St. Petersburg’s six mayoral candidates spoke Tuesday evening at Bayboro Brewing, invited by the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance to explain their views on the importance of the arts in the community, and what they will do should they win the Aug. 18 election.
The audience of 200 or so included artists, performers and administrators, as well as representatives from many local arts organizations.
Each candidate was given five minutes to address the crowd. Several used the occasion to deliver more or less generic stump speeches; some appeared off-the-cuff and tentative. All agreed, repeatedly, that the arts are a key economic driver in St. Petersburg and Pinellas County.
Another common topic was the need for affordable artist housing, as living within the fast-growing city is becoming an economic hardship for artists.
“Writing a check is not the only thing that we can do as a city,” said candidate Jim Large. “We can look at unused city property that we own, and what can we do with that to help the art community in some form or fashion?”
Large, the city’s longtime fire chief, talked about his passion for public service. “I think you have a passion for the arts,” he told the audience, “and I think it’s so important that we continue to support our passion and do the things that we love. And it makes our city better.”
St. Petersburg’s six mayoral candidates spoke Tuesday evening at Bayboro Brewing, invited by the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance to explain their views on the importance of the arts in the community, and what they will do should they win the Aug. 18 election.
The audience of 200 or so included artists, performers and administrators, as well as representatives from many local arts organizations.
Each candidate was given five minutes to address the crowd. Several used the occasion to deliver more or less generic stump speeches; some appeared off-the-cuff and tentative. All agreed, repeatedly, that the arts are a key economic driver in St. Petersburg and Pinellas County.
Another common topic was the need for affordable artist housing, as living within the fast-growing city is becoming an economic hardship for artists.
“Writing a check is not the only thing that we can do as a city,” said candidate Jim Large. “We can look at unused city property that we own, and what can we do with that to help the art community in some form or fashion?”
Large, the city’s longtime fire chief, talked about his passion for public service. “I think you have a passion for the arts,” he told the audience, “and I think it’s so important that we continue to support our passion and do the things that we love. And it makes our city better.”
Said Brandi Gabbard, a nine-year member of the St. Petersburg City Council: “We have to find a way not only for our makers and our creators to be able to continue the work they do every day, but to be able to live right here in our community that they do the work for.”
Gabbard leaned into the need for affordable live/work spaces for artists. “Because affordability overall is depleting for everyday people in our city.”
Kevin Batdorf received the biggest laugh of the night when he told the audience he once played trumpet on Broadway … in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
“You are the new tourist attraction,” he said, addressing the creatives in the room. “People come to St. Pete to see what you’re doing, to check out our museums, our art walks and our murals.”
Getting right to the point, Maria Scruggs said “When we say the arts is an economic generator, we have to put the numbers to that. We have to move beyond looking at the arts as an afterthought or an appendix, And when we say that we are looking at it as an economic driver, we have to have that in our strategy.”
She added: “The arts to me are very simple: The arts are the soul of your community. And if your community is not dancing to the beat of some kind of artistic expression, then you’re not serious about the arts.”
Former Florida governor Charlie Crist said that the city’s current administration is not doing enough. “City Hall has not funded you, in my humble opinion,” he declared. “And why is that happening? Because the administration doesn’t make you a priority. They say put your money where your mouth is – well, you get some crumbs. But if we really want to make St. Petersburg the arts capital of the world, instead of just the southeast of the United States, we gotta get moving.
“If we mean it, let’s do something about it. And let’s have a mayor who’s a champion for the arts.”
“I want you to know, you do have a champion of the arts in your current mayor,” incumbent Ken Welch began. He then laid out his record as a supporter of the arts, starting with his time (2002-2022) as a Pinellas County Commissioner.
Welch also noted that the city’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-27, submitted to City Council last week, includes $1.2 million in funding for the arts. “And we’ve increased that every year that I’ve been mayor.”
He also issued a warning: “You need to understand that when someone is talking about cutting property taxes, the first thing that will be cut will be the arts.
“And if we get a property tax referendum that passes this November, our investment won’t be possible. So when someone talks to you about cutting property taxes, ask them specifically what they will cut.”
This content provided in partnership with StPeteCatalyst.com
