From the Jamie Bennett campaign:

BENNETT REPORTS APPROX. $20,000 IN SECOND QUARTER, $51,000 TOTAL
 
St. Petersburg – The Jamie Bennett for Mayor Campaign today filed the required finance report and reported collecting $19,699 in the past 90 days including approximately $2,750 in in-kind donations. Since the starting the campaign, Bennett has raised approximately $51,000.
 
“I’m honored to have the continued support of so many of my friends and neighbors in St. Petersburg,” Bennett said. “The continuing support for my agenda and my message affirms that residents want experienced and responsible leadership in our next Mayor.” 

 
BENNETT PASSES RESOLUTION FOR HIGH SPEED RAIL
 
St. Petersburg – Council Member Jamie Bennett on Thursday successfully passed a resolution through the St. Petersburg City Council urging the Obama Administration and the Florida High Speed Rail Authority to fund high-speed rail investments in Florida that include St. Petersburg. The Council approved Bennett’s resolution unanimously. The resolution is attached.
 
“We have a limited opportunity to jump start our investment in high-speed rail in Florida with federal stimulus funds,” Bennett said. “As Florida’s fourth largest city, St. Petersburg needs to be part of a state commuter rail system and it’s time for us to speak up.”
 
 
BENNETT LEADS EFFORT TO KEEP CITY COMMITMENT TO WORKERS, DISAPPOINTED OTHER MAYORAL CANDIDATES REMAIN SILENT
 
St. Petersburg – During Thursday’s City Council meeting and public comments on the 2010 city budget, City Council Member Jamie Bennett continued to insist that St. Petersburg honor its commitments in approved contracts with city workers.
 
“Our workers make our city run and I’ve been saying since May that we should not use this budget crunch to break our word to them,” Bennett said. “If the leaders of bargaining units will meet us half way, we can and should use our budget reserves to meet our previously agreed to commitments.”
 
“I’m also disappointed that only one of the other nine candidates running for Mayor took advantage of the opportunity to be heard on the budget they must use to run our city next year,” Bennett said. “When the Council held a day-long, line by line budget review on May 26, not a single other candidate attended. As Mayor, you don’t have the option of simply not showing up.”

Bay Buzz here: Kathleen Ford was the other candidate to speak at Thursday's budget forum.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer