Who ‘won’ a contentious St. Petersburg mayoral debate?
- Mark Parker
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Mayor Ken Welch weathered a storm of criticism from four challengers during Tuesday night’s debate among contenders for mayor of St. Petersburg. But how did the audience perceive their performances?
St. Petersburg NAACP Branch No. 5130, which hosted the event, selected three independent audience evaluators to answer that question. The participants ranged in age from 23 to 55 years old and were not affiliated with any campaign.
Evaluators scored candidates using the same evaluation criteria and rubric. The NAACP’s report notes that it remains committed to providing nonpartisan voter education opportunities and does not endorse, support, or oppose any candidates participating in its events.
Branch President Esther Sanni said the organization has historically provided scorecards at similar events. “What was very intentional this time was ensuring that we had a variety of individuals in age, demographics, and job positions,” she told Power Broker Magazine.
“We went as far down as a college student and all the way up to a seasoned worker, because their viewpoints are very different,” Sanni said of the evaluators. “They did not sit together; they did not know who the other scorers were. It was very anonymous and autonomous.”
Welch received an average score of 84.6% (A-), City Councilmember Brandi Gabbard received a 76% (B+), former NAACP President Maria Scruggs received a 74.7% (B), former Gov. Charlie Crist received a 57.3% (C+), and former Shore Acres Neighborhood Association President Kevin Batdorf received a 50% (C).
Former St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Chief Jim Large did not participate in the debate.
No other organizations have released similar scorecards. Several will partner to host additional debates ahead of the Aug. 18 primary.
Aron Bryce, founder and president of the Stronger Together St. Pete Foundation, has partnered with Spectrum Bay News 9 and 10 neighborhood associations to host the West St. Pete Mayoral Forum on June 24. He offered his thoughts on the first debate and began by commending the NAACP for organizing a “well-attended mayoral forum and creating another opportunity for residents to hear directly from the candidates.”
“While scorecards and evaluations are one tool voters can consider, I believe the greatest value of these forums is giving residents the chance to hear candidates discuss the issues, compare their visions, and make their own informed decisions,” Bryce said. “The more opportunities voters have to engage directly with candidates, the stronger our democracy becomes.”
Scoring criteria:
The three independent evaluators selected by the NAACP scored candidates on:
Knowledge of city issues
Communication skills
Authenticity & transparency
Community engagement
Ability to address difficult questions
Ethics & accountability
Preparedness for the Office of Mayor
Overall impression
Individual scoring
The evaluators credited Welch’s leadership experience, preparedness, and knowledge of city issues. They also noted he was the only candidate who, when asked to identify a professional or leadership mistake, answered the question directly by naming bonuses paid to staff for working extensive overtime during previous Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment negotiations.
“This response demonstrated accountability, transparency, self-reflection, and leadership maturity,” states the report. However, some evaluators thought he should have more details regarding future ethics and accountability measures.
Evaluators viewed Gabbard’s performance favorably, with one stating that she presented the clearest vision for St. Petersburg’s future. She received high marks for her knowledge of city issues, communication skills, ethics and accountability, and credibility.
While evaluators also appreciated her understanding of municipal operations and policies, some desired additional “neighborhood-specific solutions and greater emphasis on community-level concerns.”
The report states that Scruggs received two of the “strongest individual assessments,” particularly for her leadership presence. Evaluators also credited her authenticity, transparency, ethics, and community engagement.
Scruggs came across as a “community-centered candidate with a strong commitment to public service.” However, one evaluator felt that several of her remarks raised pointed concerns without offering concrete solutions.
Crist received moderate scores across several categories. Evaluators listed his government experience, communication skills, and background in public service as strengths, but generally scored him in the average range.
The evaluators would like to hear “more specific solutions to city challenges” and a “stronger articulation of a future vision for St. Petersburg” from Crist, according to the report.
Batdorf’s assessments were mixed, with some evaluators appreciating his “passion, authenticity, and neighborhood advocacy.” Others expressed concern with his lack of a citywide vision.
Additional areas for improvement include his preparedness for office and comprehensive policy solutions. “Evaluators noted that many of his responses focused heavily on neighborhood-specific issues rather than citywide priorities,” states the report.
Sanni said evaluators remain unaware of other scores. She realizes people will “say what they want to say,” but the NAACP was “very intentional” with its process.
Sanni is unsure whether she agrees or disagrees with the evaluations - managing the debate prevented her from focusing on the candidates. “What we did was collect the information and push it out,” she said. “Now I will go back and look at the video.”
Share Your News
To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com, and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube.