2009 St. Petersburg, Florida, mayoral election

2009 St. Petersburg, Florida mayoral election
	September 1, 2009 (first-round); November 3, 2009 (runoff)
Mayor before election; Rick Baker; Nonpartisan	Elected mayor ; Bill Foster; Nonpartisan

The 2009 St. Petersburg, Florida, mayoral election was held on November 3, 2009, following a primary election on September 1, 2009. Incumbent Mayor Rick Baker was barred by term limits from seeking a third term, and a crowded race emerged to succeed him.^[1] Former City Councilmember Bill Foster placed first in the primary election with 27 percent of the vote and advanced to the general election against former City Councilmember Kathleen Ford, a 2001 candidate for Mayor. In the general election, Foster narrowly defeated Ford, 53–47 percent, to win the election.

Primary election

Candidates

Bill Foster, former City Councilmember^[2]
Kathleen Ford, former City Councilmember, 2001 candidate for Mayor^[3]
Deveron Gibbons, businessman^[4]
Scott Wagman, real estate broker^[5]
Larry J. Williams, former City Councilmember, 2001 candidate for Mayor^[6]
Jamie Bennett, City Councilmember^[7]
Ed Helm, retired attorney, 2005 candidate for Mayor^[8]
John Warren, restaurateur, historic preservationist^[9]
Richard Eldridge, U.S. Marine Corps veteran^[10]
Paul Congemi, former builder^[7]

Results

2009 St. Petersburg, Florida, mayoral primary election^[11]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Bill Foster	9,906	27.03%
	Nonpartisan	Kathleen Ford	9,417	25.70%
	Nonpartisan	Deveron Gibbons	7,154	19.52%
	Nonpartisan	Scott Wagman	5,549	15.14%
	Nonpartisan	Larry J. Williams	2,145	5.85%
	Nonpartisan	Jamie Bennett	1,398	3.81%
	Nonpartisan	Ed Helm	577	1.57%
	Nonpartisan	John Warren	264	0.72%
	Nonpartisan	Richard Eldridge	120	0.36%
	Nonpartisan	Paul Congemi	119	0.32%
Total votes			36,649	100.00%

General election

Results

2009 St. Petersburg, Florida, mayoral general election^[12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Bill Foster	24,303	52.75%
	Nonpartisan	Kathleen Ford	21,773	47.25%
Total votes			46,076	100.00%

References

^ Fernandez, Yolanda (September 1, 2009). "St. Pete mayoral race features 10 on ballot". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 7. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
^ Silva, Cristina (February 10, 2009). "Ex-City Council member joins race for mayor". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
^ Silva, Cristina (February 14, 2009). "Ex-official joins race for mayor". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
^ Bogues, Austin (January 3, 2009). "Businessman hopes to be city's 1st black mayor". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
^ Troxler, Howard (January 18, 2009). "Opening shots in a long race for mayr". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
^ Sharockman, Aaron (March 18, 2009). "Ex-council member Williams to run for mayor". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
^ ^a ^b Silva, Cristina (January 17, 2009). "Bennett enters race for city mayor". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
^ Silva, Cristina (May 30, 2009). "Helm joins St. Petersburg mayor race". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
^ Silva, Cristina (July 2, 2009). "Late mayoral race entry thinks he has shot". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
^ Silva, Cristina (June 6, 2009). "Political rookie enters mayoral race". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
^ "Municipal Elections - September 1, 2009". Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections. September 4, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
^ "Municipal Elections - November 3, 2009". Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections. September 4, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[1] Fernandez, Yolanda (September 1, 2009). "St. Pete mayoral race features 10 on ballot". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 7. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[2] Silva, Cristina (February 10, 2009). "Ex-City Council member joins race for mayor". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[3] Silva, Cristina (February 14, 2009). "Ex-official joins race for mayor". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[4] Bogues, Austin (January 3, 2009). "Businessman hopes to be city's 1st black mayor". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[5] Troxler, Howard (January 18, 2009). "Opening shots in a long race for mayr". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[6] Sharockman, Aaron (March 18, 2009). "Ex-council member Williams to run for mayor". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[bennett-7] Silva, Cristina (January 17, 2009). "Bennett enters race for city mayor". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[8] Silva, Cristina (May 30, 2009). "Helm joins St. Petersburg mayor race". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[9] Silva, Cristina (July 2, 2009). "Late mayoral race entry thinks he has shot". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[10] Silva, Cristina (June 6, 2009). "Political rookie enters mayoral race". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3B. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[11] "Municipal Elections - September 1, 2009". Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections. September 4, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

[12] "Municipal Elections - November 3, 2009". Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections. September 4, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

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