Kriseman announces his first hire, a St. Petersburg deputy mayor who also will oversee Midtown
ST. PETERSBURG — One week after winning the election, Mayor-elect Rick Kriseman announced his first hire: a high-ranking hospital official who will be his only deputy mayor.
At a 10 a.m. news conference, Kriseman said Kanika Tomalin will focus on citywide issues, but one emphasis of her job will be to help reduce poverty and boost economic development in the struggling Midtown area.
For months on the campaign trail, Kriseman said his first hire would be an administrator devoted solely to Midtown. On Thursday evening, Kriseman said that Tomalin is not that person, but that he is still committed to having such a role.