Last night at the SCLC dinner, Ken Welch confirmed to at least one possible supporter that he would indeed run for mayor of St. Petersburg, but will do so after conducting a field poll to measure support for his candidacy.
From Bill Maxwell, in today’s St. Petersburg Times: – When I moved to St. Petersburg in 1994, downtown was on virtual life support. The place was dreary, especially at night. – Being a movie buff, I was disappointed that I had to drive to the Tyrone Square Mall or nearby Crossroads or Pinellas Park to see Dirty Harry and the Terminator blow away bad guys. I hadn’t hung out in bars since graduate school in Chicago, so I didn’t worry…
It’s been more than a year and half since I last attended a Tiger Bay luncheon. Actually, it feels like a lifetime ago. Perhaps the most appealing benefit of membership is the ability to participate in Question & Answer sessions with the speakers. The coveted “Fang & Claw Award” is presented to the member at each meeting who “slashes through pretension and prevarication” with the toughest question of the day. With Mayor Rick Baker as the speaker, I knew he…
News is breaking this evening that two days after he took over BayWalk, interim property manager Howard Rosenthal was arrested Thursday by Pinellas Sheriff’s detectives accused of stealing almost $171,000 from his former company, Colliers Arnold of Clearwater. This is yet another black eye on one of the most important parts of downtown St. Pete. I could make the argument that it was the development of Baywalk, more than any other effort, that has led to the revitalization of downtown…
ST. PETERSBURG — Two days after he took over BayWalk, interim property manager Howard Rosenthal was arrested Thursday by Pinellas Sheriff’s detectives and accused of stealing almost $171,000 from his former company, Colliers Arnold of Clearwater. – According to detectives, Rosenthal, 53, double-billed nearly $145,000 in company advertising charges. He also double-billed air travel receipts, had the company pay for his wife’s travel and spent $1,000 on country club dues and almost $700 on hotel in-room movie charges. – Rosenthal…
Dave Eggers, candidate for Mayor of Dunedin (and for whom I have previously worked), has cooked an interesting idea for a fundraiser called “Cooking with the Candidate” where you can join Dave and Chef John, the resident Chef for WFLA, for a five-course dinner of Dave’s favorite foods at LaMaison Gourmet (471 Main Street). Ummm, cooking, politics, eating…some of my favorite pasttimes. And remember what Chef Alice Waters said, “Eating is a political act.”
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about Rick Baker and what he will do after his term in office runs out in 2009. I have to admit he’s done an admirable job as the first real strong mayor, presiding over a prosperous, progressive period in St. Petersburg’s history. I don’t know if that translates into a statewide position, but there is one way he could instantly improve his chances if he decides to run for Chief Financial Officer in 2010.…
