Chances are, the over-analysis of the St. Petersburg mayoral race hasn’t ended yet: from musings over the Trump factor and Democratic Party support to Rick Kriseman chief of staff Kevin King and St. Pete Pride.
Two takeaways:
Yes, it is formally a non-partisan race, and that is as it should be for a city. But these are extraordinary times for our country–and the ramifications of a Trump administration have an inevitable ripple effect across states and municipalities. From climate-change implications to federal grants to nuclear saber-rattling. And from a personal perspective, if you can’t publicly disassociate yourself from life-long, Trump values–from misogyny to mendacity–you are not to be trusted.
Second, much was made that 10,000 more voters turned out for the general election than for the primary; it was characterized as a pretty good turnout. As in 38 percent isn’t bad for an off-year election.
That’s the sad reality for democracy in contemporary America. More than 60 percent of the voters are no-shows in a really important election for a city that matters on so many levels, and that’s considered pretty good. That’s bad.