Short answer: Kenneth T. Welch is the mayor of St. Petersburg, and eight City Council members represent its districts: Copley Gerdes, Brandi Gabbard, Mike Harting, Lisset Hanewicz (2026 Chair), Deborah Figgs-Sanders, Gina Driscoll, Corey Givens Jr. and Richie Floyd (2026 Vice-Chair). At the county level, seven Pinellas County commissioners led by 2026 Chairman Dave Eggers and seven constitutional officers listed by the county serve the city. The mayor's seat and four council seats are on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Last verified: October 15, 2026, against the sources listed at the end of this page.
Who is the mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida?
The mayor of St. Petersburg is Kenneth Welch, who took office as the city's 54th mayor in January 2022.
Mayor Kenneth T. Welch grew up in the Gas Plant area of St. Petersburg and watched homes, businesses and churches cleared for what became Tropicana Field, his city biography says (City of St. Petersburg, Mayor's Biography). His father served on the St. Petersburg City Council. Welch earned a BA from USF St. Petersburg and an MBA from Florida A&M University, then worked in St. Pete as an accountant for Florida Power Corporation.
Before moving to City Hall, Welch spent 20 years on the Pinellas County Commission, where he was the first commissioner elected to represent County Commission District 7 in St. Petersburg and the second African American commissioner in county history (Mayor's Biography).
Mayoral elections in St. Petersburg fall in the same cycle as half the council: the office is on the ballot this November, and the term that follows starts in January 2027 (City of St. Petersburg, Candidate Rules 2026). Welch serves until that date.
Who is on the St. Petersburg mayor's cabinet?
The St. Petersburg Mayor's Office lists 12 cabinet members who advise the mayor, starting with City Administrator Robert Gerdes.
| Cabinet member | Role |
|---|---|
| Robert Gerdes | City Administrator |
| Tom Greene | Assistant City Administrator |
| James Corbett | City Development Administrator |
| Amy Foster | Housing and Neighborhood Services Administrator |
| Anthony Holloway | Police Department Chief |
| Keith Watts | Fire Rescue Department Chief |
| Claude Tankersley | Public Works Administrator |
| Jackie Kovilaritch | Legal Department City Attorney |
| Mike Jefferis | Community Enrichment Administrator |
| Alizza Punzalan-Randle | Communications and Community Engagement Managing Director |
| George Smith | Chief Community Impact Officer |
| Doyle Walsh | Chief of Staff |
The St. Pete Mayor's Office page says the cabinet advises the mayor on any subject relating to each member's position, and it lists the members shown in the table (City of St. Petersburg, Mayor's Office).
Two names can confuse readers: City Administrator Robert Gerdes sits in the mayor's cabinet, while Copley Gerdes is the elected District 1 council member listed on the council roster (City of St. Petersburg, City Council).
Who are the eight St. Petersburg City Council members?
St. Petersburg has eight City Council members, one for each of eight districts, and Lisset Hanewicz of District 4 chairs the council in 2026.
| Member | Seat | Seat on the 2026 ballot |
|---|---|---|
| Copley Gerdes | District 1 seat | Not this year |
| Brandi Gabbard | District 2 seat | On the ballot |
| Mike Harting | District 3 seat | Not this year |
| Lisset Hanewicz, 2026 Chair | District 4 seat | On the ballot |
| Deborah Figgs-Sanders | District 5 seat | Not this year |
| Gina Driscoll | District 6 seat | On the ballot |
| Corey Givens Jr. | District 7 seat | Not this year |
| Richie Floyd, 2026 Vice-Chair | District 8 seat | On the ballot |
Names and districts in the St. Petersburg table come from the council's own roster page (City of St. Petersburg, City Council); the ballot column comes from the city's 2026 candidate page, which lists Districts 2, 4, 6 and 8 (Candidate Rules 2026).
Hanewicz and Richie Floyd of District 8 took the oath as 2026 Chair and Vice-Chair on January 8, 2026 (City of St. Petersburg, 2026 Chair and Vice-Chair). The city release says both were first elected to council in 2021, and that Hanewicz has represented the city on the Tampa Bay Water Board of Directors since 2022.
Sessions are held in Council Chambers at St. Petersburg City Hall, 175 Fifth St. N., and the council page gives the general schedule as the 1st Thursday at 9 a.m., the 2nd Thursday at 3 p.m. and the 3rd Thursday at 1:30 p.m., with the Council Calendar as the up-to-date reference; the council office phone is 727-893-7117 (City Council). The same St. Pete council page links a Find My Council District tool.
Which St. Petersburg offices are on the 2026 ballot?
The St. Petersburg mayor and the City Council seats for Districts 2, 4, 6 and 8 are on the 2026 city ballot, with the general election on November 3, 2026.
The St. Petersburg primary was held August 18, 2026, and the city calls the terms being filled a full term of approximately four years, from the first Thursday in January 2027 through the first Thursday in January 2031 (Candidate Rules 2026). The four other council seats, Districts 1, 3, 5 and 7, are not on this year's ballot.
For future St. Petersburg elections and how to run for office, the city points to the City Clerk's Office at [email protected] or 727-893-7448 (Candidate Rules 2026). This page lists people holding office in St. Pete today, not candidates.
Who represents St. Petersburg on the Pinellas County Commission?
Seven Pinellas County commissioners sit on the elected body that oversees Pinellas County Government, led in 2026 by Chairman Dave Eggers of District 4 and Vice Chairman Chris Latvala of District 5.
| District | Commissioner |
|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Scherer |
| 2 | Brian Scott |
| 3 | Vince Nowicki |
| 4 | Dave Eggers (2026 Chairman) |
| 5 | Chris Latvala (2026 Vice Chairman) |
| 6 | Kathleen Peters |
| 7 | René Flowers |
The Pinellas commissioner list comes from the county's board page (Pinellas County, Board of County Commissioners).
