ABOVE: St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch (L) and daughter Kenya. Photo via City of St. Pete.
ST. PETERSBURG | Mayor Ken Welch was sworn into office Jan. 6, making history as the city’s 54th and first Black mayor.
The longtime LGBTQ ally, who tested positive for COVID-19 this week, subsequently addressed constituents virtually. In-person festivities were postponed due to the diagnosis.
“It is my distinct honor to address you today, although under unique circumstances,” the mayor began his speech. “I want to thank everyone who has reached out with words of support. I am recovering and my symptoms remain mild.
“This is a significant moment for many reasons. It represents the breaking of another barrier,” Welch continued. “As a child of the civil rights era, I grew up in the areas of our city, where my family lived not by choice but by sanctioned discriminatory practices that defined where African Americans could live in our city … so yes, this election is historic. But our goal is not to simply make history.”
Welch then reflected on his hopes for St. Petersburg and its citizens, teasing the implementation of an Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program and more. He also reflected on the visionary leadership of outgoing Mayor Rick Kriseman.
The mayor closed by reflecting on his own story, noting that every viewer has their own that is “just as important and personal.” He called on constituents to recognize that “we are St. Pete,” including members of the LGBTQ community.
“It is important that we look at our diversity not as something that divides us, but rather it can be our greatest strength,” Welch said. “When we listen to each other and work to truly understand our viewpoints, we grow stronger collectively, by building on our individual knowledge and strengths. When we do that, we can – and will – move past the silos, the prejudices, the petty politics, and we will be able to build an inclusive path forward … The power of our partnership is in our collective capacity for progress.”
View the full swearing-in ceremony and address below:
St. Petersburg's 54th Mayor, Kenneth T. Welch, was officially sworn into office Thursday morning with daughter Kenya Welch holding the bible. Watch the Mayor's live address at noon on St. Pete TV or the city's Facebook page: https://t.co/KTw4fFG0Vo #WeAreStPete pic.twitter.com/pdhupd12N3
— St. Petersburg, FL (@StPeteFL) January 6, 2022
St. Petersburg’s City Council was also sworn in Jan. 6, including its three new members: District 1’s Copley Gerdes, District 4’s Lisset Hanewicz and District 8’s Richie Floyd. It marked the first time in years no openly LGBTQ representative has served on the body.
Outgoing Councilmembers and members of the LGBTQ community Amy Foster and Darden Rice, as well as Robert Blackmon, were also honored for their time on the council earlier in the day. Watch both ceremonies below via the City of St. Petersburg’s St. Pete TV:
