Mayor Ken Welch, surrounded by family and supporters representing dozens of various organizations, officially filed paperwork Monday morning at City Hall to run for reelection.
Welch noted that efforts to “move our city forward” through inclusive progress have “faced some challenges.” He also expressed pride in St. Petersburg’s socioeconomic ascent over the previous four years, despite those hurdles.
“We did the work,” Welch said. “I’ve just filed for reelection because there’s more work to be done.”
He credited local partners for helping the city, which was significantly impacted by back-to-back hurricanes in 2024, navigate adversity. Representatives from the Sun Coast Police Benevolent Association (PBA), St. Petersburg Association of Fire Fighters, and approximately 30 other community, business and faith-based organizations attended the impromptu ceremony, despite little notice and historically cold weather.
Welch made history as the city’s first African American mayor, and Sunday marked the start of Black History Month. “I’m sure some of my team had that in mind,” he told the Catalyst.
He also has a “really busy, full-time job,” and Welch said his schedule dictated the date. A campaign kickoff event is Feb. 18 at St. Pete Athletic.
Welch used his Pillars for Progress as a guide to governance during his first term. He expanded down-payment assistance programs, launched several youth initiatives and focused on redevelopment proposals that support equity, jobs and affordable housing.
His reelection campaign will focus on evolving climate threats, increasing neighborhood investments, accelerating housing solutions, providing economic opportunities and strengthening public safety.
Welch said endorsements from the police and fire unions underscore that “the people who have actually worked with me during some of the toughest years our city has faced have faith in my leadership.”
“They know I’ve supported our police and our firefighters by focusing on the job they do, giving them the tools they need and separating some of the inaccuracies that are out there on social media from the truth,” he continued. “We’re hearing a lot of that right now on the ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) issue.”
Welch said the police and fire departments are accountable, professional and “make our community what it is.” Sasha Lohn, executive director of the Sun Coast PBA, returned the compliment.
Lohn called Welch a “reliable partner” who “does what he says he is going to do.” She said he ensures law enforcement officers, emergency dispatchers, forensic technicians and “every other civilian who makes the police department work” have the resources they need to thrive.
“If the police department doesn’t have a mayor like Ken Welch, it can’t recruit and maintain that level of professionalism,” Lohn added. “And the city needs that.”
Police Sgt. Michael Ward, senior vice president of the PBA, said Welch has “had our back the entire time he’s been the mayor.” Crime rates, particularly the number of homicides, plummeted last year, and Ward said the administration ensures the force has what it needs to “enforce the laws that are on the books.”
Rick Pauley, president of the IAFF Local 747 firefighters’ union, said in a prepared statement that members who “put their lives on the line every day for this city” need a mayor who “respects that service and invests in keeping our communities safe.”
“Ken Welch has listened to firefighters, stood with us and delivered real results for public safety and neighborhoods across St. Petersburg,” Pauley said. “We’re proud to endorse him for reelection.”
Maria Scruggs, former president of the NAACP’s St. Petersburg branch and a longtime community activist, has filed to run against Welch. Councilmember Brandi Gabbard has announced her candidacy, and former Gov. Charlie Crist is also mulling a campaign.
Welch said he and Scruggs, who recently advocated against the mayor running for reelection, “go back a ways.” Scruggs gave him that same advice before successful Pinellas County Commission races, he said.
Welch added that he looks forward to highlighting the city’s progress, fortitude, innovative housing partnerships and commitment to environmental resiliency on the campaign trail. “I want to talk about real issues,” he said.
“Other candidates can have their own propaganda.”
Welch noted that he inherited many current issues, including the redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District, aging infrastructure and utility billing systems. However, he pledged to show the community “how we fix the problem,” transparently.
A former campaign treasurer allegedly embezzled over $200,000 in donations. Welch said his team has reported the theft to the FBI and state investigators.
Crist, as of Jan. 1, had $712,283 on hand, nearly 15 times the amount remaining in Welch’s reelection account. The incumbent said he is “not focused on that,” as you “can’t buy credibility.”
“You can’t buy experience,” Welch said. “You can’t buy being on the ground and leading a city from the most impactful two hurricanes it’s ever had, and moving two million cubic yards of debris in nine months – more than the last three hurricanes combined, times five.”
Welch believes he would not have any challengers if the Tampa Bay Rays had not exited arduously negotiated agreements to redevelop the Gas Plant, which is currently home to Tropicana Field. He also noted that in 2021, he competed against eight other mayoral candidates.
“I’m excited to run on my record,” Welch said. “We’ve done things as an administration that no other administration has done.”
This content provided in partnership with StPeteCatalyst.com
