Darden Rice

My name is Darden Rice, and I’m running for Mayor of St. Petersburg. I’m currently finishing my second term as St. Petersburg’s City Councilmember for District 4. Petersburg. I’ve fought for working people my entire life, and during my time on City Council, I’ve been a leader in solving local issues and driving progress in our community by championing policies such as such as the Wage Theft Prevention Program, curbside recycling, campaign finance reform, affordable housing, smart growth, equity, and more.

Before I was elected to City Council, I was the first openly LGBTQ person to run for office in Pinellas County in 2005. I also served as the President of the League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area, worked for Sierra Club, and was the Health Care Policy Director for Progress Florida.

In my free time, I enjoy gardening, cheering on the Tampa Bay Rowdies, and taking advantage of all the amazing things St. Pete has to offer.

• I’m running for Mayor of St. Petersburg because we need bold, new ideas to address our most pressing needs.
• I have been serving on St. Petersburg City Council for the past seven years, and will be ready to hit the ground running on day one of my term.
• As Mayor, I will make sure that St. Petersburg is a city that truly works for everyone.

I am passionate about equity, protecting our environment, and affordability.

I have always strongly believed that the core responsibilities of someone who is elected to be Mayor are to listen to the people you represent and serve them with integrity, transparency, empathy, competence, and diligence.

As a strong believer in racial and climate justice, I want to leave a city more equitable and beneficial for all residents, as well as one well poised to take on the environmental challenges before us.

I was in 10th grade in 1986 when the Challenger Spacecraft exploded. I still clearly remember that cold morning. As I walked into my first period English class, it was immediately clear something horrible happened. My teacher wrote the words “Death Be Not Proud” on the board, underlined them dramatically, and then turned around to show the tears brimming in her eyes to the class. It was a tragic, yet powerful lesson about both the risk many have taken to push us forward as a society and the profound impact a teacher can have on one’s life, especially in times of tragedy.

My very first job was at Hardee’s Pharmacy, a corner drug store in my hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina where I worked for three years in high school.

My favorite book would have to be “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson. It’s both hilarious and informative with a very strong environmental message. My brother hikes the Appalachian Trail, and I still harbor a dream to hike part of it with him someday. Thus, I can relate somewhat to the author’s middle-aged, not-quite-in-hiking-shape attempt to get started on the journey of a lifetime.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017, and there is nothing more terrifying than hearing those words from your doctor. However, with the support of my family, my friends, and my medical team, I survived and am in complete remission. I am proud to call myself a cancer survivor and so grateful to everyone who helped me through, and I now try to give back by raising awareness about breast cancer and the importance of regular screenings in my community.