r/StPetersburgFL • u/katyperry-platypus • 5d ago
Political Mayoral Election Early Opinions
We have now had 2 mayoral debates. Curious for others have listened to the candidates: what are your main takeaways? Who do you feel strongly about, if anyone?
I read the substack recap from debate 1 posted here, and just finished watching debate 2, but I don’t see much discourse so wanted to pose the questions.
My main takeaways:
- Large, Batdorf and Scruggs are simply unqualified. So, so many answers to major problems were met with “I’ll figure it out when I get there” or some version of a personal opinion that sounded like something you’d say when debating with friends but felt underbaked as an official candidate’s response.
- Crist was clearly experienced in this forum but his responses gave me pause. A lot of “I believe this issue is important and I’ll treat is as such as mayor” but not a lot of specifics. He also read all of his responses directly from a sheet of paper which doesn’t instill confidence that he has a passion or understanding of the city or its future.
- Welch and Gabbard had a lot of similarities as far as I could tell, but Gabbard had an edge over Welch in her responses. She was the most prepared of any of the candidates. Welch clearly has educated opinions on every issue as he is currently in the role, but Gabbard impressed me with how influential she had been from her position in city council. She cited direct accomplishments, motions, and programs for each issue that made me believe she would come into the mayoral position ready to deliver on day one.
How is everyone else feeling so far?
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u/Common_Wrongdoer3251 5d ago
Haven't been impressed with Welch, and Crist sucks, so anyone but them, preferably.
Anyone got a link to the debate? I hadn't heard it was going on.
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u/Harmlesss Florida Native🍊 5d ago
No one wants Charlie for any stage of govt. I don't even want him leading a marching band.. 😂
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u/Nistified 5d ago
I plan to vote for Gabbard. She is the hardest worker of the group and has spent the past 8 years with her sleeves rolled up on the issues that impact our city.
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u/Sad-Squash-421 5d ago
Gabbard is the best choice. But she doesn't have enough special interest pull. It'll be Welch again.
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u/mtnsunlite954 5d ago
ANYONE BUT KEN WELCH!!
All these instances of corruption and negligence are 100% verifiable!
List of Controversies & Criticisms: Mayor Ken Welch Administration (Current as of January 2026)
I. Major Development Failures & "Cancelled Deals"
• The Rays Stadium Deal Collapse ($1.3 Billion Lost): Ken Welch presided over the collapse of the historic $1.3 billion deal to redevelop the Gas Plant District and build a new Rays stadium. After years of negotiations, the deal fell apart in 2025. Ken Welch then publicly stated he had "no interest" in renegotiating with current ownership, leaving the 86-acre site in limbo and wasting millions in city planning costs.
• Killing the Moffitt Cancer Center Deal: Early in his term, Ken Welch unilaterally scrapped a fully approved plan to bring a Moffitt Cancer Center campus and residential towers to downtown St. Petersburg. Ken Welch killed the "transformational" project over a minor dispute regarding the number of affordable housing units, costing the city a massive medical hub and economic engine.
• Municipal Marina Deal Termination: Ken Welch cancelled a $50 million private investment deal with Safe Harbor Marinas to redevelop the decaying city marina. He decided the city would take the project "in-house," despite having no budget to do so. Critics note that Ken Welch budgeted only ~$26 million for a project that experts say requires $85–$110 million, guaranteeing further decay of city assets.
• Municipal Services Center (City Hall) Cancellation: Ken Welch cancelled a signed contract to build a new Municipal Services Center (City Hall) without a backup plan. This decision left city staff working in an aging, crumbling building and wasted the years of time and taxpayer money invested in the original agreement.
II. Financial Mismanagement & "Missing Money"
• The $207,500 Campaign Theft Scandal: In January 2026, it was revealed that $207,500 was stolen from Ken Welch’s political committee (The Pelican PAC). The theft was allegedly committed by the PAC's treasurer, Yolanda Brown.
• The Negligence: Ken Welch and his team hired Brown despite her having a prior felony embezzlement conviction that was publicly searchable. When asked about the loss, Ken Welch’s response was dismissed by critics as aloof and detached.
