As the Florida weather continues to heat up, so, too, does one increasingly competitive race for St. Petersburg City Council, with elections coming up this fall.
At the start of the year, political newcomer Richie Floyd was the only candidate who had filed to run for District 8, a seat that will be vacated next January by term-limited incumbent, Amy Foster, who endorsed Floyd to take her place on the council earlier this month.
But eight months after his initial filing, Floyd is now far from alone in the race for the District 8 seat, which lies west of I-275 and covers neighborhoods in central St. Petersburg. In March, Floyd’s first opponent Dr. Dane Kuplicki, an optometrist, filed to run for District 8, followed by small business owner Jamie Mayo and, most recently, former District 8 city councilman Jeffrey “Jeff” Danner.
Kuplicki, also a political newcomer, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay over email that he’s pleased with the progress of his campaign so far. “We are ramping up to full-speed and we’re getting lots of good reception with the [District 8] residents and business owners,” he says.
Over the last two months, Kuplicki’s campaign has been holding “community chats” and has canvassed neighborhoods—with one social media post jokingly assuring followers he’s “not selling solar”— to uplift his campaign for City Council. He says they’re planning for a full calendar of events in the months ahead, to reach as many residents of the district as possible. “Overall, I’m having a blast and learning a ton from the residents, business owners, and City leaders,” he said.
Jamie Mayo, a graduate of the Leadership St. Pete Program, sponsored by the St. Pete Chamber of Commerce, is making a second go of running for the District 8 seat, after unsuccessfully running against Jeff Danner—also running for the open seat this year—in 2005.
A Cleveland native and business owner, Mayo asserts she’s “not an activist,” nor does she consider herself a politician. In an email to CL, Mayo said she’s running because she cares about St. Petersburg and has a servant’s heart. “I am likely one of the hardest working people you will meet,” she says. Although she has yet to expand on her platform, Mayo reportedly embraced causes such as community policing and affordable housing in her bid for the District 8 seat 16 years ago.
The latest entry into the race, Jeff Danner, served as councilman for the North Kenwood district on St. Pete City Council for eight years, from 2006-2014. Why he’s returned to local politics to reclaim his seat on the City Council, however, is currently unclear.
Although Danner will have local name recognition to his advantage, other candidates in the race have months of community outreach efforts under their belts to give them a foothold. Floyd’s campaign has reportedly knocked on over 7,000 doors in the community so far, with canvasses scheduled nearly every weekend since December, and both Mayo and Kuplicki say they’re also making the rounds in the community to chat with local residents about what they’re looking for in city leadership.
Floyd, who is currently leading the race in both fundraising and small-dollar donations, is running on a platform of social, environmental, and economic justice, to ensure the city puts people over profits and advances mutually advantageous opportunities for the health and livelihood of residents. Both Floyd and Kuplicki say they’re running to address issues such as housing, environmental protection, and the economic impact of COVID-19. Plans for the Tropicana Field site, or the Gas Plant district, will also likely remain a hot topic for City Council candidates moving forward.
A middle school science teacher and community organizer, Floyd has gained several prominent endorsements in recent months, including endorsements from the West Florida Labor Council, the national Democratic Socialists of America, and local Tampa Bay chapters of the socialist organization, which advocate for social and economic justice initiatives.
Although a first-time political candidate, Floyd, who proudly identifies as a democratic socialist, has for years been involved in labor organizing efforts, as well as campaigns to pass Florida’s $15 minimum wage amendment last November, criminal justice reform, and the creation of St. Pete’s new civilian response program. He’s gained national recognition from left-leaning outlets like Jacobin for his involvement in Florida’s $15 minimum wage campaign, and international recognition for his uncanny resemblance to Brazilian ‘Big Brother’ star Gil do Vigor, who gave Floyd a shout-out online.
Beyond the District 8 race, four other City Council seats and the role of St Pete’s Mayor are also up for grabs. Incumbent Brandi Gabbard of District 2 has one challenger. Five candidates have filed for what’s shaping up to be a crowded race for the open District 4 seat, which will soon be vacated by term-limited Darden Rice, who’s running to become St. Pete’s next mayor. Three candidates have filed to challenge Gina Driscoll of District 6, who’s seeking re-election for a second term. And after St. Pete City Councilman Robert Blackmon—infamous for his mask feud with Mayor Rick Kriseman—resigned, his seat in District 1 is also now up for grabs in a special election.
The primary election for St. Petersburg City Council and Mayor takes place Aug. 24. The general election date is Nov. 2.
UPDATED 06/04/21 9 a.m. Updated to show St. Pete's District 1 City Council seat up for grabs in a special election.
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This article appears in Jun 3-9, 2021.