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St. Petersburg is moving on up

Early edition

By AARON SHAROCKMAN
Published November 9, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG – Florida’s next governor stood before the St. Petersburg City Council Thursday, shoehorned between presentations by the city police chief and a youth group.

It was an odd place for the most powerful man in state government. But Crist, the state’s first governor from St. Petersburg, is loyal to his city, friends and colleagues say.

That loyalty is fueling speculation that he’ll open a satellite office in St. Petersburg – as he did while attorney general – and place city and Pinellas County leaders in prominent places in his administration.

Crist says he will build a government all Floridians can be proud of. But there’s no question his ascension to the state’s top elected post could pay huge dividends for St. Petersburg.

“I look forward to working with my hometown,” Crist said Thursday. “This is where I vote. This is where I’ve lived.

“The people have given me a new house in Tallahassee, but this will always be my home.”

Crist sightings will be frequent

Two days after the election, after all the television cameras disappeared and the reality of running a $71-billion bureaucracy set in, Crist was still zipping around his hometown thanking supporters.

He’ll likely stay in St. Petersburg with his parents for the holidays and often visit on weekends.

Each trip comes with government machinery, sometimes media, and always attention. It’s like free tourism marketing, said Russell Bond, president of the Vinoy Club at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort.

“Some events will probably happen here, events that wouldn’t happen if he weren’t in the governor’s mansion,”  said Bond, whose resort hosted Crist’s victory party Tuesday.

And area businesses could play a part in Crist’s January inauguration, said David Rancourt, who helped Gov. Jeb Bush’s 1998 transition and became Bush’s deputy chief of staff.

Some inauguration events could even be scheduled in St. Petersburg.

“Gov.-elect Crist will most likely spend more time in St. Petersburg than any other governor in the history of Florida,” said Rancourt, who is now a Tallahassee lobbyist. “Having a governor is always a good thing for a governor’s hometown.”

In line for jobs

With Crist’s victory Tuesday, Pinellas County’s corps of ex-politicians instantly become candidates for prominent jobs in a new administration.

Former Pinellas sheriff and state Rep. Everett Rice, former state Rep. Kim Berfield, former state senators Jim Sebesta and Don Sullivan and former local Republican party chairman Paul Bedinghaus are all considered candidates for some statewide appointment.

So are St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker along with city community leaders Darryl Rouson and Watson Haynes.

“I’ve heard that,” Rouson said Thursday. “I’m willing to help in anyway I can.”

Baker, whose named has been mentioned to head either the Department of Education or the Department of Community Affairs, says he has not spoken with Crist about any role in state government. Crist appoints members to the state Board of Education, but not the education commissioner directly.

“My belief is Charlie will pick the best people for the jobs no matter where they live,” said Baker, who attended Florida State with Crist. “If the best person happens to be from St. Pete, so be it.”

Crist hasn’t announced who will fill any key positions in state government. There may less urgency because Crist replaces another Republican in Bush.

Having Crist’s ear

As close as Baker was to Bush as governor, he may even be closer to Crist. The two met for about 15 minutes Thursday before Crist addressed the City Council.

The relationship can help the city in state budget discussions, like when it comes to the Dali Museum or other city facilities, observers say.

Similar relationships exist across Pinellas County.

“If I say there’s a problem at U.S. 19 and Curlew, he knows what I’m talking about,” said local Republican Party chairman Tony DiMatteo. “He understands, because he’s seen it.”

Pinellas County Commissioner John Morroni, who was in the Young Republicans group with Crist, said the new governor has a keen interest in local issues – to the benefit of Pinellas residents.

Plus, “I know my phone calls will be returned,” Morroni said.

The relationship between Crist and his hometown will open doors, agrees Rancourt, who advised Bush for almost two years.

But it won’t be a panacea.

“You have your man, and that’s a good thing,” Rancourt said. “But it would be a mistake for people to start thinking all of the challenges are immediately solved because he’s there.”

[Last modified November 9, 2006, 20:13:16]