The second St. Petersburg mayoral debate, hosted by the League of Women Voters at SPC’s Music Center Thursday night, differed sharply from the first.
The NAACP’s June debate often devolved into attacks on Mayor Kenneth Welch’s record, particularly regarding hurricane response and transparency. This time, the format prohibited rebuttals and direct exchanges, forcing candidates to spend nearly all of their time discussing policy.
All six candidates participated, including former St. Petersburg Fire Chief Jim Large, who skipped the first debate. Without the opportunity for candidates to challenge one another, voters received a more focused look at where the field stands on issues ranging from electric rates and affordable housing to redevelopment and growth…