Ken Welch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ken Welch
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| Mayor of St. Petersburg | |
| Assumed office January 6, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Rick Kriseman |
| Member of the Pinellas County Commission from the 7th district |
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| In office 2002–2022 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | August 15, 1964 St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of South Florida (BA) Florida A&M University (MBA) |
Kenneth T. Welch (born August 15, 1964) is an American politician. He is currently the mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida. Before becoming mayor, he was a member of the county commission for Pinellas County, Florida. Ken Welch is a member of the Democratic Party. He is also the first African-American mayor of St. Petersburg.
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Early Life and Education
Ken Welch was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, on August 15, 1964. His father, David, was also involved in city government. David Welch was a member of the St. Petersburg city council. He also started an accounting company where Ken worked. Ken Welch is a third-generation resident of St. Petersburg. He grew up in the Gas Plant District. This area was later used to build Tropicana Field.
Welch went to Melrose and Bay Point Elementary schools. He also attended Bay Point Middle School. For high school, he went to Lakewood Senior High School. After high school, he studied accounting at the University of South Florida. He earned his bachelor's degree there. Later, he received his Master of Business Administration from Florida A&M University.
Career in Public Service
After college, Welch returned to St. Petersburg. He worked as an accountant for Florida Power Corporation. He also managed technology for his father's accounting business. Ken Welch spent many years helping his community. He then became the first Commissioner elected to represent District 7 on the County Commission. He was only the second African American commissioner in Pinellas County history. He served on the county commission for 20 years. In 2018, some questions were raised about his wife's work. Welch defended his wife, and an ethics review in 2021 found no issues.
Becoming Mayor of St. Petersburg
Ken Welch ran for mayor of St. Petersburg in the 2021 election. He won the election on November 2, 2021. He officially became mayor on January 6, 2022. One of his first actions was to change plans for the Tropicana Field site. This is where the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team plays. Mayor Welch said new plans would include a stadium for the Rays and affordable homes.
Mayor Welch also increased help for first-time home buyers. The city now offers $60,000 in down payment assistance. This was an increase from $40,000.
He also stopped a plan to redevelop city land downtown. This project was approved before he became mayor. Welch felt the plan did not include enough affordable housing. He said the city needed more affordable homes for its residents. He explained that this was a choice based on what was best for the community. In September 2024, a new contract was awarded for the site. This new plan did not include any affordable housing.
Mayor Welch started a $500 monthly stipend for some city employees. This money helps lower-paid workers who must live in the city. About 250 employees were able to get this extra help.
Welch also asked the city to study Albert Whitted Airport. People have suggested closing the airport many times since 1935. They want to use the land for parks or new buildings. This idea was not popular with people who want the airport to stay open.
City Hall Changes and Challenges
In September 2022, the Communications Director for the city resigned. She mentioned a difficult work environment. Mayor Welch then placed the Deputy Mayor on leave. The Deputy Mayor resigned shortly after. Welch later said he did not believe there was a widespread problem.
A review of key card swipes showed Mayor Welch was in his office about 34% of workdays during his first eight months. Welch explained that he works hard for the city, often late into the night. He said he is always working for the city's taxpayers.
In July 2024, Mayor Welch approved bonus money for 17 high-ranking city employees. This was for their work on the new baseball stadium negotiations. However, the bonuses were not allowed by state law. Welch then asked the employees to return the money, which they did. City lawyers said this fixed the problem.
In September 2024, a political group connected to Welch, Pelican PAC, was closed. This happened because it did not follow some rules. For example, it did not name required officers. Welch said his main focus has been on being mayor.
After Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton hit in 2024, some residents were unhappy. They felt the city was slow to clean up flood damage. People in low-lying areas like Shore Acres were especially frustrated. They called the piles of uncollected debris "Welch Piles." The city launched a map to track cleanup progress. However, the map had problems and was not always accurate. Some residents even made t-shirts and stickers with the "Welch Pile" name. Mayor Welch said he would like to see them after the cleanup was finished.
Personal Life
Ken Welch is married to Donna Welch. They have two daughters together.
