Lyash to announce coalition members

ST. PETERSBURG-- Jeff Lyash is expected to announce the eight other members of his A Baseball Community group this afternoon.

Lyash, CEO of Progress Energy Florida, will reveal the names to the Times editorial board at 2:30 p.m. today. Mayor Rick Baker tapped Lyash to figure out where the Tampa Bay Rays' new stadium should go.

Nominations were due August 4. Lyash has said that he intended to run the names of some finalists by city leaders, but so far we aren't hearing much to confirm that.

County Commission Chairman Bob Stewart said last week that he wasn't told who the finalists were. Ditto for City Council Chairman Jamie Bennett.

Council member Karl Nurse said Lyash's spokeswoman, Melissa Seixas, gave him a heads up this morning that the announcement was on its way. But Nurse said he doesn't know who is on the committee.

Meanwhile, Seixas has ignored our multiple requests for comment.

-Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer