“When I was Florida’s Governor, I was known as the “people’s governor” Charlie Crist said at a recent campaign rally.
Later that day, at another event he told an audience the reason why he was running was for mayor was “I’m doing this for the people.”
That’s right, former Florida Governor and Congressman Charlie Crist once again is running office. This time for mayor St. Petersburg.
The race is non-partisan.
But the mayor’s race isn’t pitting Crist, a Democrat, against a republican, Crist main opposition is another Democrat, incumbent Mayor Ken Welch.
In the past, Crist has changed his position on several issues, ranging from abortion to gun control, to spending. But this time around, the former governor is sounding more moderate than his previous campaigns.
Property Taxes
“Over the past five years, the City of St. Petersburg has seen property tax revenue grow more than 50% and over the same period, inflation grew about 22% and our city’s population grew by less than 5%,” said Crist.
Crist says he cut local property taxes while still maintaining essential service like Fire and Police. Crist criticize the current Democratic mayor for not cutting property taxes.
Government Spending
Crist blasted current Mayor Welch for growing local government by including an $18.2 million expansion of the General Fund operating budget in the most recent year.
Allowing and Enforcing ICE Agents to Patrol St. Pete for Illegal Immigrants
The Crist campaign said they were concerned about some of the optics and past stories of ICE agents patrolling cities in the U.S. but said at a campaign forum, that the local Police Chief Anthony Holloway “probably did the right thing.”
In order to win the election, Crist may have to run a little more conservative than his main opponent Democrat Mayor Welch.
Loca election numbers show registered GOP voters outnumber registered Democrats around 49,600 to 45,000 in St. Pete.