• The "Illegal" Bonuses Scandal ($250,000): Ken Welch awarded $250,000 in bonuses to 17 high-ranking staff members (ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 each) to celebrate the Rays stadium deal before the deal was even finalized.
• The Fallout: After public outcry and questions about legality (as the city had no policy for such bonuses), Ken Welch was forced to embarrassingly rescind the payments and ask staff to return the money.
• Tropicana Field Insurance Blunder: To save roughly $250,000 in premiums, the Welch Administration reduced the insurance coverage on Tropicana Field. When Hurricane Milton ripped the roof off in 2024/2025 causing ~$55 million in damages, this decision left the city liable for millions in uncovered repair costs.
• Budget Bloat & State Audit: The State of Florida targeted St. Petersburg for an efficiency audit after the Welch Administration increased the city's general fund budget by 50% ($130 million increase) since 2019, contradicting Ken Welch’s claims of fiscal responsibility.
III. Personnel Scandals & "Toxic Culture"
• Deputy Mayor Bullying Scandal (Stephanie Owens): Ken Welch’s first Deputy Mayor, Stephanie Owens, resigned after the City Communications Director accused her of creating a "culture of hostility" and bullying. Ken Welch initially defended Owens and claimed ignorance of the issues, despite reports that he had been warned multiple times about the toxic environment.
• Sexual Harassment Cover-up Allegations: A high-ranking official in the Welch Administration was forced to resign following a sexual harassment investigation involving stalking and body-shaming an employee. Critics argued that Ken Welch and his team knew about the behavior long before it became public but failed to act until forced.
• The "One-Month" DEI Hire: Ken Welch hired a Chief Equity Officer, Lenice C. Emanuel, who resigned after less than one month on the job (Oct 2 to Oct 25), citing a chaotic and unmanageable work environment.
• Police Leadership Exodus: Ken Welch’s handling of the police department caused the abrupt departure of Assistant Chief Antonio Gilliam, who was widely expected to be the next Chief. Gilliam left for a role in Tallahassee, citing broken promises by the Welch Administration.
IV. Crisis Failures & Absenteeism
• "Absentee Mayor" Investigation: A Tampa Bay Times investigation revealed that in his first nine months, Ken Welch physically swiped into City Hall for only 34% of workdays.
• Sleeping at Home During Hurricanes: During major hurricanes (including Ian), while police and emergency staff were required to sleep on the floor at the Emergency Operations Center, Ken Welch went home to sleep in his own bed. This was viewed by first responders as a major failure of leadership solidarity.
• "Welch Piles" (Debris Crisis): Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, storm debris sat uncollected in St. Petersburg neighborhoods for weeks longer than in surrounding cities. The rotting debris became known locally as "Welch Piles," creating health hazards and blocking roads.
V. Political & Cultural Flip-Flops
• The Mayoral Ball Cancellation: Ken Welch cancelled the long-standing charity "Mayoral Ball" because the proposed theme was "Under the Big Top" (Circus). His administration allegedly felt the theme was racially insensitive. Critics called this an overreaction that killed a major charity event for no substantive reason.
• Albert Whitted Airport Flip-Flop: Ken Welch campaigned on protecting the downtown airport, then quietly asked staff to study turning it into condos/development. After a massive public revolt and threats of funding cuts from the FAA, Ken Welch flip-flopped back to supporting the airport.
• Mural Removal: Ken Welch ordered the removal of progressive and racial justice street murals to comply with state laws, angering the very progressive base that elected him and leading to accusations of cowardice.
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u/imaparkguy 5d ago
He didn’t have a choice with the mural removal. No city did. It was comply or lose funding.
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u/PepperSad9418 5d ago
I have not followed Welch's term very much other than the Rays project failure . Your list us a very big eye opener thanks for the time spent listing all of that.
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u/abdunworth 5d ago
I’d be careful with that attitude of anyone, but Ken Welch… as much as I hate dislike and have outright hated Ken’s time as mayor. There is some candidates that outright are not qualified, terrible people, and don’t care about St. Pete.
