ST. PETERSBURG -- Two months ago, County Commissioner Ken Welch said he was almost certain he wasn't going to run for mayor this year.

A recent article by St. Petersburg Times columnist Ernest Hooper about the 10 most intriguing personalities of 2008 has forced Welch to reconsider, he said.

"Hardly a day goes by without a person I respect or know asking me to reconsider," said Welch (left). "Ernest's column on Saturday has kind of amplified that."

Welch, who is serving his third term, said he is now 50 percent certain he will run. He said he will make a final decision by the end of the month.

"It's just can I make more of an impact there (in City Hall) than I can make at the County Commission?" he said. "I've never been one to turn away from a challenge and I think we are certainly going to have some challenging times in front of us both at the city and the county level."

We'll let you know when he makes up his mind.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

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