ABOVE: St. Petersburg mayoral candidates Darden Rice (L) and Ken Welch. Photos by Dylan Todd.
ST. PETERSBURG | LGBTQ advocates are publicly divided in their support for mayoral candidates Darden Rice and Ken Welch ahead of the city’s Aug. 24 primary.
Rice, who is currently serving her second term as a city councilmember, became the first openly LGBTQ candidate to seek public office in Pinellas County in 2005. She would become the city’s first openly LGBTQ mayor if elected.
Welch is a former county commissioner who served in Pinellas for five terms, during which he led several LGBTQ-focused initiatives. He supported amending the county’s Human Rights Ordinance to include sexual orientation in 2008 and reintroduced the measure five years later to add protections for gender identity.
Each candidate announced their intent to succeed the term-limited Mayor Rick Kriseman this year, beginning with Rice on Jan. 12. Her priorities include preserving St. Petersburg; supporting and shopping at local businesses; advocating for the freedom to vote; affordable housing and making St. Petersburg the Education City.
Welch followed Jan. 15, outlining his agenda for what he calls principled progress. The candidate promised to focus on equity, jobs and community development; climate resiliency and infrastructure; housing; leadership; safe neighborhoods and building a connected community.
By Jan. 27, Rice received her first LGBTQ-focused endorsement from the LGBTQ Victory Fund, the nation’s only organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office. She was named one of three spotlight endorsements across U.S.
“There is no such thing as an off-election year and 2021 presents opportunities to elect groundbreaking LGBTQ candidates that can impact policy for millions of Americans,” LGBTQ Victory Fund President Mayor Annise Parker said. “We must increase LGBTQ representation not because we desire power for its own sake, but because it leads to pro-equality policies that improve the lives of LGBTQ people.
“Darden’s commitment to smart public policy that will address the needs of St. Pete’s residents makes her the best choice in this race,” Parker added.
“I am so honored to have the support of LGBTQ Victory Fund in this historic campaign,” Rice responded. She vowed as mayor to “stand against any attacks on civil rights and fight with our partners at the state level to make Florida a safer and more welcoming state for everyone.”
LPAC, which focuses on electing LGBTQ women across the nation, endorsed Rice on March 3. They cited her views on women’s equality, health and social justice.
St. Petersburg Councilmember Amy Foster, who is also openly LGBTQ, subsequently endorsed Welch April 12. She became the third sitting member of the council to do so in the process.
“Ken will be a great mayor for St. Petersburg because he is a leader who listens, collaborates and thinks deeply about how to make this city even greater,” Foster said. “He is a unifier who knows how to bring people together, and that’s what St. Petersburg needs today with so many big issues before us.”
Equality Florida Action PAC, the political arm of Florida’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization, weighed in May 10. The group endorsed Rice for her leadership on LGBTQ rights, reproductive freedom, gun safety reform and more.
“Councilmember Rice has been a progressive champion on the issues that matter most to the people of St. Petersburg since she was elected to her first term in 2013,” Equality Florida Senior Political Director Joe Saunders said.
“We’re very excited about Darden becoming the first LGBTQ mayor of St. Pete,” he continued, “but what’s even more exciting is her vision for and plan to create a more equitable city for everyone.”
On June 15, Rice received the endorsements of former Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner and current Largo City Commissioner Michael Smith. Each commissioner was the first openly LGBTQ member of their respective commission.
Smith noted that Rice’s 2005 campaign “made a big difference to someone like me.” He said that “Darden’s courage and leadership helped pave the way for Pinellas County to become one of the most welcoming counties in the state of Florida.”
Beckner cited her “critical understanding of complex issues that impact St. Petersburg and its surrounding communities.”
Among those issues are how local laws impact LGBTQ residents and visitors, measured annually by the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization. The Human Rights Campaign has awarded St. Petersburg a perfect score since 2014 under its current mayor, who endorsed Welch July 19.
“Ken has been at this for a long time, always on the side of right,” Kriseman said July 19. “Always fighting for what’s right – and doing so in a thoughtful, deliberate manner. His approach to issues is why he receives such broad support.”
“Now more than ever – as cities contend with bigger and bigger issues – a steady hand is required to steer the ship,” he continued. “We can’t risk going backwards.”
