FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Eva Andujar, (727) 893-7448

SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OFFICE TO REMAIL
ST. PETERSBURG BALLOTS AFTER CANDIDATE WITHDRAWS

St. Petersburg, Fla. (September 28, 2007) - Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark will mail 4,947 revised ballots Monday, October 1 to St. Petersburg voters following the withdrawal of candidate Chris Kelly from the District 5 City Council race. Chris Kelly was scheduled to face James S. Bennett in the November 6 St. Petersburg General Election.

The City of St. Petersburg’s City Charter requires that new ballots be produced to include the words “New Election” in place of the candidate who withdrew. Voters must now choose between James S. Bennett, the incumbent, and conducting a “new election.” If the majority of votes are cast for James S. Bennett, he will assume office. If the majority of votes are cast for “new election,” then a primary election would be held on January 29, 2008 and a general election would be held on March 11, 2008 at an estimated cost to the City of approximately $248,000.

The city’s general election is conducted citywide, while the primary election is conducted by district. Therefore, ballots will be mailed to all St. Petersburg voters who had requested mail ballots to date.

The city will pay the costs of reprinting and mailing ballots to voters, as well as the return mail postage. Any voters who received a ballot before October 1 are encouraged to wait for the revised ballots and vote them instead. Anyone who has already sent in the initial ballot is strongly encouraged to vote all races on the revised ballot and mail it as well. Once your new ballot is received, it will replace your old ballot in the counting process. Your old ballot will then be preserved for a limited time but will not be counted. If you have not returned the first ballot, please destroy it.

To request a mail ballot, call (727) 464-6788. For more information call the City Clerk’s office at (727) 893-7448 or to update your voter information, call the Supervisor of Elections office at (727) 464-6108 or go to www.votepinellas.com.