Days after former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist led incumbent St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch into a runoff in his reelection campaign, two more former mayors announced they are endorsing the challenger.
Bill Foster, mayor from 2010 to 2014, and Bob Ulrich, mayor from 1987 to 1991, endorsed Crist on Thursday in a video shared with the Tampa Bay Times. They join former Mayor Rick Baker, who previously announced his support for Crist.
Three out of St. Petersburg’s past four living mayorsnow say theyback back Crist’s effort to unseat Welch. Crist said he was honored and humbled by the latest endorsements. He said he’s known both men for a long time.
“I love St. Petersburg the way you all do and love her people even more,” Crist said in the video.
Foster endorsed Welch in 2021 but backed former St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Chief Jim Large in Tuesday’s primary. Large finished third in the six-way race.
Foster said he reviewed Crist’s plans and messaging, which include “keeping the [Tampa Bay] Rays in St. Pete.”
If you can run thethird largest state in the union, ”you can certainly take care of the day-to-day operations of the city government,” Foster said. “The city of St. Pete will be in good hands.”
Former Mayor Rick Kriseman, Welch’s predecessor who endorsed him five years ago, confirmed in a text message to the Tampa Bay Times that he is not picking a side in this race. Kriseman is now a lobbyist representing business before the city.
The mayor’s race is nonpartisan. Crist and Welch are both Republicans-turned-Democrats, however Crist changed parties a decade later and was a Republican while serving as governor. He was also a representative in Congress and has held other elected state posts.
“We have a unique opportunity as a city. We have someone who served as the highest levels of state government and now he has come home. And he has come home with fervor,” Ulrich said. “He has what I call a fire in the belly. And that fire is gonna serve the residents of St. Pete very well.”
Written by Colleen Wright of the Tampa Bay Times