Rick Baker's Future
St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker is raising his profile. After Baker's overwhelming re-election win in November, a writer (and friend of Baker's political consultant Adam Goodman) wrote a column in the New York Sun touting Baker as a national model for Republicans because of his ability to win big among African-Americans.
The mayor is also making the rounds of national conferences, talking up urban design concepts and how city leaders can work to improve schools. This week, state House Speaker-designate Marco Rubio, R-Miami, and Rep. Ralph Arza, R-Hialeah, who heads the House Pre-K-12 Committee, are coming to check out Baker's effort in the schools.
Combined with his leading a state growth management committee, one might think Baker is boosting his profile in preparation for another campaign. But on a taped TV interview airing today, Baker insisted he plans to finish his four-year term and all but ruled out ever running for Congress.
Governor is another matter.
"That is one that long term, someday down the road I would not rule out because it's an executive position that you can have a lot of impact on," Baker said on Political Connections, which airs today at 11 a.m. on Bay News 9. "But I'm not sure how the cards are going to fall on that. You know actually a friend of mine (Republican Attorney General Crist) is running for governor right now. I hope he gets it, and if he does ... it's likely he'll be there for eight years. So that's not a window I'm even worried about right now."
Starting Monday, the interview can be seen on Channel 340 (Tampa Bay on Demand.)
The mayor is also making the rounds of national conferences, talking up urban design concepts and how city leaders can work to improve schools. This week, state House Speaker-designate Marco Rubio, R-Miami, and Rep. Ralph Arza, R-Hialeah, who heads the House Pre-K-12 Committee, are coming to check out Baker's effort in the schools.
Combined with his leading a state growth management committee, one might think Baker is boosting his profile in preparation for another campaign. But on a taped TV interview airing today, Baker insisted he plans to finish his four-year term and all but ruled out ever running for Congress.
Governor is another matter.
"That is one that long term, someday down the road I would not rule out because it's an executive position that you can have a lot of impact on," Baker said on Political Connections, which airs today at 11 a.m. on Bay News 9. "But I'm not sure how the cards are going to fall on that. You know actually a friend of mine (Republican Attorney General Crist) is running for governor right now. I hope he gets it, and if he does ... it's likely he'll be there for eight years. So that's not a window I'm even worried about right now."
Starting Monday, the interview can be seen on Channel 340 (Tampa Bay on Demand.)
4 Comments:
At 5:16 PM, January 30, 2006, Anonymous said…
Rick Baker is well suited to his job in St. Pete. He is most effective as a deal maker
behind closed doors. He can muscle the city council members into silence. That might not work on a larger stage. But, in St. Pete the real estate deals keep coming and generally people approve.
At 11:16 AM, January 31, 2006, Anonymous said…
People in St. Pete approve of Baker by virtue of apathy. The Times is calling him the future govenor of Florida! Give me a break, the man only got 22K votes. If Adam Smith was any further up Baker's ***, they'd be married.
At 3:54 PM, February 01, 2006, Anonymous said…
While you have to respect that Baker did enough to scare off serious competition, that does not equate to landslide win over the DNC.
He is one who should be upset that the republicans condensed the state cabinet. Secretary of State would have been a good first statewide run for someone like Baker.
At 12:14 AM, February 03, 2006, Anonymous said…
Oh, the future of dynamo man Baker. Baker is being molded by the GOP just like Mel Martinez was. Once upon a time, Martinez was a great local leader in Orlando who did good things in urban development. He was a moderate Rep that even many Dems could respect. Now we can see what a political disappoinemt Martinez turned out to be. A good guy gone wrong in the hands of Karl Rove. Martinez shows us what's wrong with how Baker is being cultivated. Baker will ultimately turn out to be a watered down Republican party pawn like Mel Martinez, but we have the background of St. Pete to show that Baker's heart is with developers. Florida doesn't need "leaders" like him. Just watch Baker unravel when he gets pressed on divisive issues...he'll be worse than Anita Bryant and Tom Gallagher if it will score him points.
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