District 7 has a St. Petersburg link: the mayor's biography notes that Welch was the first commissioner elected to that district in St. Petersburg (Mayor's Biography). The board's next listed session is a Work Session/Agenda Briefing on October 22, 2026 at 9:30 a.m., followed by a 2 p.m. Regular Meeting and 6 p.m. Public Hearing on October 27, 2026 at the Pinellas County Courthouse, 315 Court St, 5th Floor, Clearwater, and county offices answer at (727) 464-3000 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday (Pinellas County, BCC meetings). The county posts agendas approximately five days before each meeting, so checking that agenda is the practical way to see whether a St. Petersburg item is coming up.
Who are the Pinellas County constitutional officers for St. Petersburg?
Pinellas County lists seven constitutional officers for St. Petersburg and the rest of the county, from Property Appraiser Mike Twitty, Tax Collector Adam Ross, Supervisor of Elections Julie Marcus, Clerk Ken Burke and Sheriff Bob Gualtieri to two Sixth District officers.
| Office | Officeholder |
|---|---|
| Property Appraiser | Mike Twitty |
| Tax Collector | Adam Ross |
| Supervisor of Elections | Julie Marcus |
| Clerk of the Circuit Court | Ken Burke |
| Sheriff | Bob Gualtieri |
| State Attorney | Bruce Bartlett |
| Public Defender | Sara Mollo |
Under County Officials the same Pinellas page names Barry A. Burton as County Administrator and Jewel White as County Attorney (Pinellas County, County Officials and Constitutional Officers). The Pinellas County Tax Collector's own site confirms Adam Ross in that office (Pinellas County Tax Collector).
The Pinellas site links the offices of State Attorney Bruce Bartlett and Public Defender Sara Mollo as Sixth District offices, alongside the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court (County Officials page).
A detail worth knowing: on October 15, 2026 the Pinellas officials page carries a 2025 Board of County Commissioners label beside its commissioner photos and spells the District 7 commissioner Rene Flowers, while naming the 2026 Chairman and Vice Chairman, so the board page is the cleaner reference for the current Pinellas commission (County Officials page). St. Petersburg's own Police and Fire Rescue chiefs, by contrast, sit in the mayor's cabinet (Mayor's Office).
How does a St. Petersburg resident contact an elected official?
St. Petersburg City Council members are reached through the council office at 727-893-7117, and general city questions go to 727-893-7111.
Council mail goes to PO Box 2842, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, and meetings can be viewed live on SPTV via Cable 641, 15 or 20 or by live web stream (City Council).
For Pinellas County commissioners, the county's main line is (727) 464-3000 (Pinellas County, BCC meetings). For the mayor, the St. Pete Mayor's Office page has a Contact a Member of Mayor Welch's Cabinet section (Mayor's Office).
Last verified: October 15, 2026, on the City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County websites.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the current mayor of St. Petersburg, FL?
Mayor Kenneth T. Welch has led St. Petersburg since January 2022 as its 54th mayor, after 20 years on the Pinellas County Commission.
Who is the St. Petersburg City Council chair in 2026?
Lisset Hanewicz of District 4 is the 2026 St. Petersburg City Council Chair, and Richie Floyd of District 8 is Vice-Chair. Both were sworn in to those posts on January 8, 2026.
How many people serve on St. Petersburg City Council?
Eight people serve on St. Petersburg City Council, one for each of eight districts. Four of those seats, the even-numbered districts, are up this November together with the mayor's office.
Who is the Pinellas County Tax Collector for St. Petersburg?
Adam Ross is the Pinellas County Tax Collector for St. Petersburg and the rest of the county, and Mike Twitty is the Pinellas County Property Appraiser, according to the county's officials page.
What day does St. Petersburg City Council hold its sessions?
Thursdays. The city gives the general St. Pete council schedule as the 1st Thursday at 9 a.m., the 2nd Thursday at 3 p.m. and the 3rd Thursday at 1:30 p.m., in Council Chambers at City Hall, 175 Fifth St. N.; the Council Calendar has the current dates.
Sources
- City of St. Petersburg, City Council https://www.stpete.org/government/mayor___city_council/city_council/index.php Used for: eight council members by district, meeting schedule, council phone, City Hall
- City of St. Petersburg, Council swears in 2026 Chair and Vice-Chair (January 8, 2026) https://www.stpete.org/news_detail_T30_R1561.php Used for: 2026 council chair and vice-chair
- City of St. Petersburg, Mayor's Biography https://www.stpete.org/government/mayor___city_council/mayor_s_office/mayors_biography.php Used for: 54th mayor, sworn in January 2022, County Commission service
- City of St. Petersburg, Mayor's Office https://www.stpete.org/government/mayor___city_council/mayor_s_office/index.php Used for: Mayor's cabinet: City Administrator, chiefs, City Attorney
- City of St. Petersburg, Candidate Rules & Information 2026 https://www.stpete.org/government/elections/candidate_rules.php Used for: seats on the 2026 ballot, election dates, term dates, City Clerk phone
- Pinellas County, Board of County Commissioners https://pinellas.gov/pinellas-county-board-of-county-commissioners/ Used for: commissioners by district, 2026 Chairman and Vice Chairman
- Pinellas County, Board of County Commissioners meetings https://www.pinellas.gov/board-of-county-commissioners/ Used for: next BCC meetings, county phone and office hours
- Pinellas County, County Officials and Constitutional Officers https://pinellas.gov/photo-library-county-officials-and-constitutional-officers Used for: constitutional officers, County Administrator
- Pinellas County Tax Collector https://taxcollect.com/ Used for: Tax Collector Adam Ross
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