The first Black, openly LGBTQ woman elected to the Florida Legislature agreed. State Rep. Michele Rayner endorsed Welch July 26.
“Ken’s integrity and track record in service to our community speak for itself,” she shared. “He has helped make St. Petersburg a more vibrant city by celebrating our diversity and empowering people from every neighborhood and every walk of life.”
Rayner further cited his support for small businesses, fight for voting rights and more.
“Michele’s endorsement means the world to me,” Welch responded. “Her passion for St. Pete, the Sunshine State and the country is the true embodiment of the current and future generations of leadership – she’s a proven trailblazer. Her courage, leadership, and passion embody what it means to represent St. Petersburg.”
More than 20 LGBTQ advocates throughout the city followed Rayner’s lead July 27. They included Smith, who rescinded his support for Rice due to three campaign mailers who found offensive that were sent by her political action committee.
The adverts sought to tie Welch to supporters of Donald Trump including Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, who endorsed Welch. They utilized photos of Rice’s supporters who are white but stock imagery of individuals who were Black, and one flier noted that Trump and Welch were “two of a kind… too extreme.”
Critics called the decision to use stock imagery as racist while noting that Welch served as a delegate for President Joe Biden. Others saw the mailers as hypocritical, pointing out that Rice has also received Republican support in the race.
They noted the candidate had also previously endorsed Robert Blackmon for City Council, who is gaining traction as a fellow mayoral candidate. The Republican has previously voiced support for the LGBTQ community but some advocates have decried his own usage of political mailers.
One such mailer, paid for by his campaign, lists Blackmon as a “progressive voice.” The other was paid for by his PAC and promises to “stop the career politicians with crazy policies” while cautioning that “progressive policies may be closer than they appear.” He has denied the messages contradict one another.
As for Rice, the candidate apologized for utilizing stock imagery in her mailers. “I’ve been talking to a lot of people, including friends and supporters, who have contacted me disappointed by the mailers my affiliated political committee sent out,” she shared July 26.
“I wanted to raise the real concern that my opponent … touted the endorsement of a sheriff who has stood with Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis and has carried out regressive policies that hurt our community,” she continued. “But I obscured that message by using stock images instead of featuring Black community supporters. That was a mistake for which I apologize … I am taking these lessons with me throughout the rest of the campaign and as your next mayor.”
Critics noted that Rice did not address claims that Welch and Trump were similar, nor her own Republican support, financial and otherwise. Watermark inquired about these concerns but the campaign declined to comment.
Following Rice’s apology, Welch was endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County, a chapter of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus. The organization cited his longtime support for equality.
“Both of the top Democratic contenders in the mayoral race have excellent records on LGBTQ+ issues,” Stonewall Democrats President Paul Ray said, “but the Stonewall Democrats believe that Ken Welch is the best candidate to unify St. Petersburg, break down barriers across our city’s diverse neighborhoods, and continue to move the city forward.
“We would also like to acknowledge our appreciation for the trailblazing nature of Council Member Darden Rice’s runs for office and her support of the LGBTQ+ community,” he added.
“I’m proud to be a tireless ally of the LGBTQ community,” Welch responded. “Throughout my time as an elected official, I’ve worked alongside leaders across the region to ensure equal rights for all residents.
“As mayor, I will continue our mission to be the most inclusive and progressive city for residents and visitors alike,” he promised. “St. Pete cannot be an inclusive community without giving everyone a seat at the table – and I will continue that work as our next mayor.”
When asked about the growing divide between LGBTQ advocates, Equality Florida says it isn’t unusual. Its PAC continues to support Rice.
“This election cycle we have strong Democrats with progressive voting records leading the pack, and that’s a good thing,” Saunders says. “From our founding Equality Florida Action PAC has been missioned to elect LGBTQ champions at every level of government, especially openly LGBTQ candidates with a strong record of service.
“We have endorsed Darden Rice in every race since her first historic run in 2005,” he continues. “She’s kept her promise every election and her victory would make her the first member of the LGBTQ community ever to serve as mayor of St. Petersburg and only the second woman.”
While there is no early voting in the primary, mail ballots have made their way to voters. Parties may request their own before Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. or vote in person on Aug. 24. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two candidates will advance to the general election on Nov. 2.
For more information about Rice and her campaign, visit DardenRice.com. For more information about Welch and his, visit KenWelch.com.
