After several years leading one of St. Petersburg’s most politically mixed civic forums, J.C. Pritchett will step down from his leadership role at the Tiger Bay Club in December 2026. The move comes as the club heads into another busy election cycle and continues its role as a rare place where political opponents still sit in the same room.

Pritchett became president in January 2022. He said his goal at the time was straightforward: make Tiger Bay look more like the community it serves. “I wanted our club to reflect the community, meaning people from different backgrounds,” he said.

Founded in the mid-1970s, the St. Petersburg Tiger Bay Club has spent nearly five decades hosting candidates, elected officials, and civic leaders from across the political spectrum. Pritchett described it as “an interesting place where a MAGA hat can co-mingle with Dems,” a space where people can “have dialogue, and debate and then go home.”

That tone was deliberate. During his tenure – first as president in 2022 and later as executive president beginning in 2023 – Pritchett said it was important that public officials knew there would be no “gotcha moment.” No embarrassment.

Meetings were scheduled at times and locations meant to be accessible. Even small changes mattered. Members now manage their own name tags (instead of Pritchett collecting them after every meeting, then dispensing before the next) – a lighthearted shift that pushed shared responsibility and awareness.

Pritchett said his leadership approach was shaped by his background as both a minister and an entrepreneur. “You want the customer to be satisfied,” he said. “You don’t want people to think that our club doesn’t care about who you love.”

The club is already preparing for what comes next. Tiger Bay is revising its bylaws and creating a board of directors to guide future leadership. Pritchett said the board is expected to be replenished by the end of 2026.

The decision to step aside is also personal. After 30 years of marriage, Pritchett said he wants to spend more time with his wife and family. The two met in middle school, and long-term family care planning has become part of the conversation.

Looking ahead, Pritchett pointed to the moment Tiger Bay is entering. “2026 is a great opportunity for this club,” he said. “When history is written, we played our part in the 250th year of our country to be a democracy.”