Pinellas County School Board member Rene Flowers is backing Barclay Harless in his bid for the St. Pete City Council District 2 seat this year.
“Serving on the R’Club and Louise Graham Board of Directors, I can attest to Barclay’s leadership abilities and his dedication to service. Having worked with Barclay on a number of important initiatives in the Midtown area, I know that he is committed to ensuring that every child has access to a quality education,” Flowers said in a statement released by the Harless campaign. “He understands that the only way to achieve this goal is for all levels of government to work together. Barclay has the vision, the plans, and the fresh perspective we need to lead St. Pete in the right direction. I look forward to working with him on making our city a better place for all of its residents.”
“We are running a grassroots campaign powered by small businesses, St. Pete residents, and community leaders who want a fresh perspective to get things done in city hall,” said Harless. “The challenges that face our city may seem daunting, but they are man-made, so we have the power to solve them. We will not find solutions in finger-pointing or empty political rhetoric. Rather, our problems require bold, decisive action.”
Flowers has served on the school board since 2010. Before that she served on the St. Pete City Council for two terms, from 1998-2006.
Harless is a banker and a former aide to Democrat Darryl Rouson when he served in the Florida House. He is running against real estate agent Brandi Gabbard in the District, which represents the Gateway and North St. Pete areas. It is the first time running for public office for both candidates.
