- Arielle Stevenson
- City Councilwoman-elect Darden Rice at her victory party at Red Mesa Cantina.
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor on newly elected City Councilmember Darden Rice:
“She understands the challenges in St. Pete economically, but also sees the potential. We’ve worked together on environmental restoration. She’s been a leader on transit. St. Pete has grown by leaps and bounds tonight. This is the place to be because of all the young energy Darden brings. St. Pete is on the move. The challenges are taking that economic growth beyond downtown, south into Midtown and northern St. Petersburg as well. This isn’t just one neighborhood. This is a great place for new businesses.”
City Council Chair Karl Nurse, re-elected for a second term:
“The whole slate won. The city is going to move forward in a dramatic way. It wasn’t a contentious win either; it was by a large majority. Here’s an illustration — we had four votes to move forward on universal curbside recycling. Now we have six to move on curbside. That’s the difference. There’s a long list of things that we will be able to deal with now. Midtown voted against Foster. There’s no money for Midtown? But there is money for hurricane traffic lights? We can begin to address the priorities. We can begin to address how we turn around one-third of the city. The struggle to pass important initiatives is over. The campaign was our first team-building exercise, we already started working together.”
City Councilmember Steve Kornell:
"I don't want to be talking about Midtown in four years. I want to say that we have equality for everyone in this city."
“Have you met the new head of the honeycomb caucus?” (Noted homophobe Momma Tee Lassiter, explaining before the election why she wouldn't support openly gay candidates Darden Rice and Amy Foster for City Council , said "One 'honey comb' is enough on the City Council!" — referring to Kornell.)
Harry, drunk man on a bicycle outside the Rick Kriseman election celebration at Nova:
"Who's the mayor? It's not Foster anymore, right? I'm a Democrat, too!"
"Put all the social services in one place away from the dome. When you leave after the game, it’s not a pretty look out there. Instead of moving the team somewhere else, move the social services out and away.”
- Arielle Stevenson
- Mayor-elect Rick Kriseman at his St. Petersburg victory celebration Tuesday night.
Pinellas County Commissioner Janet Long on St. Pete elections:
"People are looking at St. Pete, people are looking at Pasco. This is a sign of the times."
Herb Snitzer, photographer and local activist:
"We have three gay people on City Council now and a Jewish mayor. These distinctions don't matter anymore because your generation, the youth, has changed that. No one gives a crap anymore and it's awesome. It's great."
- Arielle Stevenson
- The local political glitterati gathered to celebrate Mayor-elect Rick Kriseman's win against Bill Foster Tuesday night.
Johnny Bardine, political consultant to City Councilman Jim Kennedy and Rick Kriseman:
"This is a pivotal moment. This campaign ushered in a new level of professionalism in St. Pete politics."
Pat Kemp, former Hillsborough County Democratic Party Chief, local politico:
"This election was the antithesis of 2010. This is a progressive city council. God, these people are stars. This [pointing to the room] is amazing."
