Candidates vie for first black mayor title

ST. PETERSBURG -- A slew of candidates are gunning to be the city's first black mayor, including a few contenders whose skin color and heritage peg them as clearly white.

Bill Foster and Scott Wagman, who are both white, are campaigning to be St. Petersburg's first black mayor, joining candidates Deveron Gibbons and Sharon Russ, who are African-American. Wagman and Foster said their administrations would transcend race because they would equally represent all ethnic groups, including the black community.

The racially tinged rhetoric points to the high-profile role the African-American community will likely play in deciding St. Petersburg's next mayor, according to black leaders. More than 20 percent of St. Petersburg's residents are black and several past mayoral campaigns have been won in the pews and prayer circles of local African-American churches.

"What I think is good about it is the candidates recognize the importance of the black community," said State Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, who has rallied for greater diversity within City Hall.

"They know they are going to be splitting the Caucasian vote, so they know they need the African- American vote to make them the man," said council member Wengay Newton, the city's highest ranking African-American. "If there were more Asians, they would probably be saying they are going to be the first Asian mayor."

The black mayor battle kicked off at an NAACP event last week. Rouson discussed strides the African-American community had made in 2008, the most significant being the election of the nation's first black president. St. Petersburg was now poised to elect its first black mayor, added Rouson, a tentative Gibbons supporter.

Foster, a former council member, corrected Rouson.

"He said something like, 'I hope you were talking about me or can I be the first black mayor?'" Rouson recalled. "I said, 'if Bill Clinton could be the first black president, certainly you have the opportunity.'"

Foster later confirmed he had his eye on the title.

"I want to be that. I want to be the city’s first black mayor," he said in a recent interview. "Part of our goal in being seamless is it transcends race, it transcends social economics."

Wagman, a local businessman and well-known philanthropist, said he also approached Rouson and expressed interest in being dubbed the city's first black mayor.

But not every white candidate plans on playing the race card. Council chairman and mayoral hopeful Jamie Bennett said he doesn't need to call himself black to win over the African-American community.

"This is just a silly way to start the campaign," he said.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Comments

[saintpetersblog]

If there is anything last year's election proved it's that anyone, from any race, can win any office.

But to pander, in such a pre-Obama tone, as Foster and Wagman did is the most insulting answer to both the black and white communities. Foster's comments remind of that time that Karl Rove tried to rap. Wilco tango foxtrot are you trying to prove? You just end up looking ridiculous to all sides of the aisle.

The winning mayoral candidate will put together a coalition that brings together representatives of all communities. That's what Bennett and Gibbons are trying to build.

[Tramor]

Bill Foster is pandering, was he the first black council member from the Old Northeast? I don't think so! Bill's candidacy for Mayor should have started when he was on Council, not now.

What is Bill doing or has done to bring the community together? Bill is a nice family man but he's not ready to put some much needed transparency into what the Mayor's office has been doing for the past 8 years. It's hard to prove Baker has been corrupt but if you speak to prior City Administrators and Directors, they will tell you he used his legal knowledge to skirt some legal issues.

The next Mayor of St. Petersburg needs to be able to ask the tough questions from staff and to make the answers available to the public.

[Intelligent American]

“Rouson discussed strides the African-American community had made in 2008, the most significant being the election of the nation's first black president.”

Correction Mr. Red Shoes… and the rest of you ignorant, pandering buffoons as well… Obama isn’t black… he’s malado.

(malado - 1 definition - a person who is both black and white)

[Punkin]

This is the 21st Century why does race have to be in the picture here. We are all one. We all need to get along. Today there are many mixed races. Let's put race out of the picture. We are one, we are Americans the color of our skin doesn't matter.

Thank you Intelligent American. It is one of the things that gets me the most about our newly elected president because he is mix of the black & white race, just wish he would correct the American public on this and be proud to be of both races.

[Spellcheck]

Intelligent American may want to consult Merriam Webster before posting -- the correct term and spelling is mulatto, defined as a person of mixed white and black ancestry.

[Jamie]

Intelligent American, it is mullato not malado.

""They know they are going to be splitting the Caucasian vote, so they know they need the African- American vote to make them the man," said council member Wengay Newton, the city's highest ranking African-American. "If there were more Asians, they would probably be saying they are going to be the first Asian mayor."

He said this out loud? This has to be one of the most racist statements I've heard out of an elected official's mouth in a very, very long time.

