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Lawyer to try second run for St. Petersburg councilBy LEONORA LaPETER © St. Petersburg Times, published November 7, 2000 ST. PETERSBURG -- The last time Richard D. Kriseman went for a City Council seat in 1997, he lost to then-incumbent Robert Kersteen. Kriseman pulled in 41 percent of the vote -- 7,526 votes. Kriseman, 38, is hoping those voters and more will come to his side as he makes a second bid for the office. Kersteen has resigned the post to seek a seat in the state House of Representatives today. The district represents the city's northwestern sector, including the Eagle Crest, Lake Pasadena and Azalea neighborhoods. Kriseman, a lawyer who grew up in St. Petersburg, thinks he has a lot to offer the city. "I thought I could bring to the table some communication and mediation skills that might help get things accomplished," Kriseman said. "One knock against the City Council in the past few years is that maybe they have great ideas, but there's so much bickering that nothing gets done. One of the things I'd like to think I'm good at is communicating and mediating." Kriseman was a political newcomer when he faced Kersteen in 1997. He still never has held elective office, but he has served on the city's nuisance abatement board for the past year. The group is responsible for clearing neighborhoods of drugs and prostitution. He's also vice president of Temple Beth-El, a founding member of the Tampa Bay Democratic Leadership Council and one of the charter members of his Lake Pasadena Neighborhood Association. In the 1980s, he twice served as campaign manager to state Rep. Lars Hafner. Kriseman, married to wife, Kerry, said he wants to run for the City Council to make a difference for his 3-year-old daughter. Many of the issues he considers important are similar to those he advocated three years ago. He wants to encourage economic development, reduce crime and improve the city's quality of life. "Your perspective changes when you have a child and things that were always important but weren't priorities suddenly become priorities," Kriseman said. "It's really affected my desire to get more involved in the community. I've started thinking about what I'm leaving her." Kriseman so far has no opponent in the District 1 race. He also has applied to the City Council to serve the remainder of Kersteen's term. The council will choose an interim council member for Kersteen's seat and another on Nov. 30.
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