Meet Rick Baker 2.0.
The former mayor has released a new television ad showing a quartet of St. Pete residents gathered around a restaurant table discussing the many attributes which have made the city a great place to live and work.
Beach Drive … the Dali Museum … dog parks … trees planted ‘everywhere’ … each are mentioned by a diverse group of burgers before a server asks, “You know that’s all because of the mayor, right?”
“Kriseman?” asks former St. Petersburg Police Deputy Chief Cedric Gordon.
“Uh, no,” the waitress giggles. “Mayor Rick Baker,” as the server points to a nearby table where a familiar-looking man with a mustache and sunglasses sits.
“You ain’t seen nothin’ yet,” Baker declares as he snaps off his shades.
The ad is being released just hours before Baker engages with Kriseman in the first debate since last month’s primary election, which ended with front-running Baker placing 89 votes behind Kriseman.
After Tuesday night’s debate, both candidates will hold fundraisers later in the week. Kriseman will be in Ybor City Wednesday, while Baker will be at Kozuba and Sons Friday night.
Watch the ad below: