ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Nov. 22, 2006) — In response to media reports regarding the possibility of Mayor Rick Baker joining Governor-elect Charlie Crist's administration, Mayor Baker releases the following statement. He is available to meet with interested members of the media for interviews today between 1:15 p.m. and 3 p.m. Mayor Baker's statement follows:
"I am grateful to the voters of St. Petersburg who have twice elected me to serve as their Mayor. I have a commitment to those voters that I have not yet completed. While we have made remarkable progress in the past five years, we are not done. I look forward to continuing our strong efforts in our neighborhoods, downtown, midtown, public schools and throughout our city.
"Naturally, I am honored to have been mentioned as a possible Cabinet member for Governor-elect Charlie Crist. Yesterday, however, when I met with the Governor-elect, I confirmed to him my belief that my most effective service today remains in the city that both of us call home.
"I believe that I have the best job in Florida, and during this season of Thanksgiving feel blessed by God to be given the opportunity to serve one of America's greatest cities."
— A "City of St. Petersburg Marketing Department" news release the day before Thanksgiving. Speculation had Baker headed for either the education or community affairs departments in the Crist administration.
