ST. PETERSBURG (970 WFLA) -- It's election day in St. Petersburg and many other places.
The Sunshine City has the big prize, a contentious and expensive mayor's race. It's supposed to be nonpartisan, but the race between mayor Rick Kriseman and former mayor Rick Baker has become a proxy battle for Republicans and Democrats. Jason Latimer of the Pinellas Elections Office says 22 percent of St. Pete voters have already cast a ballot, before polls open at 7 a.m.
Also on today's St. Pete ballot, three city council races and three ballot questions.
There are also elections in Clearwater, Dunedin and Seminole.
Countywide, Pinellas voters will decide whether to extend the "Penny for Pinellas" for another ten years.
Several beach towns in Manatee County are going to the polls. Voters in Anna Maria are choosing three commissioners from a pool of four candidates. In Bradenton Beach, voters will elect a mayor and a city commissioner in Ward 3, and vote on charter amendments to require future candidates to live in the city for a year, and change the election schedule. Holmes Beach is picking four city commissioners, and farther south in Sarasota County, Venice is choosing two city council members.
In Polk County, today is election day in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Auburndale. Voters in Lakeland are taking part in a contentious referendum over whether to adopt a strong mayor system. Supporters call it a "people's mayor", while the opposition urges voters to reject a "boss mayor" for the city.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.