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Tale of two cities: Castor endorses Welch’s re-election campaign
“St. Petersburg is stronger because of his leadership, and I’m proud to support his re-election.”
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor has officially endorsed St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch’s reelection campaign, offering a cross-bay political boost as the city’s mayoral race begins to sharpen.
Two weeks ahead of the endorsement, Castor and Welch, side-by-side, pitched the first baseballs to herald the Tampa Bay Rays’ first home game at Tropicana Field, a fitting image for a partnership between the two cities.
“Mayor Ken Welch has been a thoughtful, collaborative leader for St. Petersburg and a strong partner for our entire region,” Castor said in a prepared statement. “He leads with integrity, puts people first, and understands how to bring communities together to get things done. St. Petersburg is stronger because of his leadership, and I’m proud to support his re-election.”
While mayors endorsing other mayors is nothing new, this one is timely, arriving just as former governor and congressman Charlie Crist has suddenly entered St. Pete’s mayoral race.
The endorsement also precedes a public meeting April 30 concerning the future of the Historic Gas Plant District, also known as the Tropicana Field redevelopment, a project Welch and Castor have aligned both in practicality and values.
On those notes, their dual efforts last year helped secure more than $1.3 million in federal funding to mitigate the impact of I-175, which effectively redlined the South St. Petersburg Black community in 1980, just before the Gas Plant District was razed.
Welch told the Catalyst: “The endorsement reflects a working relationship that has produced measurable results for the region, pointing to joint international business recruitment trips through Global Tampa Bay, cooperation on disaster recovery through the U.S. Conference of Mayors and shared advocacy for major transportation priorities including the new Howard Frankland Bridge and I-275 express lanes.”
He continued: “This is what regional leadership looks like, collaboration that produces real outcomes for the people we serve.
“Mayor Castor’s endorsement reflects the real progress we’ve made by working together across city lines and delivering results for this region. This is what regional leadership looks like, collaboration that produces real outcomes for the people we serve.”
Welch hopes to expand that work in a second term, particularly on economic development, resilience, infrastructure, housing and workforce development.
Castor’s endorsement augments his widening support base, which includes the St. Petersburg Association of Fire Fighters and the Police Benevolent Association, Honorable Arthenia Joyner, Representative Michele Rayner, Council Member Deborah Figgs-Sanders, Honorable Charlie Gerdes, Council Member Copley Gerdes, Honorable Pat Gerard, Commissioner Rene Flowers, Council Member Jennifer Webb and Honorable Susan Latvala.
