 years of experience in small business and 20 years experience working for St. Petersburg College.
Among the candidates’ responses about their top priorities many claimed similar priorities. Nearly all candidates, aside from Nelson, Blackmon, and Powers, echoed a serious need for affordable housing. Boland actually referred to the concept as “attainable housing” as affordability is subjective. Newton more specifically called for affordable housing ownership rather than just rent prices. He said, “If you’re paying $1800 a month in rent, you’re already paying a mortgage. It’s just not yours.” Public safety was also a common concern for most candidates which several candidates tied back to youth program development. Candidates Blackmon, Ingram, and Welch all called for improvements on the city’s infrastructure. Powers and Welch said that environmental concerns were in their top three priorities, however only Boland specifically referred to the red tide issue.
On the topic of red tide all candidates were asked about their response plan as Tampa Bay faces the worst red tide algae bloom to date. Welch and Rice specifically called on state assistance, saying it is a necessary help. Welch, Nelson, and Ingram also went back to infrastructure in discussing a plan to prevent another red tide bloom of this severity. Boland and Blackmon both spoke to nature mitigation strategies such as planting mangroves and oyster beds. Blackmon asked scientists for help and guidance while Boland warned of the threat of a dead zone. Perhaps it was Powers who seemed the most impassioned about the subject and specifically called out those directly responsible for the bloom saying, “These people destroying the environment have names and addresses.” Newton claimed he believed education and restrictions for certain fertilizers worsening the bloom was the solution.
The candidates were also asked to speak on their perception of the word “equity”, what it means, what it looks like in St. Pete, and how you measure it. Boland rejected the idea that equity meant equality of outcomes, saying it was against American ideals. Instead he felt it meant equality of opportunity and relied upon individuals to take advantage of them. Newton spoke upon these opportunities, claiming he was a product of them, but that the opportunities were now few and far between for low income children. However, Powers’ response rejected Boland’s idea that it was simply equality of opportunity. She said, “It’s not about giving everyone a fair shot. It’s about making sure those who haven’t had a shot in so long get the first shot.” Both Ingram and Welch had similar ideas. Ingram saying equality is built from the ground up and Welch saying, “Equity cannot be transactional, it has to be foundational.” Nelson and Blackmon also had similar ideas on what equity would look like here in St. Pete, both calling for equal treatment of neighborhoods. Rice echoes this saying we would know we’re successful when outcome is not determined by zip code.