St. Petersburg Mayor Demands Opponent Condemn Rumors Amid Campaign Controversy
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch is publicly calling on his mayoral opponent, former Florida Governor Charlie Crist, to condemn rumors of an affair between Welch and a former staffer. The rumors were allegedly spread by Peter Schorsch, publisher of Florida…
Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, July 27, 2026 —
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch has publicly urged his mayoral opponent, former Florida Governor Charlie Crist, to publicly denounce circulating rumors. These rumors, which Welch vehemently denies, allege an affair between Welch and a former staffer.
The allegations were reportedly disseminated by Peter Schorsch, the publisher of Florida Politics. Schorsch is also identified as the husband of Crist’s campaign manager. Mayor Welch has directly accused Schorsch of spreading falsehoods.
In addition to refuting the personal allegations, Mayor Welch has drawn attention to reported financial connections between Crist’s campaign and a consulting firm associated with Schorsch’s wife. The specifics of these financial ties were not detailed in the provided summary.
The situation marks a significant development in the mayoral race, introducing personal accusations into the political discourse. Welch’s public call for Crist to condemn the rumors places the Crist campaign in a position to address the allegations and the alleged source of their spread.
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Story summarized from the original created by Valerie Smith on www.cltampa.com, see more information here.
