St. Petersburg voters head to the polls, though turnout so far is ‘not great’ - Tampa Bay Times

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Pasadena Community Church was a relatively popular spot Tuesday morning for both mayoral and City Council candidates and voters alike.

Mayoral candidate Robert Blackmon cast his vote around 10 a.m. at the church, located in District 1, the district he currently represents on City Council. He said he was told 57 people had voted there by that time Tuesday.

“We’ve been checking the results. They’re not great,” Blackmon said about the voter turnout.

St. Petersburg Mayoral candidate Robert Blackmon waves to voters after voting himself at Pasadena Community Church 227 70th St S, on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021 in St. Petersburg. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]

He said the polling has been all over the place, but “I feel good. No matter what happens, I know I did the best job I could’ve done.”

Blackmon chatted outside the church with Copley Gerdes, the candidate hoping to take his spot on the City Council. They talked about how party affiliation often comes up in their nonpartisan races.

Gerdes said he didn’t know what to expect in his first run for office, but that voters seemed burnt out from the contentious presidential election in 2020. He wouldn’t say who he was supporting for mayor.

“I loved that there were a lot of people raising their hand from all different backgrounds trying to make our city better,” he said. “The biggest thing right now for people is they want a message of positivity.”

Gerdes’ father Charlie Gerdes was a longtime City Council member, and his uncle, Rob Gerdes, is the city’s neighborhood affairs administrator.

“I think I’m very blessed that my last name is something I’m very proud of,” he said.

Kris Carlock and Dean McLeod of the Tyrone neighborhood said hello to Blackmon and gave him a thumbs up leaving the church. They voted for Bobby Shay Lee for City Council District 1.

The couple said they liked what they heard from Blackmon at a mayoral forum held at St. Petersburg Community Church.

“Blackmon is really smart,” Carlock said. “He knows all the crooked things the Democrats do. He’s the guy for us. He doesn’t plan to make politics his life, he just wants to make St. Pete good.”

Joy and Hal Feininger attend Pasadena Community Church. They dropped off their mail ballots for Ken Welch for mayor and Gerdes for Council. Hal said he worked in Little League baseball with Charlie Gerdes 50 years ago.

“Gerdes is not an unfamiliar name to us,” Joy said. “Civic responsibility is part of his DNA.”

As for Welch, “We liked what we read. We like what we’ve seen. He’s been active with our city,” she said. And, “We’ve not ever had a Black mayor.”

Later, mayoral candidate Darden Rice greeted voters outside the church while City Council candidate Ed Carlson waved by his sign and an American flag.

St. Petersburg Mayoral candidate Darden Rice greets with voters as the head to the polls at the Coliseum, 535 4th Ave N, on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021 in St. Petersburg. On right Miranda Colavito, Rice’s finance director. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]

Both said they were underwhelmed by the turnout, which hovered around 22 percent by noon.

Mayoral hopeful Wengay Newton held hands with his wife of 31 years, Melissa, as they walked in to drop off their ballots at the Supervisor of Elections office in downtown St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg Mayoral candidate Wengay Newton with his wife Melissa after they voted together at the Supervisor of Elections office, 501 1st Ave N, on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021 in St. Petersburg. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]

“Everything’s good. You’ve got people giving me thumbs up walking in there,” he said. “On Tuesday night, they won’t be counting your Facebook friends, your endorsements or the money you raised. They’re counting votes.”

Newton was greeted by Sherman Henderson, a security guard working in the same building as the supervisor of elections. Henderson said he’s seen Newton feeding hungry people for years.

“He’s a Democrat and I’m a Republican, but I love this man.”

Best friends Mark Lombardi and Adrian John walked into the Supervisor of Elections to find out where they were supposed to vote. Longboard in hand, Lombardi was filling John in on who’s who in the mayoral race. They’re both voting for Rice.

“She’s the one I’ve continuously seen trying something new,” Lombardi said. “When I see that kind of leadership, it inspires me.”

Christine Beacham attended Welch’s church growing up. He got her vote at the Supervisor of Elections office. But Beacham said this election wasn’t advertised as much as the 2017 showdown between mayors Rick Kriseman and Rick Baker.

“It was like it got dead closer to the election. I almost forgot the date,” said Beacham from Lakewood Estates. “It’s almost like it was a secret.”

Under the tree cover at the edge of Greater Mt. Zion AME Church, Starlett Clark sat with her stack of Ken Welch pamphlets and wearing her campaign t-shirt.

St. Petersburg Mayoral candidate Ken Welch heads to the polls to vote along with his family at Lake Vista Recreation Center, 1401 62nd Ave S, during the St Petersburg primary election day on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021 in St. Petersburg. From left are his daughters Keonna, 28, Kenya, 19, and wife Donna Welch. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]

Clark, 45, wanted to volunteer for Welch because she hoped he would be able to help with issues like citywide violence, the expensive housing market and homelessness — issues that affect people like her.

“There’s a lot of poor folks around here,” Clark said.

For about a year, Clark said she hasn’t had secure housing. Her Section 8 application was tossed out because of an error, forcing her to restart it. She’s been staying at the Red Roof Inn with the financial support of her pastor.

Her unstable housing situation has only compounded the pain Clark has dealt with since her 17-year-old son, Gabriel Wallace, was shot and killed in 2015. At the end of 2020, Clark also lost 23-year-old Arnieceia Milton, whom she called her daughter-in-law.

“It’s not safe around here,” Clark said. “I’m always looking over my shoulder.”

Over at Lakewood United Methodist Church, Tom Shier, 69, said he was also concerned about public safety. He cast his vote for Robert Blackmon.

Voters head to the polls for the St. Petersburg Primary Election at The Coliseum, 535 4th Ave N, on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021 in St. Petersburg. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]

Shier said growing up in Chicago taught him that it’s police officers, not social workers, who need to respond to disputes. Early this year, the City Council, including Blackmon, approved a program to send social workers to handle nonviolent calls.

“Out of all of them, he’s the best,” said Shier, who has been a St. Petersburg resident since 1998. “He’s probably the most conservative of the group.”

Shier said he likes the city, but feels parts of it are in disrepair, and blamed outgoing Mayor Rick Kriseman.

“Let’s get the potholes filled with someone who knows how to do it,” he said.

Irving Sanchez III, 62, who was also voting at Lakewood United Methodist, declined to share who he voted for but said his top concerns were what will happen to the Gas Plant community and the redevelopment of Tropicana Field.

The scene before the polls open for the St. Petersburg Primary Election at Lake Vista Recreation Center, 1401 62nd Ave S, on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021 in St. Petersburg. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]

Sanchez, who grew up in the city, moved away for about two decades before coming back around 7 years ago. He said he’s happy with the way the city grew. He wants the city to continue its progress.

“I want to make sure everybody has a voice,” he said. “I just want St. Pete to be the best that it can be.”

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