2001 St. Petersburg, Florida, mayoral election

2015 Flint mayoral election
	February 27, 2001 (first-round); March 27, 2001 (runoff)
Mayor before election; David Fischer; Nonpartisan	Elected mayor ; Rick Baker; Nonpartisan

The 2001 St. Petersburg, Florida, mayoral election was held on March 27, 2001, following a primary election on February 27, 2001. Incumbent Mayor David Fischer declined to run for a fourth term,^[1] and a crowded field emerged to succeed him. One of Fischer's campaign advisors, corporate lawyer Rick Baker, placed first in the primary election, winning 25 percent of the vote. City Councilmember Kathleen Ford narrowly beat out City Councilmember Larry J. Williams for second place, and advanced to the general election against Baker. Baker defeated Ford by a wide margin, 57–43 percent, winning his first time as mayor.

Primary election

Candidates

Rick Baker, corporate lawyer, former Chairman of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce^[2]
Kathleen Ford, City Councilmember^[3]
Larry J. Williams, City Councilmember^[4]
Karl Nurse, Chairman of the St. Petersburg Planning Commission^[5]
Omali Yeshitela, community activist^[6]
Maria Scruggs-Weston, hospital worker^[7]
Ronnie Beck, businessman^[8]
Patrick Bailey, collection agency owner^[7]
Louis "Lou" Miceli, factory worker^[7]

Results

2001 St. Petersburg, Florida, mayoral primary election^[9]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Rick Baker	9,306	25.26%
	Nonpartisan	Kathleen Ford	7,883	21.40%
	Nonpartisan	Larry J. Williams	7,664	20.80%
	Nonpartisan	Karl Nurse	5,498	14.92%
	Nonpartisan	Omali Yeshitela	3,905	10.60%
	Nonpartisan	Maria Scruggs-Weston	1,372	3.72%
	Nonpartisan	Ronnie Beck	789	2.14%
	Nonpartisan	Patrick Bailey	292	0.79%
	Nonpartisan	Louis "Lou" Miceli	133	0.36%
Total votes			36,842	100.00%

General election

Results

2001 St. Petersburg, Florida, mayoral general election^[10]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Rick Baker	27,841	56.55%
	Nonpartisan	Kathleen Ford	21,390	43.45%
Total votes			49,231	100.00%

References

^ Gilmer, Bryan (December 13, 2000). "Fischer: 10 years is enough". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
^ LaPeter, Leonora (November 4, 2000). "Fischer's campaign aide plans mayoral bid". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
^ LaPeter, Leonora (September 2, 2000). "Kathleen Ford joins the crowd in mayor race". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
^ LaPeter, Leonora (August 23, 2000). "Council member quitting to run for mayor". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
^ Gilmer, Bryan (June 6, 2000). "Fischer ally joins a new camp". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
^ Gilmer, Bryan (December 5, 2000). "Activist considering joining mayoral race". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 4B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c LaPeter, Leonora; Gilmer, Bryan (January 31, 2001). "Ballot is bulging in mayoral race". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 1B, 4B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
^ Gilmer, Bryan (December 8, 2000). "Business owner Ronnie Beck to join seven in race for mayor". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
^ "St. Petersburg Mayor - Statement of Vote - Pinellas County, Florida - 2001 February 27 Municipal Primary". Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections. 2001. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
^ "St. Petersburg Mayor - Statement of Vote - Pinellas County, Florida - 2001 March 27 St. Petersburg General". Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections. 2001. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[1] Gilmer, Bryan (December 13, 2000). "Fischer: 10 years is enough". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[2] LaPeter, Leonora (November 4, 2000). "Fischer's campaign aide plans mayoral bid". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[3] LaPeter, Leonora (September 2, 2000). "Kathleen Ford joins the crowd in mayor race". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[4] LaPeter, Leonora (August 23, 2000). "Council member quitting to run for mayor". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[5] Gilmer, Bryan (June 6, 2000). "Fischer ally joins a new camp". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[6] Gilmer, Bryan (December 5, 2000). "Activist considering joining mayoral race". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 4B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[ballot_bulging-7] LaPeter, Leonora; Gilmer, Bryan (January 31, 2001). "Ballot is bulging in mayoral race". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 1B, 4B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[8] Gilmer, Bryan (December 8, 2000). "Business owner Ronnie Beck to join seven in race for mayor". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[9] "St. Petersburg Mayor - Statement of Vote - Pinellas County, Florida - 2001 February 27 Municipal Primary". Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections. 2001. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[10] "St. Petersburg Mayor - Statement of Vote - Pinellas County, Florida - 2001 March 27 St. Petersburg General". Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections. 2001. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

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