With the changing of the guard, opportunity?

Pinellas County wanted to curb cities' power to annex its land. The cities were fighting back.

At a court-ordered mediation attended by 150 public officials, a St. Petersburg City Council member stood up and raised a stink.

Two years later, that person is running to be mayor of St. Petersburg. But it isn't Kathleen Ford, who has a reputation for thorny political manners.

The tough talk in February 2007 came from Bill Foster, who campaigns as a conciliatory leader.

"He said: 'We didn't start this battle, but we'll win the war' — I remember it distinctly," said County Commissioner Ken Welch.

The election of a new St. Petersburg mayor will offer a chance to improve relations between the city and county, some commissioners say.

Mayor Rick Baker's aggressive style has chafed some county officials. The same could be said of former County Administrator Steve Spratt's dealings with the city.

With the hiring of County Administrator Bob LaSala this past November, a new mayor could help create a new day. It's an opportunity to change the dynamics — to "hit the reset button," City Council member Karl Nurse said.

The next mayor's relationship with the county could shape key decisions on development, helping homeless people, public safety, annexation and light rail.

For much of the campaign, Ford — who has sparred with the county a few times herself — has tried to quash concerns over her temperament. But when questioned, county commissioners also expressed concerns about Foster, most notably that meeting in 2007.

"We were all surprised at how intense Bill was," said Commissioner John Morroni.

Morroni called the day out of character for Foster, but Commissioners Welch and Susan Latvala say the episode has resonated with them.

Foster, 46, said he does not remember making the war comments, but acknowledged the meeting was "brutal" and he was a "bad boy" in the minds of county officials.

Still, he said the city had to stand up for its rights "when the county just didn't see our way when it came to … home rule."

"Bill Foster has looked me square in the eye, and told me he's a new man," said Latvala, adding that Foster talked to her about squaring the past as he prepared to run. "That's yet to be determined."

Foster had a similar message in a call he made Thursday to Welch, who said Foster told him he has "evolved."

This year, disagreements turned into taxpayer-funded legal fights over annexations and emergency medical service. Even control of traffic lights produced disputes.

"They tell us their opinion, and we help them come out to a better conclusion," half-joked commission Chairman Calvin Harris, who downplayed fighting with Baker.

Baker said this week that news reports exaggerate the depth of ill will, and the city and Pinellas worked well together on transportation and economic development, such as supporting the renewal of the Penny for Pinellas sales tax.

The mayor is the city's top advocate, and fights over annexation are understandable, said Baker, who endorsed Foster.

"I think Bill is going to aggressively fight for the what he believes and look out for the best interests of St. Petersburg," Baker said.

Of the seven county commissioners, only Neil Brickfield and Nancy Bostock have chosen sides publicly. The pair joined the board in November and favor Foster, a fellow Republican, in the nonpartisan race, saying he has the best ability to build consensus.

That leaves the three other Republicans — Latvala, Morroni and Karen Seel — publicly neutral with Harris, a Democrat.

Welch, a Democrat, had backed Scott Wagman in the primary but said he has no plans to endorse again before the Nov. 3 general election.

Choosing sides now could create animosity later — trouble even the candidates have tried to avoid. On Sept. 14, for example, Foster promised to work well with county officials during a Pinellas County Republican Party meeting attended by some commissioners — an obvious nod to their concerns, Morroni said.

Breaking with Baker, both Ford and Foster have criticized the city's annexation of a sliver of Tierra Verde. The county and some residents are suing to overturn it.

The city also sued the county this year over funding cuts to emergency medical services. A temporary compromise is in place now, but the issue is likely to flare up again next year.

Foster defended the lawsuit as necessary to protect city interests. Ford, 52, said she lacked enough details to comment, but said fire districts could be consolidated to save money.

Both support adding curbside recycling the county plans to provide next year — as long as the county pays for it.

Another issue likely to come up is the Pinellas Planning Council, which some county officials want to shrink. The board reviews development decisions, including those by the county's own planners.

Foster, a former Planning Council member, defended the group an important watchdog for cities and towns on county decisions. Ford suggested there was duplication that could be eliminated.

But more broadly, Ford has said many of the same things as Foster, promising to stand up for city interests but also collaborate with Pinellas when needed.

They agree that meeting early with county officials will ease tensions later, and that declining budgets will make legal fights less likely and the need to consolidate services more important than ever.

"We don't have the luxury of being so parochial," Foster said.

Ford has had her share of skirmishes with the county, too.

She opposed the renewal of the penny sales tax in 2007 because she didn't trust county administrators to oversee it. She also criticized the county's land preservation efforts.

She also joined the chorus of opposition to the county's push to control traffic signals.

This week, Ford stood by the criticism, noting she leveled similar attacks at the time on the city's financial stewardship.

And, she added, the problem with traffic wasn't on city streets.

Those snarls were on the county's turf.

David DeCamp can be reached at ddecamp@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8779.