Frank Peterman adds St. Pete support for Fentrice Driskell in open SD 16 Primary

House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell has earned support from former state Rep. Frank Peterman in her bid for Senate District 16.

Driskell is running to replace outgoing state Sen. Darryl Rouson, who is facing term limits. Driskell faces fellow state Rep. Michele Rayner in an open Democratic Primary on Aug. 18.

Peterman, who also served as a St. Petersburg City Council member and Secretary of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, is an influential voice in St. Pete politics, particularly in the city’s Black community. His endorsement is a big get for Driskell, whose current House district is wholly housed in Hillsborough County. The St. Pete-based support could help her curry favor across the Bay where Rayner is based.

SD 16 spans portions of both Tampa and south St. Pete.

“Fentrice Driskell has shown the kind of leadership Tampa Bay needs in the state Senate,” Peterman said. “I’ve spent my career fighting for youth and families, in the Legislature, in state government, and now in the pulpit. I know what it looks like when someone shows up and does the work. Fentrice’s steady, stable leadership is what this district needs. I’m proud to endorse her and I’m asking the people of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties to join me.”

Peterman currently serves as pastor at Rock of Jesus Missionary Baptist Church in St. Pete. In the Legislature, Peterman represented then-House District 55, which covered parts of Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties, beginning in 2000. Rouson succeeded Peterman in the House after Peterman was appointed in 2008 to lead the Department of Juvenile Justice by then-Gov. Charlie Crist, who is now running for St. Pete Mayor.

As a Representative, Peterman earned several accolades, including the St. Pete City Council’s Service Award, the James B. Sanderlin Community Service Award, and the Pinellas County Urban League’s Government Award, among others.

“Frank Peterman, Jr. has spent his life in service to this community, in the Legislature, protecting kids in state government, and now shepherding his congregation,” Driskell said. “That kind of service is rare, and I’m honored to have his trust and his support. This district spans Tampa and St. Pete, and we need leadership that shows up for both. I’m grateful to have him in my corner as we do that work together.”

Peterman’s endorsement adds to a growing list of support for Driskell just three weeks before the election and as mail voting has already begun. Key supporters include Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman, Senate Democratic Policy Chair Tina Polsky, state Reps. Wallace Aristide, Daryl Campbell, Dan Daley, Michael Gottlieb, Leonard Spencer, Kelly Skidmore and Debra Tendrich, Hillsborough County Commissioner Harry Cohen, Hillsborough County Public Defender Lisa McLean, Hillsborough County School Board Member Shake Washington, Tampa City Council Member Luis Viera, former U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, former state Sens. Arthenia Joyner, Les Miller and Jim Hargrett, former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, former St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman, former Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, former Hillsborough County Commissioner Betty Castor, former Tampa City Council Member Gwen Miller, former state Rep. Adam Hattersley, former Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren,  former Temple Terrace City Council Member Cheri Donohue, and community activists Gwendolyn Reese and Tammye Moore.

She also earned support from a trove of labor and environmental groups.

Driskell has a big cash advantage in the race, with latest reports showing more than $315,000 on hand between her campaign account and two affiliated political committees. Rayner, as of the same reports, maintained just over $58,000.

But despite the cash gap, the race is expected to be competitive, with Rayner consolidating support from the more progressive wing of the Democratic Party and Driskell securing support — or at least cash — from more establishment interests.

Driskell will be a formidable candidate in the race. She’s Harvard-educated, with a law degree from Georgetown, and is telegenic with a strong platform as a party leader.

And she is also the first Black woman to lead the Florida House Democrats and was the first person in more than 30 years to be elected to the position twice.

But Rayner is likely to capitalize on more progressive support, and she boasts her own impressive résumé as a civil rights lawyer. Perhaps most famously locally, Rayner represented the family of Markeis McGlockton, who was shot and killed in 2018 during a parking space dispute.