Barclay Harless Running for St. Petersburg District 2 City Council Seat

Barring a new entry in the District 2 race it looks like the view from the District 2 City Council seat may change dramatically

St. Petersburg, Fl
Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD
Author: In Search of Robin

Barclay Harless a local banker has signed on to run for Council member Jim Kennedy's District 2 City Council seat.

Here are some comments from the Harless Campaign Website:

" I’m Barclay Harless. St. Pete isn’t just my home, it’s where I chose to have a future. We have so much to celebrate, yet our community faces serious challenges today. I’m ready to roll my sleeves up and get to work. I am running to tackle the tough challenges and provide meaningful results; I am not interested in finger-pointing.

Having worked across the aisle in the Florida Legislature, with local leaders on the Pinellas County Charter Review Board, with the St. Pete Chamber of Commerce and with the small businesses that have revolutionized our urban core, I am ready to take on the issues facing our city"

You can get a look at the Harless style in  the Barclay Harless For City Council You Tube Video.

For some more perspective see Mitch Perry, saintpetersblog, Barclay Harless announces run for St. Petersburg City Council

Harless has already drawn some interesting endorsements from City Council member Lisa Wheeler-Brown and from Pinellas County School Board Vice Chairperson Renee Flowers.

Harless is a manager with the Bank of the Ozarks and has some political experience working for former State Senator Darryl Rouson.

The only other announced candidate is Realtor Brandi Gabbard.

Barring a new entry, it looks like the view from the District 2 City Council seat may change dramatically.

Current District 2 Council member Jim Kennedy, a lawyer, has consistently taken a very legalistic and conservative view of City Council actions. Kennedy is a stickler on process and a staunch fiscal watchdog.

It will be refreshing to have a new perspective on City Council that has a broader view.

The millennials are starting to step up and get involved in local City politics. The face of the St. Pete City Council is looking younger and younger.

 In general, I think that is a good thing; however, it would be beneficial to remember that the diversity of St. Petersburg includes many retired people. Missing that fact in the rush to a millennial City could be a costly campaign mistake.

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