It was 1993 and there was a referendum on the ballot to transition from a city manager to a
Strong Mayor Form of government. I voted in favor not understanding how profoundly it would
change the way decisions are made in St.Petersburg.


David Fischer was mayor from 1991-2001. He served when we had a city manager and then
after the referendum passed for a Strong Mayor. Rick Baker who volunteered for David Fischer
was a witness to this transition.


On YouTube, Mayor Baker gives a talk in Pensacola titled “Building Seamless Cities”. He
reflects that Mayor Fischer really didn’t change the way city government functioned while he
held the office. Then in 2001 Mayor Baker takes office for two terms and becomes the first
“Strong Mayor”. St. Petersburg has had four strong Mayors, Baker, Foster, Kriseman, and
Welch.


In his talk 15 years ago in Pensacola Mayor Baker makes a profound statement; “Nothing big
happens in St. Petersburg unless the mayor wants it and a majority of city council approves it.
He then repeated this statement in a recent interview with Ernisa Barnwell at the Hangar
restaurant.


In a one sentence Mayor Baker has summarized how our city government is set up. Often
when persons are running for City Council they talk about “bringing new leadership to City Hall.”
When I hear this I wonder do they understand how the council functions? City council can only
vote yes or no to items the Strong Mayor brings before it. Then council members have a soft
power if they can persuade others on the dais by the power of their arguments for and against.
The reality today is the Mayor’s office will carefully poll the council before a session and will
avoid anything they fear will not pass.


In 2013 Mayor Foster ran for re-election. He had made this statement: “I will not pay a dime
more than $50 Million to tear down the old pier and build a new one.” He lost that re-election
bid. The pier we have today cost more than $90 Million. But if that election had gone the other
way the Strong Mayor would have asserted his desires for economy and the pier would look
very different.


When neighbors and friends complain about city government, I try to remind them that all city
employees work for the Mayor. No new action is taken unless the Mayor’s office directs it. If
the Mayor wants something done that costs over $75,000 he must seek the approval of City
Council. The change in the charter in 1993 has placed a great deal of discretion and power into
one elected office.