Mayor Rick Kriseman congratulates new Mayor-elect on election night
Ken Welch was very active on the campaign trail
St. Pete Mayor-Elect KEN WELCH L o o k s A h e a d t o a G re a t e r C i t y Story by STEVE TRAIMAN Photos courtesy of kenwelch.com
Former Pinellas County Commissioner and current Council
member Ken Welch won 60% of the vote to beat Council member and local businessman Robert Blackmon Nov. 2 to become St. Pete’s first African-American mayor. At his watch party, he told supporters,“This election has made history in St. Petersburg!” Just after the Nov. 2 election, Mayor Rick Kriseman told Paradise NEWS, “St. Pete spoke loudly on Tuesday night in wanting to keep moving forward and making progress. I couldn’t be happier for my friend Ken and our newest Council stars, Copley Gerdes, Lisset Hanewicz, and Richie Floyd. History has been made. Now let’s make good on our promises – on the Trop site, housing affordability, sustainability, and resilience, and ensuring the sun does shine bright on all who come to live, work, and play. We’re getting closer, St. Pete.” In an exclusive interview with Paradise NEWS, the Mayor-elect noted his key goals and priorities for the city, its residents, businesses and visitors looking ahead: “During the campaign, 14
DECEMBER 2021 | ParadiseNewsFL.com
floating to the top were housing affordability across the board – from employers, parents, and low-income residents; then our infrastructure and our environmental protections – sewer and water improvements that keep up with our growth; and our neighborhoods’ health and safety.” He then detailed his approach to key issues, starting with future redevelopment of the Tropicana Field site. He said, “As a third-generation resident growing up in this neighborhood, I Iived through two major displacements – the first when the interstate was built, then when baseball arrived with a new domed stadium. “We will want to make sure that those promises from 30 years ago come true and hope the Rays will be part of that. Jobs and other economic opportunities are key and Mayor Kriseman has made a good start with his RFP [Request for Proposals] to potential developers. We’ve had some good response in those RFPs. I will be restarting those conversions with the Rays, our City Council and County Commission, and the entire community for their input as we move forward.” For affordable housing needs, he said,“As a County Commission, we established a key Housing Trust Fund that has over
