Pictured above: Voters will choose between Ken Welch (left) and Robert Blackmon on Nov. 2.
Courtesy of Ken Welch and Robert Blackmon
By Annalise Anderson
St. Petersburg residents have chosen two out of eight candidates that will run for city mayor in the general election on Nov. 2.
Ken Welch and Robert Blackmon won the Aug. 24 primary election. Of a total 55,500 ballots cast, Ken Welch earned 21,827 votes and Robert Blackmon 15,659 votes.
City Councilmember Darden Rice is the runner-up with 9,189 votes. USF St. Petersburg student Michael Ingram, the youngest person ever to run for mayor, earned 460 votes.
The city’s primary election saw an underwhelming voter turnout. Only 29.32% of registered voters casted a ballot.
St. Petersburg native Ken Welch, 53, grew up in the Gas Plant neighborhood and is a member of the Democratic party. He served two decades on the Pinellas County Commission and his endorsements include current Mayor Rick Kriseman, Congressman Charlie Crist and former Congressman Jim Davis.
If elected, Welch plans to follow his campaign’s six I’s of “principled progress”: In-touch, inclusive, informed decision making, innovation, intentional equity and community impact. His platform focuses on COVID-19 recovery, economic growth for all neighborhoods, affordable housing, sustainability and development of the Tropicana Field site.
Before his role as a county commissioner, Welch worked as a senior accountant at Florida Power Corp. for 14 years. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from USF and holds a master’s degree in finance from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.
Robert Blackmon, 32, joined the mayoral race in May and belongs to the Republican party. He currently serves on the St. Petersburg City Council but submitted his resignation for January 2022 to begin his campaign. He is the youngest person ever to serve on the city council and works as a real estate investor. His endorsements include former St. Petersburg Mayor Bob Ulrich and Florida State Senator Jeff Brandes.
Also a St. Petersburg native, Blackmon graduated from St. Petersburg High School and earned his degree from Florida State University. According to Blackmon, he is the only candidate with business experience.
Blackmon is determined to keep the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, protect neighborhoods from redevelopment, prevent wastewater from polluting the bay, break the cycle of poverty to inhibit crime rates and embrace transparency within local government.
The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 4. Residents must request a mail-in ballot by Oct. 23.
Michael Alden contributed to this report.
