Seats were filled in City Hall as USF St. Petersburg Regional Chancellor Sophia Wisniewska shook hands with mayoral candidates. Political gabbers and aspirers listened attentively as candidates traded jabs and thoughts on the fate of St. Petersburg for the first debate, hosted by USFSP.
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Frank Biafora, moderated pre-screened questions composed by USFSP students and employees as well as members of the public.
All mayoral candidates were invited to the event. Those present included incumbent Bill Foster, Anthony Cates, Kathleen Ford, Paul Congemi and Rick Kriseman. From the Lens to Leviticus, the topics of discussion and rebuttals fired within 60 seconds.
“We can look for efficiencies in our city budget,” Ford said. “I don’t think we truly understand what the cost of particular services are and our fees and our taxes should be based on what that cost is.”
Small business and community relationships were the most poignant topics of the night as candidates were asked to choose between a major company settling in the city versus a number of small businesses. Working with businesses and local business centers, Foster promised a continued effort in the Green House project, an initiative to strengthen and guide entrepreneurial growth.
“With the Green House, it’s all things small business, medium business, large business,” Foster said of his project with the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and USFSP. “You can plant a small business and grow it … it’s a business garden.”
According to Ford, downtown St. Pete communities, particularly the arts and LGBT, deserve greater attention. Consensus was found with Kriseman, who agreed the city could facilitate further growth and regional recognition.
“It’s the arts that differentiate us from every other community in the state of Florida,” Kriseman said. “I would like to see us have more public art, not just throughout the downtown area but throughout the city. When you invest in the arts, the money comes back into your community multiplied.”
Student Body President Mark Lombardi-Nelson kept an eye on the timer as the candidates promised reevaluation of their plans for the St. Petersburg Pier and boasted their career successes. Cameras panned over candidates, moderators, and a section of members of Student Government who were selected to represent USFSP.
According to the city charter, if a candidate for mayor receives over 50 percent of the vote in the mayoral primary, the candidate is considered duly elected and a general election will not be required. A split vote in the primary election results in the two candidates with the highest percent of the vote to be placed on the ballot for the general municipal election.
Upcoming debates include a Sept. 10 debate for the general election, hosted by USFSP SG and LocalShops1.com.
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