Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri announced on May 20 his endorsement of Kathleen Peters in her campaign for re-election to the Pinellas County Commission.
The endorsement comes as Peters, a Republican, seeks her second re-election after first joining the commission in 2018. She is facing Democratic challenger David Glenn Jr. this cycle. The race is significant due to Peters’ fundraising advantage and a notable voter registration gap favoring Republicans in District 6.
“I’m proud to endorse Kathleen Peters for her re-election to the Pinellas County Commission,” Gualtieri said. “Whether she was serving in the Florida Legislature or in her current capacity on the County Commission, she’s always been a strong supporter of law enforcement and first responders. She has actively created and supported good policy that supports our mission and keeps our communities safe. I’m thankful for her voice and support on the County Commission.”
Peters responded by saying, “Public safety is one of the most important responsibilities of local government. I will continue working to support our law enforcement officers and first responders, protect taxpayers, and keep Pinellas County focused on the core services our residents rely on every day.”
According to campaign finance records cited in the release, Peters has raised $126,000 for her official campaign along with $24,500 through her political committee Florida Speaks as of March’s end; Glenn has reported $3,400 over that same period. There are reportedly about 23,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats in District 6—a margin representing a 25-percentage-point advantage.
Peters previously served as Mayor of South Pasadena before representing parts of Pinellas County in the Florida House from 2012 until leaving before term limits required it. She currently serves with a GOP supermajority on the commission but continues to assert independence by focusing on issues such as beach nourishment—especially relevant after hurricanes impacted Gulf Coast communities—and behavioral health access reform through work with various boards including Tampa Bay Water and advocacy groups.
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