Mayor-Elect Ken Welch Wants To Discuss City Issues At White House Meeting Tuesday

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Mayor-elect Ken Welch will meet with senior Biden administration officials and other newly elected mayors at the White House Tuesday, a news release said.

The incoming mayors will meet with key White House officials and Cabinet secretaries to discuss key issues such as the American Rescue Plan, the bipartisan infrastructure law, the Build Back Better agenda and other key priorities for cities.

“I am honored to be invited to the White House to talk with other incoming mayors and Biden administration officials about key issues facing St. Petersburg and other cities,’’ Welch said. “It’s an excellent opportunity to brainstorm solutions to challenges that are important to our residents, including affordable housing, climate change and investment in infrastructure. We want to make sure St. Petersburg gets its share of federal dollars, and we want to build strong relationships at every level of government to ensure we are all working together to creatively address the issues that our residents have made clear are their top priorities.’’

Participants at the White House meeting are expected to include:

· Secretary Marcia Fudge, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development

· Secretary Martin J. Walsh, U.S. Department of Labor

· Julie Rodriguez, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs

· Gina McCarthy, Assistant to President Joe Biden and National Climate Advisor

· Gene Sperling, Senior Advisor to the President and American Rescue Plan Coordinator

· Mitch Landrieu, Senior Advisor to the President and Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator

Welch served five terms on the Pinellas County Commission and won the November mayoral election with more than 60 percent of the vote, becoming the first African-American to be elected to the city’s top elected office. He will become St. Pete's mayor when he is inaugurated on Jan. 6.