The 800 pound shoe in the room has still not dropped. Former Mayor Rick Baker has not said much so far in the mayoral or City Council elections.
Baker finds himself in a unique spot. Baker, a Republican, doesn't appear to be that fond of Bill Foster also a Republican, or the job he has done as Mayor. The next two likely candidates, Kathleen Ford and Rick Kriseman, are Democrats.
Anyone who has been around St. Pete politics for anytime at all knows there is no love lost between Baker and Ford, that leaves Kriseman, but he is a Democrat.
Find out what's happening in St. Petewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Why does it matter you say, since this is supposed to be a nonpartisan election. This election stopped being non partisan the moment the Democratic Party kicked in a bunch of cash and support for Kriseman followed by a host of Tallahassee law firms, lobbyists and state power brokers.
So the dilemma got even worse for Baker. With Ford's latest e-mail debacle Baker may just sit out the primary.
Find out what's happening in St. Petewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
His current boss, Bill Edwards(of Mahaffey Theater, and the Shops at Baywalk) has a lot riding on this election.
If Foster gets dumped in the primary, which seems increasingly likely, Baker is now looking at two Democrats one of which will be Mayor.
The Democratic Party is pushing Kriseman so they have big city mayor to endorse candidates, and raise money for the next election cycle when, especially if Charlie Crist runs, they may be able push Rick Scott out of the Governor's mansion and gain some state house and senate seats.
If Baker endorses or even hints at endorsing Kriseman he likely ends any possibility of a state level opportunity should Governor Scott win reelection and it might not be all that good for Edwards either.
Edwards has his own litany of problems with his cash cow mortgage company. The Tampa Tribune reported St. Pete mortgage company pays record settlement, faces more complaints.
If Baker endorses or hints at an endorsement of Ford he would need the paramedics standing by because the pain would be so severe he could hardly bare it.
What is the 800 pound shoe going to do?
With Edwards deep pockets there are a lot of possibilities. One would be a well funded PAC (Political Action Committee) where donors don't have to be disclosed, running a real negative Ford Campaign in the last weeks running up to the primary in an attempt to knock Ford out of the general election. Problem is the mail in ballots go out in the mail soon so the boys are going to have to get cracking if they hope to accomplish anything.
Baker has also been silent in the City Council races, but there are some very viable candidates that could use his support. Carolyn Fries comes to mind.
So what will the 800 pound shoe do? Hard to tell, but the pressure to do something is starting to mount.
For some Rick Baker insight check my Post from a while back: A Casual Conversation with Rick Baker
e-mail Doc at: dr.webb@verizon.net, or send me a Facebook Friend request.
Campaign Disclosures: Contributor to Darden Rice Campaign, Concern Citizens of St. Petersburg
