Opponents defend Darden Rice after Rick Kriseman criticism

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In a Facebook post on Sunday, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman called mayoral candidate and city council member Darden Rice a hypocrite for saying in a WFLA interview that she “wouldn’t tweet no insults “as mayor of Governor Ron DeSantis.

Kriseman criticized Rice, providing a screenshot of a tweet from Rice last November that shows her slamming one of DeSantis’ new hires.

“It’s a week and a silly ‘pretender leader’ who surrounds himself with loyalists, yes men, and compromised hacks instead of skilled officials,” Rice wrote in the tweet, which refers to a Tampa article. Bay Times, “Meet the Uber-Behind the Wheel, conspiracy theorist blogger DeSantis just hired.

“In the WFLA interview below, Darden Rice says that as mayor she will not tweet insults at Governor DeSantis,” Kriseman wrote in the post. “His record says the opposite. It would help some of these candidates to slow down and look in the mirror before trying to criticize and contrast. Also, I will always defend St. Pete. Against Trump, DeSantis and anyone who puts politics before our people. “

The mayoral post prompted two fellow mayoral candidates to fight back in defense of Rice, including St. Pete City Council member Robert Blackmon and local restaurateur Pete Boland.

“Darden Rice is my opponent. But she’s also my colleague, and a great leader. This is exactly why we need a leader who will build bridges, not attack others, ”Blackmon wrote. “Shame on you, mayor. This lack of co-operation and basic courtesy is the reason why you have not been able to get Council support on more projects.

Kriseman responded to Blackmon saying, “We agree. Tweeting attacks on the governor are not a way to build bridges with him.

Kriseman has been a vocal critic of DeSantis since taking office, but only continued to amplify his criticisms last year amid the pandemic and the recent red tide crisis. In another response to a commentator on her post, Kriseman wrote, “Sir, it’s not bad that she’s doing it. It’s wrong for her to say that she doesn’t.

Boland, on the other hand, pointed to Kriseman and Rice’s personal differences story as the reason for the post.

“While I’m sure there are some deeply ingrained personal differences that could inspire this type of message, I hope the next mayor stays more above the fray,” Boland wrote. “When I am mayor, I will strive to be classy but honest, stern but stoic, and I will endeavor to stay above that kind of political flame-throwing. And once again, throwing rhetorical bombs at Governor Ron DeSantis has taken a toll on places like Great Explorations and the Florida Orchestra this past legislative session. We need leaders who build bridges for the Burg instead of burning them. “

In response to Boland, a spokesperson for Kriseman wrote: “Mr. Boland, the mayor points to the hypocrisy of one of the candidates. St. Pete prospered under his leadership and his defense of self-reliance and our people.

Kriseman’s criticism comes as the city prepares for its primary election on Tuesday, which will feature Rice on the ballot, along with seven other candidates. Kriseman made it clear who he wanted as his successor, endorsing former Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch and was quick to defend his choice.

But, Kriseman and Rice had political feuds long before he endorsed Welch for mayor.

The pair found themselves at odds with the mayor’s decision to go ahead with the development of Trop without the Tampa Bay Rays. Kriseman later announced he would resume negotiations after pressure from the Council, including Rice.

The two were also at odds in early 2019 when Rice launched a political committee ahead of his mayoral bid, which signaled his intention to run just a year after Kriseman’s second term. At the time, Kriseman criticized the move as premature.

We are just over a year into my second term and this year the council races have yet to start, so it is both unusual and disappointing that the fundraising and campaigning for the mayor have already started, Kriseman said at the time, according to the Tampa Bay Times. . I believe all Americans, and certainly the people of this city, want elected officials to focus more on politics and getting their jobs done rather than perpetual fundraising and campaigning for their next elected term.

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