Former Gov. Charlie Crist’s absence from a St. Petersburg mayoral candidate forum Tuesday gave his opponents an opening to attack the fundraising front-runner in the race.
Crist’s campaign announced that morning that he would miss the event at The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, one of the last mayoral debates before the Aug. 18 primary. His camp took issue with the event’s charged admission, snubbing the Suncoast Tiger Bay forum that allows members to ask questions directly to politicians.
Crist instead held a telephone town hall one hour before the debate, free of charge.
Suncoast Tiger Bay member Harvey Landress, who on Facebook earlier in the day expressed dismay about Crist’s decision to not attend, asked candidates what they would say to Crist. The mayoral hopefuls didn’t hesitate to pile on.
Incumbent Mayor Ken Welch’s response crystallized how ugly and personal the race has turned in an election season that may only worsen into the likely November runoff.
“It’s been five days since one of your lieutenants, who’s married to your campaign manager, made a despicable lie about my conduct and the conduct of a city employee, and you said nothing,” Welch said. “The way that someone runs their campaign is the way they will run the mayor’s office.”
Welch calls on Crist to ‘condemn the lie’
Welch was referring to political operator Peter Schorsch, who runs the Florida Politics website. His wife, Michelle Todd Schorsch, is running Crist’s campaign.
Last week, Schorsch wrote and then deleted a post accusing Welch of having cheated on his wife with former deputy mayor Stephanie Owens, who also ran his 2021 election campaign.
Welch’s former communications director, Janelle Irwin Taylor, previously accused Owens of bullying and creating a hostile work environment. Owens resigned nine months into Welch’s mayorship. Irwin Taylor is a reporter for Florida Politics.
Welch retorted with a video posted Monday morning vehemently denying any inappropriate relationship. He called on Crist to “condemn the lie” perpetuated by Schorsch. Welch told the Tampa Bay Times he is considering pursuing legal action.
Asked if he would condemn what Schorsch said, Crist told the Times he has “nothing to do with it” and said the issue was between Schorsch and Welch.
“I don’t know what the facts are of this person, nor do I care,” Crist said. “I’m running against his record only. That’s the kind of man I aspire to be. I also know [Welch is] in a desperate situation. It doesn’t sound like he’s thinking straight. I feel for him.”
Asked how much Schorsch would be in his orbit should he become mayor, Crist said he didn’t know and said he’s not associated with Schorsch.
“I didn’t hire him. I hired his wife,” Crist said. “He would have as much influence as any constituent if I’m fortunate enough to win.”
Schorsch told the Times he later took down the post with the accusation because a “prominent person” who is neutral regarding the mayor’s race requested it.
Schorsch said he is an “activist publisher” who sees his opponent as Welch, whom he called “an albatross on the city.” Schorsch said he was not concerned about his online commentary backfiring on Crist because “social media is not real life.”
“I don’t see that issue at all,” he said. “I see people complaining about how expensive it is to live in St. Petersburg.”
Owens did not respond to calls and a text message seeking comment.
Crist holds own event
Suncoast Tiger Bay executive director J.C. Pritchett opened Thursday’s forum to clarify that the ticket fee that the club’s members and attendees pay covers meals.
“No meals are free,” he said.
Pritchett said it was “unfortunate” that the former governor and congressman chose not to attend despite being a member since 1988.
Crist’s hourlong town hall allowed voters to call him with questions. Crist’s camp said it would donate the money it would’ve spent on Tiger Bay tickets to Babycycle, a charity run by former St. Petersburg City Council candidate Torrie Jasuwan that gives away diapers and other newborn essentials.
Todd Schorsch said early on in the hourlong call that 2,500 people joined. Crist’s camp later said that figure swelled to 7,500. State Sen. Darryl Rouson and former state Rep. Frank Peterman, both of whom have endorsed Crist, also called in.
“I’ve talked to my opponents enough. They’re not going to vote for me,” Crist said. “After a while, you kind of get the point that maybe that’s not a great use of time.”
Crist said he used to be on the board of Tiger Bay but pointed to how he reached many more voters in the telephone town hall than the 150 or so at the forum.
Peter Schorsch had been teasing online for at least two weeks that Crist would likely not attend the Tiger Bay event. He wrote on Facebook that Pritchett, the political club’s executive director, is Welch’s ally. Pritchett is married to Welch’s cousin.
Crist has attended Tiger Bay political forums going back to at least 1992, when he ran for state Senate as a Republican. The event charges $25 for members and $35 for non-members. Only members who pay a $200 annual fee are allowed to ask questions.
Crist attended a City Council candidate forum hosted by Suncoast Tiger Bay as recently as June 30. He was seated with Schorsch, who scooped the mayor on his own news at the forum by asking candidates what they thought of Welch choosing Blake Investment Partners to redevelop Tropicana Field.
Crist is listed as a confirmed participant in a “meet the candidates” event Aug. 6 hosted by the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce. That event charges chamber members $30 and non-members $40.
When asked by a reporter at his telephone town hall about the chamber event, he said he would not attend as he did not realize the chamber was charging admission. Michelle Todd Schorsch said she reserved a table, afraid they would sell out, before she had the full details of the event.
“I gotta be consistent here. That’s important,” Crist said. “You’re either genuine or you’re not.”
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