The remaining two candidates for St. Petersburg mayor met for their first post-primary debate Tuesday.
It was the first of three debates between Mayor Bill Foster and challenger Rick Kriseman this week.
It was held at the University Student Center Ballroom, 200 Sixth Ave. S., on the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus. USF St. Petersburg and LocalShops1 were the sponsors.
Foster and Kriseman discussed the economy and small business in front of an audience and a panelists of small business owners.
Panelists asked them about their thoughts on offering incentives to small business owners.
“We ought to be looking for things we can do to make it easier, and if it’s incentivizing," Kriseman said. "(Want them to) to come here, open up and survive.”
Foster had a different answer.
"I don't favor using general ad valorem fund dollars to give any types of credits to small businesses, the taxpayer dollars,” he said.
Foster talked about the possibility of a cruise port terminal opening near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, while Kriseman said his vision for the city includes research parks for marine sciences, health sciences and clean energy.
The men clashed when it came to talking about Foster's record in office.
"You can't look at the city skyline without seeing a crane, without 200 trades on the job, knowing every one of those places will be occupied and jobs will be created,” Foster said. “We focused on the details, so having tens of millions of dollars less than my predecessors, guess what, we did more with less than anybody."
“If he was at the table at HMA, the he surely must have known about the subsequent sale that was going to happen," Kriseman said. "If he was at the table at Sweetbay, you should have known that Sweetbay was going to be closing. But nothing happened for a year, so if he was at the table, I don't know what he was doing while he was sitting there."
Business owners in the audience say it will take a team effort to keep growth going.
"Doesn't really matter if you're a small business or a large business, you want the city to be partner of yours, not a supervisor of yours, if you will,” said Jack King, owner of Three Birds Tavern on Fourth Street.
Both candidates say that's their goal as they court the business vote.
The candidates also did a lightning round with just "yes" or "no" answers.
It drew some laughs when they were asked if it's difficult to open a restaurant in St. Pete. Kriseman said "yes" and Foster said "no."
And whether the hiring of a new police chief should be delayed until after the election. Kriseman said "yes" and Foster said "no."
"I think one of the big issues in any city, and St. Pete is no exception, is crime," King said. "We were actually a victim of a recent crime here at Three Birds Tavern, and I think all small businesses are interested in knowing what the city can do to help us avoid situations like that."
From 2001 to 2011, St. Petersburg saw a nearly 5 percent increase in the number of employees hired by small businesses. That's better than the 1.1 percent Pinellas County saw during that same period, but far less than the 13 percent statewide.
King said he is looking for the candidate who has a plan to increase those numbers.
"We'll look for whoever the mayor is to set the tone for our town," King said. "And try to do what we need done to get things rolling for small business, big business and everybody."
The other debates are set for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, when Foster and Kriseman will have a "conversation about the arts" at Studio@620, 620 First Ave. S., at 7 p.m. Wednesday, when the League of Women Voters and Broadwater Civic Association will host a forum at 3200 34th St. S.
Election Day is Nov. 5.