Voters Approve Penny For Pinellas Sales Tax For Another Decade

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - Pinellas voters overwhelmingly approved Tuesday night the Penny For Pinellas sales tax for another 10 years. About 82.6 percent of voters favored the 1-cent sales tax.

The tax revenue is split between the county and Pinellas cities. The estimated $2 billion can be used on various projects from roads, bridges, sewer upgrades to firefighter equipment.

In the St. Petersburg city council races, Brandi Gabbard defeated Barclay Harless in the District 2 race with 61 percent of the vote to Harless’ 38 percent.

In the District 4 race, Darden Rice won with 72.5 percent of the vote over Jerick Johnston, who got 27.4 percent of the vote.

In the District 6 race, Gina Driscoll won with 55 percent of the vote to Justin Bean’s 44.9 percent.

In the St. Petersburg mayor’s race, incumbent Rick Kriseman won re-election, getting 51.6 percent of the vote with all precincts counted, according to unofficial election returns. Rick Baker, the former St. Pete mayor, received about 48.3 percent of the vote. Baker served two terms as mayor from 2001-10.

In the August primary, Kriseman had edged Baker by about 70 votes among more than 56,000 cast. The race went to a run-off. About 66,000 residents cast votes in Tuesday's election.

Kriseman, a Democrat, tried to link Republican Baker to President Donald Trump. The mayor also received an endorsement from former President Barack Obama. It was the most expensive mayor's race in the city's history, with the candidates jointly raising about $3 million.

Image via Patch