BY ZENENA MOGUEL
NNB Reporter
ST. PETERSBURG – Steve Kornell sees one vision for the future of the city.
“Equality for everyone,” he said.
Kornell, District 5’s current council member, has been in office since 2009. Kornell was re-elected in 2011 and is now running for a final term.
Born in 1966 at the now Bayfront Medical Center, Kornell has lived in St. Petersburg practically all his life. He attended Childs Park Elementary School and Gibbs High School. Kornell received his Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development from Eckerd College and Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. As a School Social Worker for the Pinellas County School System, Kornell has always been devoted to education especially education among the youths.
As a social worker, Kornell is involved in the Childs Park Initiative Council (CPYIC), Pinellas Youth Pride, as well as many other community groups in hopes he will build a better and safer community. Involvement in the community is very important to Kornell. He wants more people to be engaged with the city.
“I want people involved,” said Kornell. “I live right here. People know me. People see me. I’m approachable. You can call me and I’m available to meet with you.”
Kornell serves on committees that fit his passions including the Youth Services Committee, Public Services and Infrastructure Committee and the Arts Advisory Committee. He focuses on issues of youth and safety through improvements including the renovation of the Lake Vista and Campbell Park Recreation Centers and the creation of the St. Petersburg multi-family crime reduction program.
Kornell aims to improve safety, schools, education, job creation and safeguards for the environment. Kornell wants to add officers to the police department. He plans to expand the city’s youth employment programs, fight against the increase of after-school and summer program fees as well as making the Shore Acres Recreation Center a reality. With St. Petersburg’s Grow Smarter Economic Development initiative, Kornell hopes to continue funding so more and better jobs can be created as well as welcome new businesses to the city. Kornell also said he plans to install solar panels on city buildings. The city can use capital funding for the panels and the energy cost-savings come from general funds to use for community programs.
Kornell is already working towards some of these goals.
“I met today (Oct. 26) with a team of partners including St. Pete College to try to rename our youth employment program so that kids that go through it get college certification in industries and college credit,” said Kornell.
As far as job creation, Kornell sees the area poised to become a music mecca like Nashville.
“We’re poised for it, and it’s going to be big,” he said.
In his 2015 campaign, Kornell has raised more than $45,000. Major organizations such as the Police Benevolent Association and Pinellas Realtor Organization and individuals including Rick Baker, former Mayor of St. Petersburg, and Rene Flowers from the Pinellas County School Board have endorsed him. However, Kornell has lost one of his top endorsers, The Tampa Bay Times.
The city’s contract with the Tampa Bay Rays is a contentious issue in this election. Kornell said recently he is open to working on a solution, according to the Tampa Bay Times. He previously voted no on a plan to allow them to look to build a stadium elsewhere.
“Sometimes these are difficult choices when there is more than one quality candidate. Sometimes the decision is difficult because we wish we had other alternatives – just like voters sometimes do,” Tim Nickens, editor of editorials of Tampa Bay Times, said in an email. “But The Times traditionally always makes a recommendation based on who the editorial board concludes is best qualified among the candidates, because someone is going to be elected and voters are going to have to choose.”
However, Kornell is not worried about the endorsement or election results. He plans to stay engaged and active in the community no matter what happens Election Day.
“I will still be involved in my community. I didn’t get involved because I want to run for office,” said Kornell. “I was involved, and that’s why I ran for office.”
Residents will get their chance to vote for Kornell or opponent Philip Garrett Tuesday, Nov. 3.
For more information on Steve Kornell visit www.stevekornell.com.