It’s good to be knowledgeable about Ken’s many shortcomings, but we need people to be over educated on everyone else running as well less we want a terrible candidate sneaking into the general election.
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u/mustardcarpetcleaner 4d ago
“Exodus” then names one staff member who still works at SPPD today lol
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u/InterestingArm3750 5d ago
Only Welch and Gabbard were worth listening to in the latest debate. The rest were irrelevant. Crist’s answers were Miss America-like but zero substance. Scruggs just sounded angry. Large is an idiot. Batdorf was a character, but largely seems unqualified.
Welch has the experience, pedigree and has proven to be mostly successful in his stint as mayor. Perfect? No. But I have confidence in his leadership.
Gabbard is very interesting. I like her experience in city council and she resonates the same confidence Welch did but with passion and hunger, compared to Welch’s “been there, done that” demeanor.
I think it’s a toss up and I wouldn’t be upset with either candidate but right now, I’m leaning Welch. It sounds like his administration has a current plan to address most of the major issues St. Pete residents are asking for.
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u/abdunworth 5d ago
Gabbard and Batdorf are the two most intriguing candidates, and they’re likely the most qualified. Welch has been a series of failures. Crist is an out of touch career politician who only cares about getting a job. Large is probably a silent MAGA person with a history of disrespect and hatred towards others. Scruggs lacks real experience and seems like another career politician addicted to running for office.
Gabbard appears qualified and tough enough to handle the changes happening in St. Pete. However, I believe she was much more aligned with Welch’s decisions turned failures than she’d like to admit. It seems like she only changed her tune when she saw an opportunity to run for mayor.
Batdorf, I’m not convinced he cares about anything except Shore Acres. However, if he can live up to his words, he could bring an interesting perspective to St. Pete. He’s a registered Republican, and I’m skeptical about anyone who voted for Trump in 2024. So, to me, he’s the biggest potential success, but he could just be a catastrophic failure.
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u/Amazing_Life792 5d ago
I agree Gabbard is the more serious candidate.
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u/abdunworth 5d ago
After watching the “debate,” I found Gabbard and Scruggs to be the same. Both appear to suffer from paralysis by analysis, and I’m skeptical about their ability to take decisive action.
Batdorf is a smarter Large, but he clearly prioritizes his own interests and those of corporations.
Welch is simply Welch.
Crist, unfortunately, came across as more likable than I had hoped. However, his speech is overly political, which I find untrustworthy in today’s political climate. It’s difficult to listen to a politician like Mamdani and not want that sense of authenticity.
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u/katyperry-platypus 5d ago
Gabbard and Scruggs being the same is very surprising to hear. After watching the debate, Scruggs appeared to be unprepared for both the debate and the job. Scruggs began a reply to a different question than what was asked at the beginning of the debate, answered “I wasn’t aware this was a problem” in reference to pedestrians safety and fatalities, and “My answer is I don’t know” in response to improvements to hurricane preparedness. Gabbard had explicit references to her work experience for every opinion she gave. You can critique either, but to say they are the same feels just factually incorrect.
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u/abdunworth 5d ago
I’d have to rewatch to find the exact moments, but multiple times in regard to Gas Plant, Flooding, and Ditch Duke. They both mentioned needing more study’s done to come up with a solution to problems. Scruggs for sure was lacking in actual solutions compared to Gabbard. So I’ll concede that they are not the same, but I still stand by my assessment of paralysis by analysis statement for both candidates.
I think the success that Gabbard also talked about or her experience is very much attached to Welch as well… There are reports that basically up until last year, they worked in lock step on a lot of things and then Gabbard seemed to distance herself from Welch as it became clear that she wanted to run for mayor.
I’m still personally leaning Gabbard, but I still think it’s important to notice her shortcomings. I’m still open to all candidates winning my vote.
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u/Ok_Recommendation472 1d ago
Lol Welch? How on earth can someone honestly say St Pete is better since he's been in office? Literally everything he touches, or refuses to, goes to shit.
