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Tampa Bay political stories to watch in 2021

The St. Pete mayor’s race, the impact of redistricting and prominent local legislators facing term limits are stories that will factor in the coming year.
 
Two prominent Democrats, city council member Darden Rice and former county Commissioner Ken Welch, are planning to run in St. Petersburg's mayor's race.
Two prominent Democrats, city council member Darden Rice and former county Commissioner Ken Welch, are planning to run in St. Petersburg's mayor's race. [ Times (left) Pinellas County (right) ]
Published Dec. 31, 2020|Updated Dec. 31, 2020

The coming year will be a non-election year, except for St. Petersburg city races, but will still see significant political action — some of it behind the scenes preparation for 2022. Some stories to watch:

St. Pete to have open-seat mayor, council races

An open-seat mayor’s race in St. Petersburg could attract a crowd of candidates and could include debate on racial representation.

Two prominent Democrats, former county Commissioner Ken Welch and city council member Darden Rice, are planning to run in the non-partisan race.

But there have been efforts to recruit a more conservative candidate, and other black candidates besides Welch are considering running, including former state Rep. Wengay Newton, favored by some conservatives.

Former state Rep. Wengay Newton

If a candidate considered more business-friendly appears, it could mean a replay of the historically high-spending and acrimonious Rick v. Rick (Baker v. Kriseman) 2017 race.

Meanwhile, council members Brandi Gabbard and Gina Driscoll are expected to run for re-election, but the open seats of Rice and term-limited Amy Foster will draw a crowd of candidates.

Clearwater fight with Scientology goes critical

Clearwater’s battle to revitalize its downtown, impeded by Scientology’s grip on downtown properties, could reach a critical juncture in 2021.

The city plans to break ground in the spring on a $64 million park/amphitheater project at the site of Coachman Park on the downtown waterfront. They’ll also ask developers for proposals to build housing, retail, parking and maybe a hotel on about four acres of adjacent city-owned parcels.

The most recent rendering of the proposed Imagine Clearwater park. This image does not include the retail, residential and hotel projects proposed for three city-owned parcels that border the park. [ City of Clearwater ]

But downtown is lined with empty storefronts.

Many were bought at inflated prices and then left vacant by Scientologists, as a 2019 Times investigation revealed, and developers have been reluctant to get involved because of Scientology’s influence. The plan is to select a developer’s proposal by April and submit it to voters in March 2022, if a suitable proposal is received from a reliable company.

Civilian Review Board debate looms

Tampa’s debate over its civilian police review board intensified during the 2020 national reaction to incidents of police violence and was put off until 2021.

At issue are the board’s composition — whether dominated by mayoral or City Council appointments — and whether it should have powers to investigate, issue subpoenas and hire its own staff.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor

In November, in the face of opposition by the ACLU and community activists who want a stronger board, the council put off action on a proposal by Mayor Jane Castor for revisions. They’re scheduled to take another look in a February workshop.

How will Hillsborough’s Dem supermajority govern?

Since the November election, Democrats have a 5-2 supermajority on the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners — their first in decades.

But they’re still Democrats, so the question is whether they’ll spend more time battling Republicans or each other.

Hillsborough County Commissioner Harry Cohen

Two weeks ago, the majority split on one of their first impactful votes. Harry Cohen and Gwen Myers sided against fellow Democrats Pat Kemp, Kimberly Overman and Mariella Smith, and with the two Republicans, voting against a motion to speed up a planned increase in transportation impact fees.

The issue was debatable, but the split raises the question of how the new majority will conduct business.

Redistricting could affect local races

With a Republican governor, and GOP majorities in the state Legislature enlarged by the 2020 election, Republicans will have a nearly free hand in designing new congressional and legislative districts following the 2020 Census.

They’ll use that power to try to increase the number of districts that elect Republicans, tweaking swing districts to add more Republican voters and cramming large numbers of Democrats into as few districts as possible.

The new maps won’t be adopted until 2022, but mapmaking will start after states get the Census data this spring.

Rep. Charlie Crist

Three places where insiders speculate Republicans might try to dislodge sitting Democrats: Charlie Crist’s St. Petersburg congressional seat, Janet Cruz’s Tampa state Senate seat and Andrew Learned’s east Hillsborough state House seat.

Jockeying as powerful legislators prepare to move on

Several of the Tampa Bay area’s most powerful legislators will face term limits in 2022. And jockeying by those hoping to replace them — and by the legislators themselves planning their next move — will start in 2021.

State Sen. Jeff Brandes

Those entering their final two years — all Republicans — include Senate President Wilton Simpson of Trilby, Sen. Jeff Brandes of St. Petersburg, House Speaker Chris Sprowls of Palm Harbor, Rep. Chris Latvala of Clearwater, Rep. Colleen Burton of Lakeland and Sen. Kelli Stargel of Lakeland.

It’s widely expected Simpson will start laying groundwork for a 2022 run for agriculture commissioner.

State Sen. Wilton Simpson.

Look for Latvala to begin a campaign early in 2021 for a 2022 race for a Pinellas County commission seat; there’s talk that former state Rep. Kim Berfield might look to replace him.

More speculation centers on replacements for Brandes — Rep. Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, perhaps? And of course, Rick Baker is talked about whenever any important political office in Pinellas comes open.

Development in South Tampa

Lack of amenities south of Gandy Boulevard and worsening traffic congestion throughout South Tampa and have become frequent conversation topics SOK — south of Kennedy.

In response, some city council members want to slow down building or revise development regulations. John Dingfelder led a council move to consider a moratorium; South Tampa district representative Bill Carlson says a revision of city planning procedures and regulations is needed.

Tampa City Council member John Dingfelder

But the development industry doesn’t like the moratorium idea and Mayor Jane Castor’s position isn’t final yet.

Will the result be another political battle like 2020′s Pat Kemp-Sandy Murman county commission race?

Local governments face pandemic revenue cuts

There’s been lots of coverage of the state budget shortfall caused by the pandemic, but local governments will feel the effects, too.

Local governments get a substantial amount of revenue from sales taxes throughout the state, and will take hits there. They’ll also see declines in parking revenue and revenue from performance venues and facilities, like Tampa’s convention center.

“I don’t see any layoffs coming in Tampa, but every local government will have to deal with revenue cuts,” said City Council member John Dingfelder.

Times Staff Writer Tracey McManus contributed to this report. Contact William March at wemarch@gmail.com.