15 Facts About Rick Kriseman

Richard David Kriseman was born on August 2,1962 and is an American politician who served as the 53rd Mayor of St Petersburg from 2014 to 2022.

Rick Kriseman was born in Detroit, Michigan, and moved with his family to Florida in 1972.

Rick Kriseman graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in broadcasting in 1984.

Rick Kriseman then attended the Stetson University College of Law, receiving his Juris Doctor in 1987.

Rick Kriseman was active in local politics, serving as a charter member of the Lake Pasadena Neighborhood Association and working as State Representative Lars Hafner's campaign manager.

Rick Kriseman served on the St Petersburg Nuisance Abatement Board in 1996.

Rick Kriseman ran for a seat on the St Petersburg City Council in 1999, challenging incumbent City Councilman Robert Kersteen.

When Kersteen resigned from the City Council to unsuccessfully run for the State House in 2000, Rick Kriseman was appointed to replace him.

Rick Kriseman campaigned on his plans to raise the city's quality of life by promoting economic development and effective law enforcement, and expressed his support for an ordinance to ease regulations for homeowners seeking to add bedrooms to their homes, while Homol campaigned on his support for building desalination plants.

Rick Kriseman ran for re-election in 2003, facing challenger Homol , who attacked Kriseman and the City Council for being too friendly and not debating enough.

When incumbent State Representative Charlie Justice opted to run for the Florida Senate rather than seek re-election, Rick Kriseman ran to succeed him in the 53rd District, which included parts of Gulfport, Lealman, Pinellas Park, and St Petersburg in southern Pinellas County.

Rick Kriseman was challenged in the Democratic primary by commercial attorney Charlie Gerdes.

Rick Kriseman emphasized his progressive credentials, noting that he was "socially liberal," and expressed his support for higher teacher pay, smaller classroom sizes, mandatory community service for high school students, and the Save our Homes cap.

In December 2015, Rick Kriseman received media attention after he tweeted about "barring" Donald Trump from entering St Petersburg, which he did in response to Trump's earlier controversial comment on banning all Muslims from entering the US in the wake of deadly terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California.

Rick Kriseman announced that he would run for re-election in the 2017 St Petersburg mayoral election.