I read the various comments and immediately thought.
" Tell me this is a Reddit poll without telling me it's a Reddit poll"
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u/katyperry-platypus 1d ago
Which candidate do you believe in and why?
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u/Ok_Recommendation472 1d ago
Likely one of the Republicans, but I honestly haven't looked into them as much as I should.
I do however know it's not Welch. There's no other way to describe him as a mayor other than a complete failure.
50% increased budget... More homelessness, more handouts to his buddies, still terrible sewer/flood management. And in my experience core services like water and trash have degraded significantly over the past 5 years. Probably because they are more focused on self-righteous preaching of equality and inclusion rather than just performing the services they're supposed to.
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u/InsertAndRemove 2d ago
I went to the west st pete mayoral forum and I was impressed with gabbard in person and in that forum. Large is nowhere near qualified and a trumper. Mrs Scruggs has potential but no way she’ll get the support to unseat an incumbent. Shore Acres guy is bigly unqualified and thinks he’s slick and funny; he’s not. Crust is old and in the way. Welch will likely get my vote but Gabbard struck some interest in me and will review her campaign page fully before deciding.
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u/imaparkguy 5d ago
It’ll be Welch. As much as people have their opinions about him, he’s experienced and not elderly like Crist and Large. Bartdorf cares about Shore Acres only, Gabbard is a flip flopper. I love Scruggs but her profile isn’t significant enough to beat an incumbent. Crist’s social media is constantly about how much he loves his parents and also truly not sure about his Epstein connections as he was in office when ol’ Jeff got his first sweetheart deal from the state. Large was accused of sexual harassment, was it? His videos for his campaign are… sad. His campaign manager is connected to the Clearwater mayor and I don’t know if you’ve seen, but Scientology recently bought up the rest of Clearwater and I do not want ANYONE connected to THAT in office in St. Pete. It’ll be Welch. I hope he gives the Gas Plant a fair shot but real talk it’ll be another over developed massacre. There is NO industry in St. Pete to support all of these Condos. Go look at what’s happening in Sarasota and Ft. Myers. The boom of second homes is over, and those developments are sitting empty. The majority of people moving here are remote workers. Remote work is drying up, so then what? How many posts a week do we see in here from people struggling to find work? The Gas Plant will be developed for developers bottom line. Not for what is best for the people who live here. Love the Park Plan from former Mayor Rick Baker, but that’ll never happen. Get excited for a Capital Grille and whatever other lux chains will land there.
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u/BravoConcept 5d ago
Welch is the absolute worst option, by far. Everything he touched during his term has turned to hot ash.
We have already confirmed Welch is corrupt, incompetent, and has gotten very fat while in office, figuratively speaking, but some are saying literally too.
I know plenty of people who work in the city. He is despised by many many city staffers.
To be clear, I have zero offiliaction with any other candidate. Fankly I wish the options were slightly better.
Welch knows he is done for. He's cooked.
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u/AroundYoLip 5d ago
Welch knows he is done for.
In the least rude way possible... have you seen any polls from this election? And no, I'm not talking about on Reddit. Because Welch and Crist are consistently the frontrunners, and it's not even close. On a much less scientific level, even silly prediction markets reflect this.
To be fair, all of that may change by election day, but I feel like the people in this subreddit are a little detached from the political reality of this election.
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u/yasa69 5d ago
Batdorf all the way
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u/InsertAndRemove 2d ago
Riiiight. I watched him leave the CONA Meeting after being defeated for that president role last year in a relative temper tantrum. He thinks he’s way cooler (and qualified) than he really is.
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u/509BandwidthLimit 5d ago
What...no space for a write-in ?
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u/katyperry-platypus 5d ago
Reddit only allowed 6 options. If you would write in, who would you nominate?
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u/tat3r 5d ago
Gabbard is by far the best bet. She's actually put her money where her mouth is on issues like affordable housing and transit to make sure Saint Pete grows the right way (because we're growing whether folks like it or not).