Mayoral election in St. Petersburg: Candidates make the last round before the election

NS. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) – Voters in St. Petersburg will go to the polls Tuesday to make their voices heard in various city races – including who should be the city’s next mayor.

Republican mayoral candidate Robert Blackmon knows he’s not favored in some polls, but he’s not ready to throw in the towel.

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“You never know what’s going to happen. Polls – some say I get blown completely, some say it’s my head and neck, ”Blackmon said. “I think this is going to be one of the most exciting mayor races in recent times.”

Ken Welch, the Democratic candidate, knows it’s not time to celebrate.

“My old turf is Lakewood High, a few miles away, and I played offensive tackle. You don’t stop until the last whistle, ”Welch said. “So we play until the last ballot is cast tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. Don’t take anything for granted. “

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What was a long time Commissioner of Pinellas County. Blackmon served on the St. Petersburg City Council. Whoever wins Tuesday’s elections will replace Mayor Rick Kriseman, who will not run for re-election due to term restrictions.

Blackmon believes he’s not a professional politician, which makes him more attractive to voters who are tired of the status quo.

“People are fed up with the same old politics and the same old faces,” he said. “And that’s what I brought to the council and that’s what I want to bring to the mayor’s office.”

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Welch, who is backed by Mayor Kriseman, believes he is the candidate who will continue to drive the city’s dynamism.

“I know we have changed, almost 180 degrees since I was a child, and we were God’s waiting room. Now we’re America’s next great city, ”said Welch. “And the real question is, do you have the lead to bring us together and make sure that progress is inclusive for everyone and every neighborhood? And I think my partnership and my successes make me the right person to lead this city. “

Elections in St. Petersburg open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

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