ABOVE: Photo via the Welch campaign’s Facebook page.
ST. PETERSBURG | Equality Florida Action PAC endorsed Ken Welch for St. Petersburg mayor Sept. 17, citing the candidate’s dedication to diversity and inclusion.
As the political arm of Florida’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization, the PAC is dedicated to electing pro-equality candidates throughout every level of the state’s government. The organization noted that Welch is a longtime champion for LGBTQ civil rights.
The Democrat served as a Pinellas County commissioner for five terms, during which he led a number of high-profile, LGBTQ-focused initiatives. He supported amending the county’s Human Rights Ordinance to include sexual orientation in 2008 and five years later, reintroduced the measure to add protections for gender identity.
“If elected,” Equality Florida also noted, “Ken Welch would break another important barrier as the first Black mayor of St. Petersburg in the city’s history.”
“Ken Welch has been a progressive champion on the issues that matter most to the people of St. Petersburg,” Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith said in a statement. “Electing a strong, seasoned and tested leader like Ken Welch to one of Florida’s most pro-equality cities is crucial to the LGBTQ community.”
“Incredible. Thank you Equality Florida for your support and friendship,” Welch welcomed the news. “Our community is built on our diversity and our LGBTQ brothers and sisters play such an important role in molding our culture, cultivating businesses and paving a path of inclusive progress for our community.
“As mayor, I will work with everyone to ensure our internal and external policies and procedures build upon the great work of the Kriseman administration in making equity and inclusion a core principle of St. Petersburg’s governance,” he added.
The PAC previously endorsed St. Petersburg City Councilmember Darden Rice for mayor in the city’s primary, who would have become its first openly LGBTQ leader if elected. Equality Florida Senior Political Director Joe Saunders noted in August that both Rice and Welch were “strong Democrats with progressive voting records leading the pack, and that’s a good thing.”
Rice has since endorsed Welch herself, noting that “I’m certain that there is no one better suited to be our next mayor than Ken.”
Welch also received an endorsement from Tampa Mayor Jane Castor this week, as well as other regional leaders including U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, Florida Sen. Janet Cruz and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. They joined U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, State Rep. Michele Rayner and current St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman in their support.
Other high-profile LGBTQ organizations which have endorsed Welch include the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus and the Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County, its local chapter.
St. Petersburg’s general election will be held Nov. 2 with no early voting. The deadline to request a mail ballot is Oct. 23. For more information about Ken Welch’s campaign, visit KenWelch.com. To learn more about Equality Florida Action PAC, visit EQFLPAC.org.
