Ken Welch's father could be in a tough spot
ST. PETERSBURG -- Former council member David Welch said he is just as curious as everyone else about whether his son, County Commissioner Ken Welch, will run for mayor.
"There's someone in my office every week saying, 'Get your son to run,' " said the elder Welch, who owns Welch Tax Services & Accounting on 16th Street S.
David Welch could find himself in an uncomfortable position if his son runs. The former council member is a mentor to mayoral candidate Deveron Gibbons, and the two serve on the boards of the St. Petersburg Housing Authority and WorkNet Pinellas.
Welch wouldn't comment on whom he would support if Gibbons and his son ran for mayor. "If he runs, we will have to see what happens," Welch said.
Meanwhile, it seems the younger Welch, who picked up a candidate filing report Friday but has yet to turn it in, is keeping his father in the dark. Papa Welch said he had no idea his son was seriously considering a run or that he had e-mailed supporters this weekend.
But Dad said he didn't think his son would enter the campaign without telling him.
"He isn't going to make that decision on his own," Welch said.
UPDATE: Commissioner Ken Welch said he has kept his father updated.
"To be clear, I spoke with my father several days ago to inform him that I was reconsidering the mayor's race and that I would make a decision by the end of the month," Welch wrote in an e-mail last night. "So he hasn't been 'in the dark,' as you stated, although he may not have understood that this is a serious evaluation of options, and not just a cursory look at running."
Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer
*
From the writers of the St. Petersburg Times, Bay Buzz offers the latest news on Tampa Bay politics. This is a public forum sponsored and maintained by the St. Petersburg Times. When you post comments here, what you say becomes public and could appear in the newspaper. You are not engaging in private communication with candidates or Times staffers.
"He isn't going to make that decision on his own," Welch said.
Has he ever?
Posted by: | January 12, 2009 at 03:38 PM
Next headline: Welch coughs! Does that mean he's running for Mayor.
Posted by: saintpetersblog | January 12, 2009 at 03:40 PM
I apologize for that there, that ain’t right! Lord, please forgive me for that there, and be with all them starving pigmies down there in new guinea… Amen
Posted by: | January 12, 2009 at 03:41 PM
tic.tic.tic.tic...
Posted by: | January 12, 2009 at 03:41 PM
Doesn’t Welch’s wife work for the JWB? Ya know, we could probably solve all of our “budget” problems by simply laying-off the moms, dads, wives, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, in-laws, et al… of the elected officials.
Good Lord, how brazenly incestuous must it get before we wake the hell up?
Posted by: God Help Us! | January 12, 2009 at 04:28 PM
4:28, God can’t help us; he gave us “free will”.
That means the criminal politicians are “free” to do - and they do - whatever they damn well please… until you muster the “will” to get off you’re apathetic A S S and do something about it.
Posted by: The Phantom | January 12, 2009 at 04:55 PM
No offense, but Papa Welch is one old fart.
It is almost unfair to interview him at this point. Let him retire with grace and let's not capture every wandering utterance for posterity in the papers.
Posted by: | January 12, 2009 at 05:12 PM
Uncomfortable position? Blood is thicker than water. This is a no-brainer.
Posted by: | January 12, 2009 at 05:21 PM
Am I right in reading that Ken's father is unsure if he would support him over Deveron???
Posted by: saintpetersblog | January 12, 2009 at 05:27 PM
Tony Dungy for Mayor of St. Pete! Let's see what a "real" lanslide is! Although he's not gay or currupt, so the SPT wont back him.
Posted by: | January 12, 2009 at 08:11 PM
If Calvin is supporting Devron, do you really think that Ken is running? Watch for Ken's announcment that he will NOT run but will support Devron. BIRDS OF A KIND, FLOCK TOGETHER.
Posted by: TRUE BLUE | January 13, 2009 at 04:02 PM
Calling David Weelch an "old fart" is an insult to all us old farts. He's a black Bob Shirer.
Posted by: | January 13, 2009 at 04:05 PM
Wow, Jim... picked up on that one all by you onezees, did ya?
Posted by: | January 13, 2009 at 04:25 PM
Ken Welch has far too much integrity to support Deveron Gibbons in any way shape or form.
Posted by: | January 13, 2009 at 06:09 PM
Well then, if KT has so much integrity, then lets see him bring it to St. Pete.
In of out, KT?... time to sh-t or get off the pot, slick!
Posted by: | January 13, 2009 at 06:57 PM
4:02- Calvin is a tad clueless but still always has a back out strategery. If Ken backs Deveron, then goodbye to his credibility. I'm already getting bored with Ken's drama act. Dude, be useful or something. At least Deveron has some balls.
4:05- too old to hit the keys and spell properly? Who in the hell is Shire and why do we care?
Posted by: | January 13, 2009 at 07:18 PM
I put worster"shire" sauce on my rice... does that count?
Posted by: | January 13, 2009 at 08:11 PM
Ed Helm for Mayor of St. Pete!
Posted by: | January 13, 2009 at 08:26 PM
The first draft of Deveron's press release is up at:
http://whatiswrongwithdeveron.blogspot.com/
Posted by: whatswrongwithdeveron | January 14, 2009 at 10:44 AM
shire on rice - now that would be a hoot! Go for it Bob- Darden might even enjoy it.
Posted by: | January 14, 2009 at 01:31 PM