Brandi Gabbard qualifies for St. Petersburg mayoral race

St. Petersburg City Council Member Brandi Gabbard is officially on the ballot in her bid to unseat Mayor Ken Welch.

Gabbard announced Friday that she qualified for the ballot after filing paperwork at City Hall on Wednesday, just hours after Welch qualified for his own re-election campaign. 

“This moment isn’t about me; it’s about us. It’s about building a future where our neighborhoods thrive, our workforce is empowered, and our city stands strong and resilient against whatever comes our way,” Gabbard said.

Gabbard has served on the City Council for nearly a decade, giving her a City Hall record to run on as she asks voters to elevate her to the city’s top elected office. 

“Over the last 9 years, we’ve done incredible work together, and this is the next step toward a more prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive St. Pete,” Gabbard said.

The race has already drawn a wide field, with Welch facing challenges from Gabbard, former Shore Acres Neighborhood Civic Association President Kevin Batdorf, Paul Congemi, former Gov. Charlie Crist, former St. Petersburg Fire Chief Jim Large, and Maria Scruggs.

Crist’s entry added a major name to the race and complicated Welch’s re-election path, while Gabbard is working to keep pace behind a record as a sitting local elected official with years of experience in city government.

Gabbard has focused her campaign on affordability, accountability, resilience and community-driven leadership, with proposals aimed at utility costs, housing, public safety, small-business support, transportation, food access and the future of the Historic Gas Plant District.

Her platform includes a call to explore energy independence from Duke Energy, arguing the city should study municipal or cooperative power models that could lower costs and keep utility revenue within St. Petersburg. She has also called for treating food access as necessary infrastructure, particularly in places with known issues such as South St. Petersburg.

Gabbard has also pitched zoning changes to reduce regulations and parking requirements that drive up costs, expanded access to “missing middle” housing and accessory dwelling units, and an alternative approach to redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District.

The St. Petersburg mayoral election is scheduled for Aug. 18.

“Get out and vote, and let’s move our city forward together,” Gabbard said.