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The Mayor of St. Pete is getting confused with ‘Mayor Pete’ Buttigieg
St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman took to Facebook to share some strange emails that he has received, emails clearly intended not for the Mayor of St. Pete, but 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Buttigieg is also making history, as the first openly gay candidate to run for the nation’s highest office.
The mix-up is somewhat understandable. Maybe. No one can seem to figure out how to pronounce Pete Buttigieg’s last name; thus, the popular moniker “Mayor Pete.” Buttigieg has been straightforward about his Christian faith, so perhaps “St. Pete” isn’t too far of a stretch …
In any case, Kriseman posted three bombastic and clearly misdirected emails received through the email address Mayor@StPete.org, alongside a photo of himself with Buttigieg and a photo of Kriseman and Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin marching in the St. Pete Pride Parade. St. Pete’s annual Pride Parade was recently named the No. 2 LGBT celebration in the country by USA Today.
“I‘ve spent a little time with Mayor Pete Buttigieg,” Kriseman wrote, “campaigned alongside him for a local state house candidate, watched him, and listened to him. He is considered a star within our U.S. Conference of Mayors. He is also a Christian. But this Facebook Note isn’t about Mayor Pete, necessarily. This Note, and the emails below, serve as a reminder of what we’re still up against.
“If I’m getting inadvertent emails like this, I know the intentional ones my friend Pete are getting must be much worse,” Kriseman continued. “As he continues to make a serious case to lead our nation, let us not lose sight of the historic nature of his candidacy and the venom he, his husband, and gay Americans everywhere continue to face. Let us continue to spread a message of peace and acceptance. Let us teach, because as has been said, ignorance breeds fear and hatred. Let us love.”
Kriseman then posted three emails, sent April 8, April 10, and April 11; each with similar error-riddled punctuation and rhetoric, attacking and mischaracterizing Buttigieg for his positions on a number of issues, as well as his critique of Vice President and former Indiana Governor Mike Pence. The emails specifically focused on Buttigieg’s faith and sexual orientation. Click the post below to read Kriseman’s post and the emails in full.
