The former St. Petersburg Council member also faced a whisper campaign about the hiring

ST. PETERSBURG — When a City Council legislative assistant job was posted on April 1, 73 applicants applied.

Some had master’s degrees in public administration, dual bachelor’s degrees, majors in political science and public policy, 4.0 GPAs, military experience, work in cities and state legislatures.

Yet only two candidates were interviewed: an internal candidate and JC Pritchett III, a 21-year-old recent public policy graduate of the University of South Florida.

Pritchett III submitted his application on April 4 but was not hired until August 15, the same day his father, the Rev. JC Pritchett II, began working on the Citizens Redistricting Commission as a former council member appointed by Lisa Wheeler-Bowman , to redraw the Boundaries of the Municipal Council districts.

Former mayoral candidate Vince Nowitzki publicly accused Wheeler-Bowman of not living within the boundaries of the District 7 seat she represents, as required by the city charter, at the Sept. 15 council meeting. Nowitzki claims Pritchett II helped redraw District 7’s lines to include a home Wheeler-Bowman recently purchased outside the district.

After Nowitzki spoke publicly, council members received about two dozen comments, many written in the same language. Some pointed to the timing of Pritchett II’s appointment to the commission and said “sources” said Wheeler-Bowman was “strongly advocating” hiring Pritchett’s son as her aide.

The map approved by the redistricting commission would add the Melrose-Mercy neighborhood, where Wheeler-Bowman purchased her new home in July, to District 7.

Pritchett II denied trying to help Wheeler-Bowman. He argued during a redistricting commission meeting that the eastern boundary of District 7 should be moved one block to include the Deuces 22nd Street redevelopment and the Manhattan Casino together. That way, they would be represented by one councilor in a predominantly black constituency.

Another committee member made a motion to move all of District 117, also the Melrose-Mercy neighborhood, into District 7, which attracted Wheeler-Bowman’s new home. The remaining eight members of the commission agreed to this change.

Pritchett said his son’s hiring was entirely appropriate.

“There has never been an African-American male aide at City Hall,” Pritchett II said. “I think it’s important for every council member to be comfortable with the person who works with the constituents.”

Pritchett II said there was no connection between his work at the order, Wheeler-Bowman’s new home and his son’s employment. Wheeler-Bowman is term-limited and her term was set to end in 2024.

“Making that connection is a bit tiring,” he said. “No matter what this map does, it can’t be in City Council another day.”

A city spokeswoman said the city council’s administrative officer posts council aide jobs through the human resources department on the city’s website for three weeks, collects applications and handles interviewing and hiring.

“From time to time, she will ask a council member to attend the interviews to get their input,” said interim city spokeswoman Yolanda Fernandez.

City Council Administrator Cindy Shepherd confirmed that Pritchett III was one of two candidates interviewed for the position. She did not say why only two candidates were interviewed or why those two were chosen, nor did she respond to questions about whether Wheeler-Bowman attended the interviews, whether he was involved in the hiring decision or why the process took nearly four months.

The job pays $44,232 to $73,370. Pritchett III makes minimum wage on the scale, less than all other legislative assistants.

“The only thing I really have to say about it is that I submitted my application for this position while the application was still open on the St. Pete. That was almost a month before I even graduated,” Pritchett III said. “As for the quid pro quo, I really have no comment on that. I believe my CV speaks for itself and I have been offered this position based on my qualifications.”

According to Pritchett III’s resume, he was a student intern in the district office of Democratic U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist last summer. He previously worked as a pollster for the University Area Community Development Center and as a campaign assistant for Democrat Chris King’s 2018 gubernatorial campaign.

From her front porch, Wheeler-Bowman offered a brief comment before entering her new home.

“I couldn’t afford a house in my area,” Wheeler-Bowman said, taking no questions. “I love my house. I am a home owner.

City Council President Gina Driscoll said it took nearly five months to hire her legislative aide, but that was in the summer of 2020 while city offices were closed in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. She recalled that Shepherd screened five applicants over the phone, and Driscoll said she attended four interviews.

Driscoll’s aide, Bryan Casañas-Scarscella, is the founder and president of the St. Louis Neighborhood Association. Pete Heights. He graduated with honors with a 4.0 GPA for his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

“It seems strange,” Driscoll said of the circumstances surrounding Pritchett III’s hiring. “It is possible that he is innocent of an unsuspected portion of bad optics.” I hope it’s all just bad timing.”

Other candidates reached for comment said they had never heard from the city.

“I feel like it’s something that happens so often, I guess not with favoritism, but with nepotism,” said Michelle Sale, who has a master’s and bachelor’s degree in public administration and has worked as an administrative assistant for Santa Rosa County Tourism Development office. “I was surprised I didn’t hear anything back, but I just moved on.”

Salvador M. Valles worked for the St. Petersburg Code Compliance Department from 2004 to 2007. He went on to work for the New York City Department of Buildings and the City of Santa Monica, most recently as Assistant Director of Public Works.

“Of course I thought I might have at least qualified minimally for the position so I could get a screening interview,” Valles said. “I kind of suspected that maybe you have to know someone to get a personal recommendation, or legislators might want to hire someone they might have experience with.”

Chelsea Crowley, a Marine Corps veteran who worked at the Veterans Network in Tampa as a program director, also did not receive a response. Now she works for veterans non-agricultural aim. Wheeler-Bowman is an Army veteran.

“It was definitely a challenge when I was looking for a job. I have a bachelor’s degree, I served my country, I have many qualifications,” Crowley said. “You really have to know someone to get in the door to be looked at.”