ST. PETERSBURG-- Council Chairman Jamie Bennett has hired political consultant Barry Edwards to help run his mayoral campaign.

Edwards most recently helped elect Democrat Darryl Rouson to state House District 55.

Edwards is an interesting pick: He doesn't have a long history in St. Petersburg politics and he doesn't have the most attractive personal history.

Real estate investor Scott Wagman, another Democrat running for mayor, is also building his campaign team. Wagman said his wife, Beth Houghton, will be his campaign treasurer. Houghton was State Rep. Bill Heller's treasurer during his recent reelection bid.

Meanwhile, Wagman is securing one of the most sought-after political consultants in the Tampa Bay area.

"We are in the final stages of hiring Mitch Kates," Wagman said. "There are still some more details we need to work out."

Former council member Bill Foster said he has also hired a political consultant to oversee his mayoral bid and has recruited a treasurer, but he declined to name names. 

"I want people to focus on the season without any word from Bill Foster," said Foster. "But come 2009 people will get their fill of all of this."

-- Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer