St. Pete mayor reflects on Rays, reelection and legacy
May 12, 2025 at 12:49 PM EDT
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch discusses the uncertainty around the Tampa Bay Rays, the redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District, and other topics.
Ken Welch pledged to promote inclusive progress when running for mayor. Fulfilling long-deferred promises in the former Gas Plant neighborhood – now home to Tropicana Field – remains a critical part of that plan.
While the Tampa Bay Rays recently walked away from an arduously negotiated deal with the City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County, Welch does not believe uncertainty surrounding the team’s future defines his legacy. “Absolutely not,” he said.
Many of the same people who bemoaned the city’s $287.5 million contribution to a new stadium now blame Welch for potentially losing the Rays. He prefers to ignore the criticism and focus on the bigger picture: Ensuring all residents benefit from his time in office.
“One thing I learned is not to govern by sticking your finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing,” Welch told the Catalyst. “I’m confident enough in being in touch with the community.”
ALSO READ: St. Pete forges ahead with Gas Plant redevelopment
After over three years in office, the first Black mayor in St. Petersburg’s 137-year history believes his legacy, much like the Gas Plant’s redevelopment, is about more than baseball. Some residents would disagree due to the pomp and circumstance that followed the city’s self-proclaimed engagement with the Rays.
Welch said he can name the same “four or five people” who continuously oppose his actions. He does not notice the number increasing or affecting “broad support” from the community.
Those with an affinity for reading public comments might call that naivete. For Welch, 60, the stance stems from feedback at “Publix and church,” and 25 years of experience as a local elected official.
“I’ve had folks literally tell me to buckle my chinstrap because you’re done,” he added. “I said, ‘I’m an old (football) offensive lineman, my chinstrap is always on.’”
Welch lost his first campaign to serve on the Pinellas County School Board in 1998. He has since gone undefeated, including five terms on the county commission.
Still, many believe he must rebound from the latest chapter in a Rays saga that has spanned several mayoral administrations to keep that streak alive. The November 2024 municipal elections could foreshadow the 2026 race.
Welch noted Council Chair Copley Gerdes ran unopposed, and Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders secured one of the widest victory margins on record. Both were staunch advocates of the Gas Plant deal and remain among the mayor’s most ardent supporters.
Welch said he fulfilled his campaign pledge to nurture relationships with the county, which allocated $312.5 million in bed tax revenues to a new ballpark. Commissioners have since signaled a willingness to help fund a convention center at the Trop site and convert Al Lang Stadium back into a spring training complex.
ALSO READ: Mayor discusses Albert Whitted Airport’s future
The Rays would have contributed $700 million to a new stadium, covered cost overruns and provided $50 million in community benefits. “What I promised is that we would put together our very best effort, and that’s exactly what we delivered,” Welch said.
“I think folks certainly understand that you can’t force someone to marry you,” he added. “But I also made it clear that we weren’t going to pay any price to keep baseball here, and we have a bright future, with or without the Rays in the Gas Plant.”
Welch said “no other deal,” including the Midtown Development proposal selected by his predecessor, “could have gone forward without the Rays’ cooperation,” as they shared development rights. He called that their “big card.”
“We have those development rights back for the first time in 30 years,” Welch continued. “And that changes the game for us.”
Moving forward
Administrators are already exploring redevelopment opportunities on the 86-acre site’s outer parcels. Detractors say other long-awaited projects, like rebuilding the St. Petersburg Municipal Marina, reimagining the Main Library – opening this summer – and discerning the Municipal Services Center’s (MSC) future, have languished as the city focused on the Gas Plant.
“That’s just not factual,” Welch said. “We’ve moved forward on all those items simultaneously.”
He reiterated that staff have worked overtime to bring multiple projects to fruition while balancing their daily responsibilities. A devastating hurricane season impeded those efforts and exacerbated previous issues.
Welch said he supported former mayor Rick Kriseman’s previous plans for the marina. The city council sank that deal.
City council members similarly voted against plans to sell the MSC to a private developer before Welch assumed office. While his administration was forced to restart some projects, he said they have a path forward “for all of them.”
“The marina is very likely something we bring internally because of what’s happened with Blackstone acquiring Safe Harbor (Marinas),” Welch said. “There will be progress on those, but if you look at each case, you’ll see exactly why those projects took the path they took.
“It certainly wasn’t because of a lack of focus from our team.”
Welch said his administration and residents have embraced his five pillars of progress, which include providing youth, housing and equitable development opportunities. Most people realize the entire city will benefit from honoring long-broken promises with the Gas Plant’s redevelopment.
Welch believes his tenure highlights how he and his cabinet have never shied away from their principles. He noted St. Petersburg donated more American Rescue Plan Act funding to affordable housing than any other city nationwide. Those efforts continue paying dividends.
National analyses frequently place St. Petersburg at or near the top of several quality of life and business climate rankings. The city recently secured its third Fortune 500 company.
