First debate set in St. Pete mayoral race

The Tampa Bay Times and Bay News 9 are hosting the first St. Petersburg mayoral debate on June 22 at 7 p.m.

Times Political Editor Steve Contorno and Bay News 9 anchor Holly Gregory will moderate the event.

Candidates include City Council members Darden Rice and Robert Blackmon, former Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch, former City Council member and Rep. Wengay Newton, restaurateur Pete Boland, Realtor Vincent Nowicki, marketer Marcile Powers, USF political science student Michael Ingram and former congressional write-in candidate Michael Levinson. Only those who qualify for the race will participate.

The debate airs on Bay News 9.

– Janelle Irwin Taylor, Extensive Enterprises