Ken Welch Launches New PAC After State Revokes Previous One

ST. PETERSBURG — Mayor Ken Welch has launched a new political committee — The Pelican Political Action Committee — after his previous political committee, Pelican PAC, was formally revoked by the Florida Division of Elections for repeatedly failing to file required financial disclosures.

Despite the nearly identical name, the new committee is a legally distinct entity, registered in January with the same leadership team as its predecessor. Political consultant Reginald Cardozo serves as chairperson, and Yolanda Brown continues as treasurer.

But The Pelican Political Action Committee is already raising eyebrows. State campaign finance records show the committee spent more in its first quarter than it raised — an uncommon pattern for a new political organization and one that raises questions about financial planning and oversight.

Welch’s original committee, Pelican PAC, missed multiple reporting deadlines throughout 2024 and was ultimately dissolved after months of noncompliance. As first reported by Florida Politics the PAC failed to respond to repeated notices from the Division of Elections, leaving thousands of dollars in contributions unaccounted for. A separate investigation by the Tampa Bay Times revealed that Pelican PAC continued to make political contributions while legally inactive.

At least four candidates — including City Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders, County Commissioner Rene Flowers, and candidates Treva Davis and Charlie Justice — reported receiving donations from Pelican PAC in 2024. None of those contributions were reflected in the PAC’s official filings. In some cases, the donations were made when the PAC had no registered treasurer or agent on file — a potential violation of state election law.

While the new PAC gives Welch a chance to reset, it inherits unresolved questions about transparency and accountability. The mayor has not publicly addressed the circumstances leading to the revocation of Pelican PAC or explained how the new committee will avoid similar regulatory failures.

Welch, elected in 2021 as St. Petersburg’s first Black mayor, is widely expected to seek a second term in 2026. The creation of The Pelican Political Action Committee suggests that preparations for reelection are already underway — but under renewed scrutiny over the political operations behind the scenes.