ST. PETERSBURG -- City Council member Jim Kennedy's campaign sent out 5,000 mailers recently that claimed he had the support of Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch.

Problem is, Welch said he did not endorse Kennedy.

"I did not endorse Jim," Welch said. "He said he recalled some conversation before he had an opponent. But I don't recall that. I definitely did not make an endorsement in that race. I would remember if I did that."

Welch said he won't endorse in the District 2 race.

The alleged endorsement was puzzling, Welch said.

"Frankly, Jim and I haven't seen eye to eye on a number of issues," Welch said.

Kennedy, however, said he asked Welch to endorse him at a social event "quite awhile ago."

"My recollection was he said, 'yeah, no problem,"' Kennedy said. 

Kennedy said he will send out postcards to inform voters of the error next week.  He said Welch approved the message printed on the postcard.

The correction might come too late to reach some voters signed up to receive mail ballots.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer