Kathleen Ford criticizes Mayor Rick Baker for arts czar firing

ST. PETERSBURG — Mayoral candidate Kathleen Ford raised charges this week that Mayor Rick Baker's reorganization of the city's cultural affairs office, in which a longtime manager was downsized last week, may have been illegal.

The voting public, volunteer Arts Advisory Committee, and museum and performing arts boards should have had a chance to weigh in, Ford said.

"Although the mayor can hire and fire whoever he wants, if there's a public policy statement ... he should comply," said Ford, a lawyer who served on the council from 1996 through 2001 and is seeking the city's top job for a second time.

Leaders of arts and cultural agencies across the city decried Ann Wykell's loss. Ford said that instead of firing Wykell, the city's cultural affairs and international relations manager, Baker should set his sights on his "bloated administrative staff."

The city cited cost-saving measures in the decision to let Wykell go. Wykell had held the job since it originated from a recommendation in the 1999 Community Cultural Plan. Her salary was $74,540.

Back then, funding for the cultural plan was set aside through a City Council budget ordinance. But Wykell's job was a recommendation in that plan, and therefore her dismissal does not require a resolution or public hearing, said City Clerk Eva Andujar.

State law requires municipalities to pass resolutions and give public notice when a budgetary change is made. But City Attorney John Wolfe said Wykell's departure was an administrative decision alone.

"Although it has a budget impact, it's not a budget change," Wolfe said. "That part of the budget will still be there, but at the end of the day it just won't be spent."

The city maintains that it is not eliminating Wykell's job, much less putting a dent in its art programming. Elizabeth Brincklow, a manager of community programming at the Mahaffey Theater, is assuming Wykell's duties, though her job title may differ.

By merging the cultural affairs office with the economic development office, the city is asserting the importance of the arts, First Deputy Mayor Tish Elston contends.

"We are essentially doing the same thing," said Elston, "but doing it more efficiently."

Luis Perez can be reached at lperez@sptimes.com or (727) 892-2271.