“We ran on inclusive progress, partners for progress, and we stuck to that, and it’s been very productive for us,” Welch said. “Inclusive progress is exactly that – it moves us forward at every level.”
While the Tampa Bay Rays recently walked away from an arduously negotiated deal with the City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County, Welch does not believe uncertainty surrounding the team’s future defines his legacy. “Absolutely not,” he said.
Many of the same people who bemoaned the city’s $287.5 million contribution to a new stadium now blame Welch for potentially losing the Rays. He prefers to ignore the criticism and focus on the bigger picture: Ensuring all residents benefit from his time in office.
“One thing I learned is not to govern by sticking your finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing,” Welch told the Catalyst. “I’m confident enough in being in touch with the community.”
ALSO READ: St. Pete forges ahead with Gas Plant redevelopment
After over three years in office, the first Black mayor in St. Petersburg’s 137-year history believes his legacy, much like the Gas Plant’s redevelopment, is about more than baseball. Some residents would disagree due to the pomp and circumstance that followed the city’s self-proclaimed engagement with the Rays.
Welch said he can name the same “four or five people” who continuously oppose his actions. He does not notice the number increasing or affecting “broad support” from the community.
Those with an affinity for reading public comments might call that naivete. For Welch, 60, the stance stems from feedback at “Publix and church,” and 25 years of experience as a local elected official.
“I’ve had folks literally tell me to buckle my chinstrap because you’re done,” he added. “I said, ‘I’m an old (football) offensive lineman, my chinstrap is always on.’”
Welch lost his first campaign to serve on the Pinellas County School Board in 1998. He has since gone undefeated, including five terms on the county commission.
Still, many believe he must rebound from the latest chapter in a Rays saga that has spanned several mayoral administrations to keep that streak alive. The November 2024 municipal elections could foreshadow the 2026 race.
Welch noted Council Chair Copley Gerdes ran unopposed, and Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders secured one of the widest victory margins on record. Both were staunch advocates of the Gas Plant deal and remain among the mayor’s most ardent supporters.
Welch said he fulfilled his campaign pledge to nurture relationships with the county, which allocated $312.5 million in bed tax revenues to a new ballpark. Commissioners have since signaled a willingness to help fund a convention center at the Trop site and convert Al Lang Stadium back into a spring training complex.
ALSO READ: Mayor discusses Albert Whitted Airport’s future
The Rays would have contributed $700 million to a new stadium, covered cost overruns and provided $50 million in community benefits. “What I promised is that we would put together our very best effort, and that’s exactly what we delivered,” Welch said.
“I think folks certainly understand that you can’t force someone to marry you,” he added. “But I also made it clear that we weren’t going to pay any price to keep baseball here, and we have a bright future, with or without the Rays in the Gas Plant.”
Welch said “no other deal,” including the Midtown Development proposal selected by his predecessor, “could have gone forward without the Rays’ cooperation,” as they shared development rights. He called that their “big card.”
“We have those development rights back for the first time in 30 years,” Welch continued. “And that changes the game for us.”
Moving forward
Administrators are already exploring redevelopment opportunities on the 86-acre site’s outer parcels. Detractors say other long-awaited projects, like rebuilding the St. Petersburg Municipal Marina, reimagining the Main Library – opening this summer – and discerning the Municipal Services Center’s (MSC) future, have languished as the city focused on the Gas Plant.
“That’s just not factual,” Welch said. “We’ve moved forward on all those items simultaneously.”
He reiterated that staff have worked overtime to bring multiple projects to fruition while balancing their daily responsibilities. A devastating hurricane season impeded those efforts and exacerbated previous issues.
Welch said he supported former mayor Rick Kriseman’s previous plans for the marina. The city council sank that deal.
City council members similarly voted against plans to sell the MSC to a private developer before Welch assumed office. While his administration was forced to restart some projects, he said they have a path forward “for all of them.”
“The marina is very likely something we bring internally because of what’s happened with Blackstone acquiring Safe Harbor (Marinas),” Welch said. “There will be progress on those, but if you look at each case, you’ll see exactly why those projects took the path they took.
“It certainly wasn’t because of a lack of focus from our team.”
Welch said his administration and residents have embraced his five pillars of progress, which include providing youth, housing and equitable development opportunities. Most people realize the entire city will benefit from honoring long-broken promises with the Gas Plant’s redevelopment.
Welch believes his tenure highlights how he and his cabinet have never shied away from their principles. He noted St. Petersburg donated more American Rescue Plan Act funding to affordable housing than any other city nationwide. Those efforts continue paying dividends.
National analyses frequently place St. Petersburg at or near the top of several quality of life and business climate rankings. The city recently secured its third Fortune 500 company.
“We ran on inclusive progress, partners for progress, and we stuck to that, and it’s been very productive for us,” Welch said. “Inclusive progress is exactly that – it moves us forward at every level.”