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Rick Baker for mayor

Rick Baker for mayor

In his successful campaign for St. Petersburg mayor four years ago, Rick Baker listed four priorities: economic development, neighborhoods, schools and public safety. That's a good starting point in deciding whether Baker has earned a second term.

The city's pent-up economic potential has blossomed under Baker's guidance. Construction throughout the city has set records, and thousands of new jobs have been added. Downtown has been transformed from a ghost town into a hub of community activity and a desirable place to live. The city's distinctive neighborhoods have been strengthened and are the envy of surrounding communities.

In perhaps his most remarkable achievement, Baker took responsibility for the performance of public schools in the city, even though they are operated by the county School Board. With private grants and a mentoring program, the city provides teachers with needed supplies and assistance, and has written a strategic plan for corporate sponsorship of individual schools that is being studied nationwide. Baker has set an attainable goal of helping every elementary school in the city earn an A grade in the next four years.

Under Baker, the Police Department has gained stability, no small feat considering how it has been a political pawn in past mayoral elections. While the department faces officer recruitment and retention challenges and needs to clarify its commitment to community policing, longtime residents recognize the progress made under Baker's steady hand. Contrary to carping on the campaign trail, St. Petersburg has a professional, responsive police force that manages to balance the city's competing public safety needs.

Beyond his own list of priorities, Baker has brought a high level of competence to city government. He has posted detailed performance measures on the city Web site for everyone to keep track of how their tax dollars are used. He has reduced the millage rate while still funding significant improvements to the city's most important public places - expansion of the downtown waterfront and renovation of Mahaffey Theater and the Pier. He is close to providing every child with a playground within a safe half-mile walk from home.

Baker has, in short, helped make St. Petersburg a better place to live, play and work.

Such a formidable record of success might explain why only one challenger stepped forward: retired labor attorney Ed Helm. Rather than acknowledge the city's accomplishments and propose a positive agenda of his own, Helm has run a campaign of denial.

Some legitimate critics of city policy would like to see more public discussion of downtown development plans, but Helm calls for an abrupt halt to construction. Imagine the damage that would do to property values and the city's reputation. While a vast majority of city residents have supported Midtown redevelopment - particularly a new grocery store, post office and bank - Helm calls those improvements "patronizing." Midtown residents might conclude that it is Helm's attitude toward them that is patronizing.

Yet Helm has done the most harm by infusing the contest with partisanship. Often, the first words out of Helm's mouth are that he is a "progressive Democrat," and that he expects like-minded people to vote for him. The office of mayor was made nonpartisan for a reason, to focus on the practical demands of running a diverse city of 250,000. Voters should reject this self-serving effort to divide the city.

There has never been a better time to live in St. Petersburg, and Baker has played an important leadership role in moving the city forward. He has earned another term to finish the job.