Bill Foster | |
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| Mayor of St. Petersburg | |
| In office January 2, 2010 – January 2, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Rick Baker |
| Succeeded by | Rick Kriseman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David William Foster[1] (1963-03-31)March 31, 1963 (age 62) St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Wendy Holt |
| Education | Samford University(BA,JD) |
David William Foster (born March 31, 1963) is an American attorney and former mayor ofSt. Petersburg, Florida. He was electedin 2009.[2] Before being elected mayor Foster served on the city council and worked as a lawyer.[3]
A fourth generation St. Petersburg native, Foster attendedNortheast High School,[4]Samford University and theCumberland School of Law at Samford University. As mayor, Foster advocated for replacing theSt. Petersburg Pier with a new structure. Foster ran for re-election in2013, but lost to DemocratRick Kriseman.[5]
Foster worked as an attorney specializing inprobate, estates and trusts, real estate, commercial law, real estate and commercial litigation.[3] Foster spent 10 years on the City Council.[3] He was originally appointed to a vacant seat in 1998, and re-elected for two consecutive terms in 1999 and 2003.[3] He served as Council Chair in 2004 and 2006.[3] Foster also served on the Friends ofWeedon Island,NAACP, the Pinellas Assembly, Pinellas County Annexation Task Force, Suncoasters of St. Petersburg, Sunken Gardens Tax Force, theSt. Petersburg History Museum, and St. Petersburg Vision 2020.[3]
Mayor Foster puts forth a platform of "Seven S's", which he defines as seamlessness, safety, sustainability, service, small business, schools, and sports, arts, and culture. He helped recruit the St. Petersburg's first season of International Baseball to the city'sAl Lang Stadium, with teams from Korea, Canada and the Netherlands competing during February and March, 2011. He also helped lead development of a regional homeless facility operated by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, called Pinellas Safe Harbor. During his first term in office, St. Petersburg welcomed the newChihuly Collection and a new $36 millionSalvador Dalí Museum.[6] For three consecutive years (2010, 2011, and 2012), St. Petersburg was ranked as the No. 1 Arts Destination among mid-sized cities byAmerican Style magazine.[7][8][9]
Foster is married to Wendy Holt Foster, both parents of two children.[10]
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Mayor of St. Petersburg 2010–2014 | Succeeded by |