Former Mayor David Fischer, St. Petersburg’s longest-serving mayor, a consummate gentleman, efficient administrator, and the epitome of quiet strength with an excellent sense of humor, died on Oct. 22 at the age of 92.
ST. PETERSBURG — I was deeply saddened to hear that St. Petersburg’s first strong mayor, David Fischer, who served from 1991 to 2001, died on the morning of Oct. 22. He previously served on city council from 1975 to 1979. Mayor Fischer was St. Petersburg’s longest-serving mayor, a consummate gentleman, efficient administrator, and the epitome of quiet strength with an excellent sense of humor. He appointed me chief of police on Aug. 5, 1997.
Contrary to what some believe, a strong mayor should be pushy, vociferous, and uncompromising. Mayor Fischer was just the opposite. A graduate of Duke University and a fighter pilot, he used his intelligence and military discipline to guide his careful caretaking of the city’s infrastructure, aesthetics, waterfront, and managed growth. He created the Business Development Center to spur economic growth in South St. Pete and to improve housing and infrastructure through his tree planting…