Charlie Crist has run for office as practically everything except an alligator.
Republican. Independent. Democrat. At this point, the only thing keeping him out of the reptile category may be the difficulty of getting a campaign sash over the tail.
Now he wants to be mayor of St. Petersburg, where incumbent Ken Welch faces criticism about how often residents can actually find him.
One man cannot pass an elected office without applying. The other is being asked to make himself more available in the one he already has.
Naturally, we’re having an election.
Crist and Welch advanced from the August primary to the November 3 runoff, with initial reporting putting Crist at roughly 35 percent and Welch at roughly 20 percent. Neither reached a majority. St. Petersburg therefore gets several more weeks of campaign mail, because apparently hurricane season wasn’t enough. Bay News 9
The mayor’s race is officially nonpartisan, a format that must come as a relief to Charlie. Finally, a ballot that doesn’t require him to choose a wardrobe.
His political journey is well documented: Republican governor, independent Senate candidate, Democratic candidate for governor. Most Floridians change their air-conditioning filters less often than Charlie used to change his party registration. Florida Department of State
In 2010, asked to explain considering an independent Senate bid after repeatedly saying he wouldn’t, Crist offered this: “Things change.” PolitiFact
Then, in a 2017 interview about whether switching parties had changed his views, he said: “I haven’t changed at all.” His explanation was that the Republican Party had changed around him. Jewish Insider
There you have it. Things change. Charlie doesn’t. The entire political landscape simply rotates beneath him while he stands perfectly still holding a fresh campaign sign.
To his credit, when Crist says he understands voters across party lines, he has the registration history to support it.
Some politicians reach across the aisle. Charlie has had his mail forwarded there.
He says he wants to bring Democrats, Republicans and independents together. Considering his résumé, that could also describe a reunion of his former campaign volunteers. Bay News 9
Welch has a different problem. Axios reported criticism that he was too often absent from City Hall and public view. Axios
That is an awkward campaign issue for an incumbent. Usually, the advantage of already holding office is that voters know where to find you.
A challenger promises an open-door policy. An incumbent would prefer not to spend the campaign explaining whether anybody is behind the door.
Welch offered some insight into his approach in a 2023 column: “Given my role as mayor, my schedule only allows for a few informal, open-ended meetings.” He described community engagement as “strategic and intentional,” while also outlining neighborhood events and meetings staffed by city officials. Welch’s column in I Love the Burg
That is a wonderfully municipal way to say you should have an agenda before saying hello.
Imagine trying it at home. Sorry, honey, my role as husband only allows for a few informal, open-ended conversations. Please submit the subject of dinner to my chief of staff.
To be fair, a mayor can work outside City Hall. Public service involves meetings, neighborhood visits and responsibilities that don’t happen at a desk. A chair with somebody in it is not automatically good government. Every committee in America has demonstrated that.
Still, accessibility is a reasonable expectation. Residents shouldn’t need the tracking skills of a wildlife biologist to locate their elected leadership.
Especially when Charlie has already cornered the potential alligator vote.
Welch, meanwhile, has challenged Crist to explain his plans and vision for the city. Fair enough. Having held several offices does not automatically explain how you’ll handle this one. A lengthy résumé is useful, but it cannot repair a storm drain. Ask pre-hurricane season Welch.
That leaves voters with some practical questions.
Charlie, what will you do when you get there?
Ken, can constituents reach you there?
The city has real problems that require more than a familiar face or another announcement. Residents deserve clear plans, visible leadership and returned phone calls.
Perhaps the next debate should begin with a modest exercise: give both candidates a constituent’s message and see who calls back with an answer.
No podium. No consultant. No soaring declaration about tomorrow.
Just a phone, a problem and a reasonable deadline.
And if neither can manage that, we can interview the alligator.
At least when one shows up in your driveway, you know exactly where it stands.