The St. Pete political forum Tiger Bay hosted mayoral candidates for a debate Tuesday at the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art. Absent was former Gov. Charlie Crist, who said he would not participate in an event that charged attendees and only allowed Tiger Bay members to ask questions.

Incumbent Mayor Ken Welch, City Councilmember Brandi Gabbard, former St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Chief Jim Large, businessman Kevin Batdorf and civil rights leader Maria Scruggs participated in the forum. Crist instead hosted a tele-town hall at the same time.

Crist’s campaign has remained steadfast in that position. However, campaign manager Michelle Todd’s husband, political publisher Peter Schorsch, escalated the criticism before the event, posting on social media that “talking to 7,500 residents during a tele-town hall vs. talking to 100 insiders at a rigged debate. It’s a no-brainer.”

Tiger Bay is led by J.C. Pritchett, a longtime supporter and confidant of Welch, prompting Schorsch’s claim that the debate would be “rigged.”

During his tele-town hall Tuesday afternoon, Crist said: “It’s a privilege to be with you today for free. We think that’s very important to make sure that democracy is available to every voter without having to pay an entry fee.”

Following the event, Crist’s campaign said the tele-town hall drew 7,500 participants.

Crist’s decision may have backfired, though, because it commits him to skipping another ticketed mayoral forum hosted by the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce Aug. 6. His campaign has already confirmed he will not participate, giving his opponents another opportunity to appear together on stage without the current frontrunner.

During Tuesday’s Tiger Bay event, Crist’s empty chair became a side table for water bottles, and a frequent target for the candidates on stage.

When asked what they would say to Crist if he were present, the responses quickly turned to his absence and campaign rhetoric.

Welch said he would ask Crist, “Where have you been for the last five years? Whether it’s housing, hurricane recovery or the Gas Plant, everyone on this stage has been involved in this community and those issues. Crist has not.”

Welch’s reference to the Historic Gas Plant District underscored one of the defining issues in the mayoral race. The future of the 86-acre site has remained politically contentious since the collapse of the Tampa Bay Rays redevelopment agreement earlier this year, with candidates offering competing visions for how the city should move forward.

Following Welch, Gabbard criticized Crist’s campaign messaging surrounding the city’s response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

“There’s been a lot of dragging our community through the mud,” she said. “When people are saying that the city response, the people who work for our city, was negligible after the storms, that is where I draw the line. Everyone in my district was affected by the storms.”

“For someone to use that trauma as a political talking point is despicable,” Gabbard added.

Large, Batdorf and Scruggs also criticized Crist’s absence, with Scruggs questioning whether the former governor would remain engaged with the community after the Aug. 18 primary.

“Tiger Bay is one of the most distinguished political forums,” Scruggs said. “What makes you think you’re going to show up for me after Aug. 18?”

Beyond the political sparring, members questioned candidates about how they would manage some of the city’s most prominent cultural assets, including the Mahaffey Theater and the Woodson African American Museum.

One Tiger Bay member asked how the city could better manage the Mahaffey.

“Right now, we are operating the Mahaffey, and it’s an incredible strain for our team,” Gabbard said. “I want to get the Mahaffey under another operator.”

Welch said his administration is negotiating with The Florida Orchestra to extend its agreement at the theater but did not mention discussions with potential outside operators.

Woodson African American Museum Executive Director Terri Lipsey Scott asked candidates what priority they would place on making the museum an anchor institution.

The question again brought candidates to the Historic Gas Plant District. The Woodson Museum is included in the city’s current redevelopment proposal under The Burg Bid, selected by Welch after the Rays deal collapsed. While the candidates agreed the district’s history should be preserved, they differed on how the property should ultimately be redeveloped.

“It’s been unequivocal – history matters,” Welch said. “We need consensus on our history so we can move forward together.”

Gabbard agreed the Woodson should anchor the district but reiterated her opposition to selling the entire site to a single master developer. Instead, she said the city should redevelop the property incrementally.

“We have the opportunity to focus on African Americans’ contribution to St. Petersburg,” Scruggs said. She proposed creating a “museum row” centered on the Woodson and other cultural institutions capable of attracting national and international visitors.

Batdorf said he had not yet formed a position on the proposal. “I’ll listen and learn and come to an opinion that’s right for everyone,” he said.

Large stated, “We must honor and respect the history of African American culture in the Gas Plant District,” Large said. “There’s no reason that museum shouldn’t be a part of the Gas Plant.”