As to Rouson...Pffft. He doesn't represent anyone but himself.

[david]

Maybe we should just elect the most qualified candidate, who will best serve ALL citizens of the city, without regard to his race. If we keep working on opposite sides of the color line, there will always be a divide.

[John]

Maybe the council member's candor was accidental - "they know they will split the causcasian vote". Exactly. The black vote is not split, ever. Not even close. It is the most predictably monolithic constituency anywhere. Any black candidate, or any candidate pretending to be black, can count on every black vote and the usual band of white liberals types. Then it's just a matter of pretending to move to the center and pick off as many voters from the middle as possible. This seems to be the last step before St. Pete joins other shocking embarassments - with perpetual black mayors - like Detroit, Atlanta, Newark, Gary, Oakland, etc. What a hell hole St. Pete is becoming...

[Webster]

Actually, there are several accecpted spellings of the word malado/melado/mullato

To(Intelligent American)...your half right. According to most Hospitals in the USA, the childs' race is considered and determined by the mother....which makes him WHITE. It's his genetics that are mulatto (Call around and see for yourself;Call All Childrens Hospital)
Of course though...Color never matters.......tee hee tee hee

Whoever wins, will only win because 9 of the “only” 13 people who show up will pick them. And the Times will call it a “mandate of the people”.

Anything that begins “St. Pete…” is a freaking joke.

... and now add "mulatto" to that list

[Tramor]

I throw this out to those that are posting notes: This race for Mayor should be about the most qualified and not determined by race. With that said, how about Kathleen Ford for Mayor? She'll continue to ask the tough questions about what Mayor Baker has been doing for the past 8 years and what he hasn't been doing.

She'll get to the root cause as to why the moral in the police department is still very low and she'll work hard everyday to be fair to all races and to all political affiliations. We are all Americans and we shouldn't continue this label of black or white, democrat or republican.

Tramor...are you new to politics? Its always about color! And I can prove that......Meanwhile, your point is understood. How about someone NEW to politis? Maybe a collge Grad with a desire to make things right?

[Hate Whitey]

As a white male I am so sick of trying extra hard to "cater" to the black community, slavery ended years ago so get over it, if anything the white male is beginning to be hindered of anything, it's all diverse this & diverse that, it's reverse discrimination for crying out loud

Clearly, you are both new to Pinellas politics. St. Pete's Mayor is appointed by Mel and Co., with only one color in mind; green!

[Reality]

The best thing that any true leader could do for the African American, Asian, Gay, White, Latino, et al communities – is stop calling them an African American, Asian, Gay, White, Latino, et al community – and start calling and representing it for what it is; our community.

We are all God’s children and mere shades of humanity. The day we can sincerely wrap ourselves around that, is the day we can truly claim that we’ve achieved progress.

[Tramor]

No, I'm not new to politics. It's time for people to not say that this is the way it's always been. Let's take a moment and do some self-reflection. Now is the time for our community to work together to solve our issues regardless of race, gender, age, disability, etc.

I believe in being part of the solution and not part of the problem. Why not start now with improving our community. Those that are ready to stand up against corrupt and unethical leaders are the next leaders of our community. These so called declared candidates are pandering in the worst way. This community needs someone that doesn't script their words to one group and then scripts their words for another group. The politics of the past have to change.

I hope that the next Mayor will bring to their cabinet some younger staff members with fresh ideas and open minds. I also believe that some of the declared candidates for Mayor may make good Deputy Mayors or City Administrators - but not Mayor.

[Joe]

Wengay is a fool. He is a clueless racist. He automatically assumes all black voters will vote for black candidates.....a racist comment that should get him a reprimand. The Asian comment emphasizes his ignorance. Give it a rest Wengay...your fifteen minutes are about over.

Keep tapping those ruby slippers together, Dorothy!

I think Wengay is hot!

If Ken gets in, Ken will win!

[?]

Does this mean that us whities can publicly say this: "I'm voting for him/her cause he's white!" without being politically incorrect? There is a line between being proud of your heritage and being ignorant ... isn't this racism?! Vote for someone based on their qualifications not because of race.

[Wrinkle City Wright]

All you need to do is claim that you're black and you'll get the black vote. They vote like it's a homecoming court in high school --- if there's 1 negro and 1 negrette, BINGO!
that's your king & queen