St. Pete mayoral race: Who's in, who's out listen

Tags: St. Petersburg mayor's race

Jamie Bennett (Nov. 2008)

photo by Seán Kinane/WMNF

This week, the crowded race for mayor of St. Petersburg lost two potential big-name candidates. Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch and state Representative Rick Kriseman, both Democrats, announced on Monday that they would not run for the nonpartisan position of St. Pete mayor.

City Council member Jamie Bennett acknowledged that his campaign could benefit from those two not being in the race.

“Ken Welch and Richard Kriseman: very good friends of mine. … I appreciate their timely response to this because I did kind of plead behind the scenes with them that, you know, if this did go on to July, it would kind of hamper the campaigns. … For my campaign, I have to be upfront with you, it’s very important, you know, because those votes are very similar to the votes I would have to fight for. ....

“It’s a long, long marathon.”

The primary is Sept. 1.

St. Petersburg City Council

WMNF coverage of Jamie Bennett’s announcement he’s running for Mayor

WMNF coverage of Ken Welch on not running

WMNF coverage of Rick Kriseman on not running

WMNF interview with Mayoral candidate Scott Wagman

Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections