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Sierra Club, Florida Conservation Voters Endorse Rice in St. Pete Council Race

Darden Rice TBReporter

The endorsement of Darden Rice is the first local endorsement made by the Florida Conservation voters.

ST. PETERSBURG – Just two days before Earth Day, St. Petersburg City Council Chair Darden Rice has received the endorsements of the Sierra Club and Florida Conservation Voters in her bid for reelection to the St. Petersburg City Council.

“We’re proud to endorse one of our own,” said David Harbeitner, president of the local Suncoast Chapter of the Sierra Club. “Darden has a long history of environmental activism and a strong commitment to standing up for what is right. We want to continue to work with her to make St. Petersburg a cleaner and healthier city.”

Aliki Moncrief, executive director, Florida Conservation Voters, said,.“Florida Conservation Voters is proud to announce Darden Rice as our first-ever local endorsement in her race for St. Petersburg City Council. City council Chair Rice is a dedicated public servant who will tirelessly defend what is best about St. Petersburg. We look forward to working with her to protect our parks, waterways, and wildlife.”

Rice is the founder and chair of the council’s Environmental, Natural Resources, and Sustainability Committee, a committee that sets the foundation work for the citywide comprehensive sustainability plan and supports the work of the mayor’s newly created Office of Sustainability. Rice has called for greater public input and oversight into the city’s commitments to sewer and stormwater fixes.

“I’m very honored to have the support of these two respected and effective organizations,” Rice said. “I started my career working to protect the environment, and I have continued that deep commitment to those values in my career as a City Councilwoman. I am focused to continue the necessary work of protecting our environment in St. Petersburg.”

Rice also served as the Florida director of Gulf Restoration Network during the BP oil spill and the subsequent Gulf of Mexico ecosystem restoration process. She received the Sierra Club Black Bear Award in 2016 for her ongoing commitment to protection of the environment.

Rice is running for her second term in the District 4 seat on the St. Petersburg council. Jerick Johnston is seeking to unseat her. District 4 includes portions of the historic old Northeast and the area along 16th Street N.

Qualification for the election starts at 8 a.m. June 8 and closes 5 p.m. June 23. The primary is Aug. 29 and the general election is Nov. 7.

For information about Darden Rice, go to votedardenrice.com.

Darden Rice | Endorsements | Politics | Elections | Sierra Club | Florida Conservation Voters | Gulf Restoration Network | Tampa Bay News | TB Reporter

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