Former St. Pete Fire Chief announces bid for Mayor

Former St. Petersburg Fire Chief Jim Large is running for St. Pete Mayor, he confirmed in a press release. Large has been mulling a bid for at least several weeks.

His announcement comes on the 52nd anniversary of his swearing-in as a firefighter in St. Pete in 1974.

“For the last five decades, I have had the honor and privilege to serve our city,” Large said.

“I have been in St. Petersburg’s neighborhoods during some of our hardest days. I have prepared our city for hurricanes and led through all types of crises. Success has always come from experience, strong teams, and a shared commitment to our community, and I look forward to building on that foundation to help lead St. Petersburg toward an even stronger future.”

Large served with the city of St. Pete’s Fire Department for a half-century, rising to Fire Chief in 2006 under then-Mayor Rick Baker. He served as Chief until retiring in early 2024, with the exception of a brief period in which Large was placed on administrative leave.

Incumbent St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch placed Large on administrative leave in August 2023 following an employee survey in which several anonymous tipsters accused Large of sexist, racist and homophobic remarks, which Large denied.

Welch reinstated Large that same month after a “careful review” of allegations found no credible evidence that Large had violated city policy or any “firsthand knowledge or evidence of racial, homophobic or sexist comments from the Chief.”

Now retired, Large said he hopes to provide experienced and steady leadership to meet new challenges facing the city.

“Today I am proud to announce my candidacy for Mayor of St. Petersburg,” Large said. “I have been encouraged by many in our community to bring my experience and steady leadership to City Hall. Leadership takes courage to act, not just talk. I am prepared to meet those challenges and move our city forward.”

Large will challenge Welch, and likely will face former Gov. Charlie Crist, who is expected to run, and City Council member Brandi Gabbard, who has committed to running. Shore Acres Neighborhood Association President Kevin Batdorf has already filed to run.

Large’s campaign will focus on three key areas: public safety, infrastructure, and disaster recovery and resilience.

On public safety, Large said he would support Police and Fire Departments in the city to ensure resident safety. He also plans to address aging and declining roads, water systems, stormwater, sewer and traffic concerns, targeting long-term planning.

And on disaster recovery and resilience, Large said he would apply his experience as a public safety leader during storms to create a better readiness and recovery plan to strengthen emergency preparedness and response, with the goal of making St. Pete a model for resiliency.

“Together, with your support, we will build a safer, stronger, and more resilient St. Petersburg,” Large said.

Though the Mayor’s race is nonpartisan and candidates’ political affiliations won’t appear on ballots, Batdorf and Large are both registered Republicans, offering voters a conservative alternative on the ballot. Crist, Gabbard and Welch are all Democrats. Maria Scruggs, an independent, is also running.

It’s not clear how much of a lane there is though for a Republican candidate. As of the end of 2025, the most recent month for which voter registration reports are currently available, Democrats account for more than 42% of the city’s electorate, compared with just shy of 30% Republicans. Another nearly 25% of the electorate are registered to vote without party affiliation.

In the last election cycle, Republican Robert Blackmon was able to survive the Primary to face Welch head-to-head in the General Election, but he lost by a wide margin, capturing just 40% of the vote.

And Large will have to begin raising funds quickly and aggressively. While Welch ended 2025 with just about $48,000 left in a political committee supporting him after losing more than $200,000 to what his campaign describes as theft, a political committee expected to support Crist has raised more than $1 million.