Kriseman qualified for the August ballot on Thursday.
He also announced that he'd be running for mayor again (not council!) on his campaign website, kriseman.com.
In a note to supporters, he cited the accomplishments his administration has made in the last three-and-a-half years, including forging ahead with the new Pier, breaking the Tampa Bay Rays stalemate, starting to build a new police station and developing a plan to update the city's old and crumbling sewer system.
"We can’t stop now, though," he wrote to his supporters. "The election this past November showed us that the politics of division are still as serious a threat as ever. We need to defend the gains we’ve made and keep working together.
So far, Kriseman's only announced challenger is a third-time candidate known his homophobia (oh, and for getting banned from a local KFC franchise).
But looming just beyond the horizon (probably) is a fierce, Republican-backed candidate who has access to endless funding and the ability to cast media scrutiny on his opponents with the drop of a hat, one who can't stand Kriseman's championing of liberal causes like LGBT equality, renewable energy and workers' rights.
We kid.
Or maybe we don't. Stay tuned.
In his message, the incumbent mayor seemed aware of the likelihood that he'll be facing an expensive challenge from the right, and not just from KFC guy.
"The next 10 months will decide whether we continue our progress or give in to division," Kriseman wrote. "If you’ll do those three things, I know we’ll keep moving our city forward together."
This article appears in Jan 5-12, 2017.