Welch Struggles as St. Pete Voters Embrace New Leadership to Advance His Vision
With Election Day less than a week away, St. Pete voters appear increasingly ready for change.
Recent polling shows former Gov. Charlie Crist leading the field, with Council member Brandi Gabbard continuing to gain ground. Meanwhile, Mayor Ken Welch has struggled to retain support as voters increasingly look elsewhere.
“People are ready for someone new,” said Meredith Caldwell, spokesperson for St. Pete Citizens for Change. “What we’re finding is that while voters are very clear about wanting Ken Welch out of office, they’re considerably less clear about what they want after he’s gone.”
Caldwell says dissatisfaction with Welch should not necessarily be confused with opposition to development, wasteful spending or other priorities that have defined his administration.
“People know they want change,” Caldwell said. “But they have jobs and families. They don’t have time to analyze every little policy position. That’s where we come in.”
Caldwell says that uncertainty has created an opening for candidates who can offer voters new leadership without unnecessarily disrupting the direction of the city.
Gabbard’s supporters point to important differences between her and Welch, particularly her willingness to take more time when considering major development proposals.
“That’s one of the things I really like about Brandi,” Caldwell said. “She’s willing to wait an extra two weeks before doing whatever Ken Welch was going to do.”
Caldwell suggests that the additional review time would give the city an opportunity to commission expensive studies before ultimately reaching the same conclusion.
Crist has also benefited from dissatisfaction with Welch. Analysts say his broad name recognition and less defined approach to issues have allowed voters across the political spectrum to remain optimistic that he agrees with them.
Caldwell says the election could ultimately mark the beginning of what political observers are calling a “post-Welch phase of the Welch era.”
“For the first time in years, voters have a real choice,” Caldwell said. “They can keep doing what we’re doing, or elect somebody new to keep doing it. It’s great.”
