On Monday, she announced she's been quietly engaging in one of the toughest battles imaginable: the fight against cancer.
In a message sent to media and supporters through a spokeswoman Monday morning, she announced she will be taking the next several weeks off for treatment and recovery, adding that that her doctors are optimistic about her chances of beating the illness:
“I have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I am fortunate to have a very strong outlook. My doctors and I are confident in my treatment plan. I expect to fully recover and be back at work shortly. While cancer is news no one wants to hear, I am thankful for my excellent doctors, the high quality treatment options in our region, and insurance coverage that allays many financial concerns. I am especially thankful for all those close to me who are a constant source of support and encouragement."
She also used her message as an opportunity to stress the importance of routine checkups as an early line of defense against a condition that too often goes unnoticed until it's too late.
"I would be remiss if I did not shout from the rooftop: Early detection saves lives. I encourage women to take annual breast cancer screening seriously. It will save your life," she wrote.
Despite the scary diagnosis and staring down what for many people can be a grueling treatment regimen, Rice, a passionate champion of progressive causes, still plans on running for reelection, and will officially launch her campaign in the coming weeks.
"I have committed my life to public service," she said. "I love my work. I love my city. I will be announcing my campaign for re-election in two weeks. I ask for a brief period of privacy while my family and I make our own adjustments to this diagnosis. I campaigned three years ago on a platform of ‘St. Pete Strong’: strong city services, strong city economic development, strong neighborhoods. Three years later our city is stronger than ever. And I am, too.”
In 2015, CL gave Rice a Best of the Bay award for her tireless efforts as a city councilmember. We hope her road to recovery is quick and easy and we look forward to covering her continued work at City Hall and in other arenas very soon.
This article appears in Jan 26 – Feb 2, 2017.