Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro, who served under President Obama, stopped by St. Petersburg on Friday, where he toured a nonprofit that helps give formerly incarcerated individuals a second chance before greeting Kriseman supporters at the Station House.
He said he was in town to help the incumbent mayor highlight his accomplishments in the realm of economic development, which he characterized as significant.
"I'm happy to be here to support Mayor Kriseman," Castro said. "I had the chance, when I was HUD secretary, to get to know some of the great work that he's done to create more opportunity in St. Pete. When I look at St. Pete, I've seen over the last several years more jobs being created, more opportunities for people. He's done great on issues like combating climate change, making sure that no matter where someone is in the city that they have an opportunity to succeed. So I'm proud of his work and glad to support him."
Among major accomplishments he's observed in St. Petersburg, Castro said, is the Commerce Park project along 22nd Street in south St. Pete as well as job creation and lowering of the crime city's rate.
While he didn't say he was there as a prominent Democrat who's made national headlines as a potential Hillary Clinton veep pick in order to help clinch whatever remaining undecideds there are, he did say he thinks Kriseman and his opponent represent two very different ways of running a city — the oft-repeated forward vs. backward dynamic.
"This is an important race for the city because it's a matter of whether the city is going to continue to move forward and create more jobs and opportunity, or it's going to move backward," Castro said. "By being here, I hope it's one small way to help make sure that the mayor gets reelected."
The visit comes directly on the heels of an endorsement from former Vice President Joe Biden and a visit from former Congresswoman Gwen Graham, a gubernatorial candidate and daughter of popular former Senator/Governor Bob Graham.
"I'm so proud of all that Rick has done here in St. Pete," she said in a brief speech. "I know him personally. He's a great person and has worked so hard and has done so much here. But right now, what we need to make sure we are all doing is getting out the vote, talking to our friends, talking to everybody, talking to strangers. Make friends with people you don't know. Today's a new opportunity to have someone new get on board with the Kriseman campaign."
Early voting starts on Saturday; mail ballots went out earlier this month.
Turnout, Graham said, is key.
"We know what happens when people don't get out and vote. Bad things happen," Graham said. "Bad things happen."
This article appears in Oct 26 – Nov 2, 2017.
