Real estate investor Robert Blackmon is former St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster’s choice in the crowded District 6 City Council race.
“I’m supporting Robert Blackmon because he has the vision and leadership our citizens deserve on city council,” Foster said. “I’m proud to support Robert Blackmon because he understands the issues important to our community and is committed to rising to the challenges and opportunities St. Petersburg presents.”
Blackmon is one of eight candidates vying to succeed Karl Nurse in a district that stretches to include downtown St. Petersburg, parts of Midtown, old Southeast, Coquina Key, Bahama Shores, and Tropical Shores.
“I am honored to have Mayor Foster’s support,” Blackmon said. “Mayor Foster is a man of principle and has throughout his career put the needs of our city first. I am humbled to have the endorsement of a true civic leader.”
Late last week, the Tampa Bay Times endorsed the only other Republican in the non-partisan race, Justin Bean.
Nurse is backing Gina Driscoll, the president of the Downtown Neighborhood Association.
Foster is also a big supporter of Rick Baker in the race for mayor against incumbent Rick Kriseman. Foster succeeded Baker as mayor in 2009, but lost his 2013 bid for re-election to Kriseman.
Meanwhile, Blackmon spoke to the New York Post over the weekend after they asked him about his girlfriend, Sydney Simpson, the daughter of O.J. Simpson.
When asked if his relationship with the daughter of one of the most notorious men in America could affect his election prospects on August 29, Blackmon said, ‘If that’s the will of the people, that’s the will of the people… I hope to keep [the campaign] to the issues.'”
