St. Pete mayoral race heating up as election approaches

The St. Pete Mayor’s race is starting to get hot.

Mayoral candidates Ken Welch and Robert Blackmon butted heads Monday during a debate that raised questions of past controversial comments and current hotbed issues, like the future of the Rays.

The dispute followed a successful fundraising month for Welch, who tripled Blackmon’s collection in the latest two-week campaign finance period.

It also follows recent attack emails from an unknown group targeting Welch by highlighting past controversies involving the mayoral candidate.

The two candidates are in the final stretch of the race, with voters heading to the ballot box on Nov. 2.

– Kelly Hayes, Florida Politics