Call it “drive-by democracy.”
In a few hours, Tuesday’s St. Petersburg primary elections begin. Before residents make it to the polls, however, the candidates are furiously taking their closing arguments to the voters.
Volunteers used the last weekend of the campaign scurrying door-to-door, delivering the candidate’s message to the porches of the people (in the case of the Lens, bringing a missive on the St. Pete Pier and the city’s future).
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During city elections, nothing screams “grassroots” louder than high-energy street corner sign waving, one of the most iconic political sights around town.
Supporters smile, wave at passing motorists and call for blasts of the car horn — often at the peak sun of a Florida afternoon — while stationed at some of the city’s busiest intersections. These are the true believers in the cause, hoping for some last-minute support for their candidate (or issue).
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Out of all St. Pete intersections, it can be argued the most useful political real estate is on 4th Street North. It is the heart of City Council District 4, where Darden Rice, David McKalip and Carolyn Fries face each other Tuesday to discover which one will make it to the Nov. 5 general election.
Two District 4 campaign “hot spots” along 4th Street — 22nd Avenue and 38th Avenue North — make it a natural attraction for candidates and their supporters.
What makes these two 4th Street North intersections different than the rest of the city? Location, location and location.
A handful of McKalip supporters braved a late afternoon thunderstorms Monday afternoon for the last day of campaigning at the corner of 22nd and 4th Street N.
“It’s a busy corner,” said McKalip Campaign Manager Nick Finzer. “This is about the third or fourth time we have been here. There’s lots of people coming home from work.”
McKalip is running second in tomorrow's primary, and looks to be the likely choice to face Rice in the general election.
“We like it (22nd Avenue) because it is solidly in the district,” he added, noting that 38th is the northernmost edge of District 4.
According to the Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organization, the two intersections have some of the highest traffic counts in the eastern part of the county. Every day, an average of 30,500 vehicles crosses through 4th Street and 22nd Avenue N; for the 38th Avenue intersection, the daily average is 37,000.
The two routes also feed into Old Northeast and Crescent Lake, two of the most politically active neighborhoods in the city. Fries was a former president of the Crescent Lake Neighborhood Association, the neighborhood that borders on 22nd Avenue.
That is a lot of potential voters driving by, many who could use an eleventh-hour political nudge. Engaging just a few of them could be enough to tip the scales.
As if there was any question why 4th Street is so busy, think of this; it is a direct route from downtown right through the heart of the business area in District 4. The street is home to everything from large chains and fast food to mom-and-pop businesses and one person shops.
Retailers certainly know the value of the area. For example, the 38th Avenue intersection supports not one, but two Publix grocery stores, each sitting right across the street from the other. Why so close? The Publix at Northeast Shopping Center has been the location with the consistently highest sales volume — for the entire chain. Everywhere. Two stores make it even better.
Carolyn Fries supporters are expected to make a sign waving appearance on Tuesday, in an attempt to push last minute unresolved voters her way. As of the last polling, nearly 40 percent of District 4 voters remained undecided.
Co-written with Phil Ammann
