St. Petersburg’s newly elected leaders are setting their priorities following Tuesday’s election, with plans to address storm resilience, government spending and the future of the Historic Gas Plant District.
Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist defeated incumbent Mayor Ken Welch, while Gabriel Hament and Linsey Grove won the District 2 and District 6 City Council races, respectively. The three will take office Jan. 7.
Their terms will begin with two significant decisions already made by voters: approval of a $600 million general obligation (GO) bond referendum for infrastructure improvements and Amendment 3, a statewide property tax measure that could reduce municipal revenue.
The GO bond referendum passed with nearly 74% support, authorizing the city to borrow up to $600 million for flood protection, stormwater drainage, wastewater facilities and drinking water systems. The bonds will be backed by the city’s property taxing authority.
Charlie Crist: Open government and a hometown return
For Mayor-elect Charlie Crist, the return to public office begins with an initiative he first introduced as Florida’s governor.
“My first act will be to establish an Office of Open Government, just like I did on my first day as Governor,” Crist said. “People have a right to know how their city makes decisions and spends their money, and they shouldn’t have to fight City Hall to find out.”
Crist, who previously served as Florida’s attorney general, governor and a member of Congress, said he also plans to meet with city employees and begin reviewing the municipal budget.
Amendment 3, which expands property tax exemptions for qualifying homeowners, could complicate those efforts by reducing revenue available to local governments. Crist also campaigned on reducing the city’s property tax rate and identifying unnecessary spending.
“Voters passed Amendment 3, and that’s a real property tax cut for families across Florida,” Crist said. “It also means real challenges for the city budget, so we’ll make every dollar count and look for savings first, while keeping police, fire and the services people count on fully funded.”
Crist opposed the city’s GO bond referendum during the campaign. Its approval now places responsibility for implementing the infrastructure program with his administration and City Council.
Before taking office, Crist said he intends to meet with Police Chief Anthony Holloway to begin a review of the city’s license plate camera program and its safeguards.
“Residents deserve a say in that,” he said.
Crist praised his predecessor: “Ken [Welch] is a good man, and he made history as St. Pete’s first Black Mayor. That matters, and it always will.”
He credited Welch’s administration with securing approximately $54 million in federal and insurance funding following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and maintaining support for the arts when state and county funding declined.
“There’s real work to build on,” Crist said. “My door is open to him. A smooth handoff is what the people of this city deserve.”
Gabriel Hament: Storm resilience and the cost of living
District 2 Councilmember-elect Gabriel Hament wants the city’s newly authorized infrastructure spending to reach neighborhoods still recovering from hurricanes Helene and Milton.
“What I’m going to be focused on is storm resiliency,” Hament said.
The GO bond referendum authorizes borrowing for drainage improvements, stormwater pump stations, wastewater infrastructure and drinking water systems.
“The protection of lives and property is the most fundamental mission,” he said. “Storm resiliency falls squarely within that mission.”
Hament, an assistant public defender, also wants the city to recognize the financial pressures facing residents.
“The government will have to tighten their belts as households have already had to do,” he said.
His work as a public defender consists of representing the following: people who cannot afford a lawyer, who if they miss one work day will not be able to pay rent. “I’ll be very sensitive to serving those needs,” said Hament
Hament recycled an approach to campaigning inspired by former Florida Gov. Bob Graham.
Graham became known for spending workdays alongside Floridians in different occupations, including teaching and oyster farming, to better understand their experiences.
Hament scaffolded that practice through neighborhood service projects while running for office.
“Those weekend service projects helped me better understand the challenges of the city’s neighborhoods,” he said.
Linsey Grove: Gas Plant ownership and GO bond oversight
District 6 Councilmember-elect Linsey Grove plans to continue advocating for public ownership of the Historic Gas Plant District as St. Petersburg considers redevelopment proposals for the 86-acre property surrounding Tropicana Field.
“I will continue to fight for the city to retain as much ownership of the land as possible, whether that’s through land trust or other vehicles,” Grove said.
The property has been the subject of successive redevelopment efforts since the city began pursuing a new stadium agreement with the Tampa Bay Rays.
After the Rays abandoned their previous redevelopment agreement, Welch’s administration reopened the process and selected The Burg Bid, led by Blake Investment Partners, in July.
The proposal calls for the developer to purchase approximately 58 acres of the property for $275 million, leaving roughly one-third under city ownership. It also includes housing, commercial development, public amenities and a proposed home for the Woodson African American Museum of Florida.
Grove’s position on public ownership could become consequential as the incoming council considers the development agreement and the Crist administration determines how to proceed.
In the meanwhile, the city’s GO Bond referendum passed, and with it, an advisory committee is imminent. Grove said she wants the bond advisory committee to have meaningful decision-making authority.
“I’ll be involved in making sure it’s a mix of people with different expertise,” she claimed.
Grove’s campaign relied heavily on direct voter contact. She was the only candidate in the District 6 race to qualify for the ballot by petition, which required knocking on 8,000 doors.
“It’s been good for others to see we are just regular people trying to understand each other, and we have to collaborate if we want to make positive change in our community,” Grove said. “And that starts in the campaign.
“This has been a nice process to learn other candidates, especially other first-time candidates to text or call or vent,” Grove said. “It’s been really nice.”