 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Mayor, council begin civilly
By BRYAN GILMER © St. Petersburg Times, published April 2, 2001 ST. PETERSBURG -- Pledging to seek consensus and to act civilly when they do disagree, six St. Petersburg City Council members took the oath of office and all eight met ceremonially Sunday as Rick Baker was sworn in as mayor. "I feel that with the new feeling on this council here, we are going to succeed," said newly elected council member James Bennett. "For the future, I would like for them to say that this is the council that brought unity." Five of the eight council members were elected to their first terms on the council Tuesday. Two, Richard Kriseman and Earnest Williams, have served as interim appointees for four months. Bennett, Virginia Littrell and John Bryan sat on the dais as council members for the first time Sunday. Jay Lasita began serving his second term. In the only real business the new council handled Sunday, it struck a contrast with the board it replaced by selecting Rene Flowers as chairwoman on the first try, by a 6-2 vote over Bill Foster. Though the former council worked together more smoothly in recent months, it had trouble shaking its reputation as divided and contentious. When it elected former council member Larry Williams as its chairman a year ago, it needed 21 ballots to reach a consensus. The voting included four straight 2-2-2-2 ties and was seen by many as a symbol of the council's propensity for stubbornness and stalemates. Flowers will preside over council meetings as chairwoman. She was vice-chairwoman of the previous council. Returning member Jay Lasita was selected vice-chairman Sunday to serve when Flowers is absent, also in a single 6-2 ballot on which Foster was his opponent. Although Baker made a brief speech upon being sworn in as mayor, he left center stage for the council. Rather than announcing appointments of top managers or rolling out the first steps he will take toward his campaign goals, Baker chose to review the four themes he repeated methodically during his campaign: schools, public safety, economic development in poor areas of town and support of residential neighborhoods. "I am humbled and honored by the office I assume today," Baker said. "I thank God and I praise God for this moment." Baker thanked his friend, outgoing Mayor David Fischer, who he said established the city's commitment to its neighborhoods. And he thanked outgoing council member Bea Griswold and two other departing council members whom he defeated in the mayor's race: Larry Williams and general election opponent Kathleen Ford. He reprised his election night victory speech by encouraging every city resident to find some way to work for the betterment of St. Petersburg. "I am one who believes government is only one piece of the leadership matrix of our city," Baker said, going on to list businesses, faith-based organizations and neighborhood associations as others. "The responsibility before all of us is great, but I believe our city is up to it." Outgoing and incoming council members also had the opportunity to make brief speeches, and nearly everyone did. Ford, who historically has had plenty to say, was a notable exception, passing up her chance to give a speech. She lost to Baker in Tuesday's general election 57 percent to 43 percent. Ford did nearly shout the pledge of allegiance to the American flag one last time, as has been her custom at the beginning of a council meeting, when the old council convened so it could symbolically adjourn for the last time. And when Fischer presented her a plaque during part of Sunday's ceremony, the few public words of Ford were gracious ones: "It has been an incredible privilege and a tremendous honor to serve the city of St. Petersburg." It was all sweetness and light before officials' families and friends in the packed council chambers. Larry Williams, who lost to Ford in the primary by 219 votes and had little to say afterward as he challenged the results, smiled and enjoyed himself Sunday. He said he appreciated Ford's "scholarly advocacy" during her council term. Ford mouthed "Thank you." Foster entertained the crowd with a limerick in tribute to Fischer, and a speech that provided relief from the solemnity. "Bea, Larry, Kathleen," Foster began. "I consider you my mentors. I consider you my friends." He paused. "Now I consider you my constituents."
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From the Times South Pinellas desks |
