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Former Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch and St. Petersburg City Council Member Robert Blackmon will advance to the city’s November General Elections after getting the most votes in Tuesday’s Primary.
Welch grabbed the top spot with 39% of the vote, and Blackmon followed with 29%.
The two ousted City Council member Darden Rice, who will leave office when her term ends in January after collecting 17% of the vote.
Though the race is nonpartisan it has taken on a partisan tone, pitting Democrat Welch against Republican Blackmon in a city that favors Democrats but still has a strong Republican bloc.
– Kelly Hayes, The Tampa Bay 100