Welch, Crist spar and compare opinions in mayoral debate

Tuesday’s St. Petersburg mayoral debate between Mayor Ken Welch and challenger Charlie Crist was moderated by Holly Gregory of Spectrum News 9. Here’s a curated list of some of the  evening’s questions and exchanges.

Each candidate was given 30 seconds for an opening statement and two minutes to respond to the same questions, with an additional 30 seconds for rebuttal if one candidate called out the other.

Welch leaned on his five years of service as mayor, while challenger Charlie Crist highlighted his recent endorsements from all four living former St. Petersburg mayors.

What are your expectations for the Gas Plant District plans?

“I want a blue ribbon panel [an ad hoc group of independent experts] to review the plan already selected by the mayor,” said Crist. “I think all the plans look good. I’m really coming at it with no bias.”

Crist underscored that the land belongs to the citizens of St. Petersburg, and therefore parks and open spaces should be paramount.

“I think it should be very green … along with multi-use developments.”

Welch referred to the 2021 mayoral promise that helped get him elected to office: honoring economic inclusion for those displaced from their homes to make way for the original baseball stadium. “We are moving forward with a 30 year plan, not just for green space but for jobs and economic opportunity which was the original promise.”

In July, Welch selected The Burg Bid, led by Thompson Whitney Blake, with partners including Related Group, Elliott Investment Management and the Pinellas County Housing Authority.

“We have an even better more impactful agreement,” said Welch, even though the earlier Hines/Rays deal collapsed under his tenure — a failure he maintains is squarely the fault of the Rays and Hines.

Should a comprehensive plan have been passed before a developer for the Gas Plant District was picked, and how can the city ensure this transformational project reflects the character of St. Pete?

“All of the city council was selected by you, the people, to serve. It’s fundamental that we include them,” said Crist.

Though Crist seemed to lean more into the people themselves, rather than their elected representatives.

“This is your land,” he said.

In hindsight, could the city of St. Pete have done anything else to convince the Tampa Bay Rays to stay?

“Well you never know, until you try,” said Crist.

“Until the deal is not done, the ground not broken in Tampa, let’s keep it on the table,” he added.

Even if the Rays move to Tampa, Crist said, “we have to keep the spirit of the Ray’s in St. Pete alive, because its been such a critical part of our lives.”

Notably, the Rays have already signed agreements with Tampa.

Welch said unequivocally, “No.” 

He focused not just on baseball, but on the broader opportunities for economic development.

“The goal is not to pay any price to keep baseball here. We have obvious needs in our infrastructure,” Welch said.

“We are not dependent on baseball staying here; we gave this our best shot … we have a better opportunity [for the Gas Plant redevelopment],” he added.

Where were you leading up to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and in the aftermath?

Both Welch and Crist have faced criticism over their whereabouts during the 2024 hurricanes, with Welch’s critics contending that he left the emergency response center early, while Crist was reportedly traveling back and forth between St. Petersburg and Minnesota.

Welch, who was in St. Pete during the storms, used the question as an opportunity to advocate for GO Bonds to fund stormwater infrastructure improvements.

Crist said he was in St. Pete and Minnesota due to his fiancée’s former husband dying by suicide, while also tending to his ailing parents in St. Pete.

Crist held no public office at the time of the hurricanes.

Should voters support the GO Bond referendum to expedite stormwater resilience?

Crist said he would not support GO Bonds.

“Every week I go door to door … and what citizens tell me is that this kind of flooding is a problem, we need to fix it, but as it relates to a 600 million dollar bond, everyone’s squeezed in Florida financially … I don’t want to burden you with more debt on the city,” said Crist.

“I think these problems for infrastructure and pipping for sewage and drainage system it should have been addressed earlier.”

Welch pushed back, pointing directly to the former mayors who have endorsed Crist.

“When you say that infrastructure should be addressed,” rejoined Welch, “that is true, and every mayor who mentioned that endorsed you [all four living former St. Pete mayors] that supports you did not invest in the infrastructure, and that is why we need to fix it now.”

“We cannot afford to kick this down the road again.”

Some have asked for a community oversight panel if the GO Bonds are adopted. Would you support that?

Both Crist and Welch said they would support a community oversight panel.

What would you do to make St. Pete more affordable?

Welch referred to his Five Pillars of Progress, which includes affordable housing as one of the main pillars of his leadership, and pointed to projects that have already been completed or are underway.

“We have about 35,000 units being built or unders construction,” said Welch, pointing to Fairfield apartments as an example. The site, formerly home to Tibbetts Lumber, has been redeveloped into affordable housing.

“We won an award for using the highest ratia of ARPA funds in the state to help fund affordable housing.”

Crist focused his response on reducing property taxes by 0.4 mills.

“I think that’s one way we can make things more affordable is return to you your hard earned wages in forms of taxes to the city.”

Crist added that “under the current administration, some development [subsidy] costs per unit are like $800,000. That’s not affordable.”

Welch disputed that figure.

“I don’t know where that $800,000 figure came from,” he said, adding that development subsidies are typically between $60,000 and $70,000 per unit.

Welch also referenced a new development with rental costs he said were as low as $350.

Do you believe people need property tax relief, and do you think Amendment 3 will do it?

Reiterating his earlier point, Crist supports property tax reductions, but not a full exemption, which he said would “be like a hammer” and “leave cities in a lurch.”

Welch agreed that Amendment 3 would be catastrophic if passed.

“Not one person who has come to our budget meetings has asked to reduce millage. They ask to add arts funding, complete streets, safe neighborhoods.”

Following up on those responses, Gregory asked whether there was room for budget cuts outside of police and fire.

Welch and Crist sparred over this one.

Crist said police and fire need to be protected, but there is room for cuts in other areas of city bureaucracy. He pointed to the 262 new positions created under Welch’s administration, claiming that many employees at City Hall are making more than $150,000 a year.

Welch snapped back.

“You haven’t done your homework, Charlie.”

“A lot of those positions are not funded by property taxes,” said Welch, continuing to list city workers whose positions are funded through other revenue sources, including utility, stormwater and sewer operations.

“You are mixing apples and oranges. To say we can cut property taxes without looking at the budget and knowing where those dollars go …”

“That’s why you would want to audit it first, which of course I would, if elected,” said Crist. “That’s just prudent. That’s just honest.”

“We are audited every year,” Welch responded.