Kathleen Ford and Bill Foster attend to their friendship in wake of St. Pete mayoral race

ST. PETERSBURG -- Mayor-elect Bill Foster said he and former rival Kathleen Ford have made up.

The pair have been friends since 1992 and Ford was supporting Foster in the mayoral race before she decided to run against him after they disagreed on some budget issues. The general election soon turned ugly after she mocked his disbelief in evolution and he called her a "divider."

That's all behind them now, said Foster.

"We weren't just acquaintances before," he said. "We were really good friends. Nothing has changed."

He said he planned to get together with Ford before the end of the month.

Ford, however, seemed less bullish about the status of their friendship. She confirmed that Foster apologized this week for some statements he made on the campaign trail.

She said she will likely have a better relationship with Foster than with Mayor Rick Baker, a longtime adversary who trumped her in the 2001 election.

She was still critical of Foster’s policy positions.

“Mr. Foster appears to want to negotiate for a new stadium on behalf of the (Tampa Bay) Rays rather than look out for the best interests of the citizens of St. Petersburg,” she said, vowing to help lead the effort against a stadium.

She said she will continue to keep a close eye on city spending and hopes Foster will, too.

Meanwhile, Ford thanked her supporters.

She also said she was surprised that Foster beat her in absentee ballots. He carried 50.5 percent of the vote before Election Day results were tabulated.

 “I thought we would have been ahead in those. It’s a curious result,” she said.

Read more about Foster and Ford in Sunday's St. Petersburg Times.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

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Comments

[Lii]

It was the Democrats with sanity that put Foster over the top.

[Joe Cool]

Foster was the better candidate with the better message.

[love them loyal Dems!]

The only reason you ticklesticks got Foster is because Pinellas DINOs the likes of Kriseman, Welch, Heller, Harris, Long, Gerard, Rouson, Nurse, Justice, Wagman, et al... backed him behind the scenes and shat of Ford. Add an incompetent, clueless, and ball-less Chair of the Pinellas County Stonewall Executive Committee (formerly the PCDEC), and a culpable and corrupt incumbent system propaganda tool (aka: the Times)... and whammo!... you have SSDD “Same Sh-t; Different Dupe”.

[it's deafening]

the silent scream of the numbers...

[other women democrats?]

hey 4:46

Don't forget Castor, Lerner, and Nina too.

Just look at the list and imagine if they were all on the steps of city hall.

All 10 or so "electeds" forgot the people chose Ford. They did not serve us well .

[it's deafening]

the silent scream of the numbers...

[it's easy]

american democracy on a 4-gig thumbdrive...

[it's deafening]

SO MANY PEOPLE SAID THIS WAS AN NON-PARTISAN RACE.

RNC chairman Steele lauds Foster win
From a news release, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele:

"I would like to congratulate Bill Foster on his election to serve as mayor of St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg has also been fortunate to have Rick Baker serve with distinction for eight years and I have no doubt that Bill will build upon what Rick has already accomplished – a strong record of fiscal conservatism and transparency. Bill’s victory is significant since President Obama carried the county in 2008 and has since dramatically increased the Democrat registration. As we approach the 2010 elections, I am confident we will see more Floridians elect leaders who believe in less taxes and less spending." (Bill voted for the last two tax increases.)

**********
Congratulations Mayor Foster!

Classic... the most densely Dem populated city in Pinellas just elected a Republican Mayor... AGAIN!... thanks to all the support of the local DINOs of course! Another job poorly done (as usual) for the Pinellas Dems... Well done Ramsay; way to stand tall and demand loyalty from your local elected Pinellas Dems... you’re one hell of a Party leader sport! Make sure you welcome them all to your next meeting of 27 members... and thank them for their effort on behalf of the Party.

******
In St. Petersburg, 46,360 of the 156,478 registered voters cast ballots. UPDATE: That's a 29.6 percent turnout. Low but comparable to recent history.

[it's milky]

what's your point?

["It's a curious result"]

Kathleen says "It's a curious result" about her losing the absentee ballot chase to Foster?

Didn't Kathleen ignore absentee ballots during the Primary?

That's a lot of ramping up for the General Election.

[LOL]

Kathleen had some good points related to the budget, but she simply was a nut. She should be involved in city decisions, but play a very limited role in dealing with people.

[steve c.]

Ford hand addressed everyone getting absentee ballots. I read about it.

[Saint Petersblog]

Kathleen may have been ahead in absentee ballots before she made the HNIC comment. But 1900 ballots came in over the last weekend and few of those were for Kathleen. Kathleen, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[Paint Setersblog]

Hey Pete... how's your brother... you scum... who will you steal from next?

[And who is surprised]

The Democrats had better wake up after the St. Pete Mayoral Race. It is predictor of what is to come in 2010.

[110,000 Voters: None of the Above]

With 110,000 St Pete voters not casting a ballot in this election, Ford had a lot of potential voters from whom to get those 2,600 extra votes that she needed to win.

[Peter the crook/Rouson.]

It ain't over yet !!!! Some surprises yet to come.

[love them loyal Dems!]

stow it sparky... it was over when the Pinellas Dinos backed backed Wagman and Foster, and the weasel Party Chair went into hiding...

[Love that Loser Lackey]

Love Them Loyal Dems, get back to your Fruit Loops and saturday morning cartoons junior. You're irrelevant.

[Peter Schorsch]

My brother is fine, thank you. I don't know which one of you sickos put all that stuff up there, but that was the worst of the worst.

Face it: Kathleen lost. Move on. There are no more surprises. The lunatic left, led by Helm and Donnelon have no more candidates, no more chances. You're done. Now step aside while the rest of us do some work.

[#1 Peter Fan]

Well put Peter. Not sure what is happening with your brother, but I will send a prayer out for you and your family.

[Awful like Peter's predictions]

"...while the rest of do some work."

Buwahaha! What exactly do you have in mind Peter? Will you destroy another candidates campaign like Jamie Bennett? Oh thats right it was all Jamie's fault you had nothing to do with it, you were the victim.

Will you lose by 19 points like Angela Rouson? I like how you and Barry put the distance between yoursevles in her. How exactly did you convince her those awful commericals were a good idea?

Yeah, yeah we know Peter you and your childish blog are the only "real" reporting going on. You are such a savy investigative reporter. Loser

You are a fraud who peddles minor inside information and election law technicalities as some great deep throat type scandal. In reality you are a jobless, overweight, wanna-be with daddy issues.

So please keep entertaining Cristina and Aaron with your wild "predictions" and accusations while your fat fingers tweet away about whatever trivial piece of gossip you dream up.

[Peter Schorsch]

Childish blog? 10,000 readers on Tuesday is more 9,998 more than Cristina and Aaron, friend-o.

As for future endeavors, are you kidding? The world is an oyster!

What were my wild predictions? That Foster would win by 8? That Kornell would win? Those are wild, wild predictions. I'm sorry I was so off.

Obviously, you have some sort of obsession about me, Mrs 12:55, so I'm glad you'll be following me over the next year. And what a fantastic year it will be.

[Peter Schorsch]

Childish blog? 10,000 readers on Tuesday is more 9,998 more than Cristina and Aaron, friend-o.

As for future endeavors, are you kidding? The world is an oyster!

What were my wild predictions? That Foster would win by 8? That Kornell would win? Those are wild, wild predictions. I'm sorry I was so off.

Obviously, you have some sort of obsession about me, Mrs 12:55, so I'm glad you'll be following me over the next year. And what a fantastic year it will be.

[Peter the crook]

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