Janelle Irwin Taylor
St. Petersburg City Council candidate Robert Blackmon has listed his Coquina Key home for sale, announcing it on Facebook Thursday.
The listing appears to back up Blackmon’s claim that he hasn’t lived in the home since last summer and was preparing the home for sale.
“Bittersweet day, I have listed my former personal residence,” Blackmon wrote on Facebook. “A 1961 Rutenburg custom build, it has been meticulously updated while keeping the original charm. Solid concrete block with professionally restored terrazzo throughout, massive chef’s kitchen, triple pane windows, one car garage, and all new major systems (roof, AC, appliances, water heater, electrical panel).”
Blackmon is running for District 1, which represents west St. Pete. His home is in District 6.
Under St. Pete election guidelines, candidates must reside within the district they are seeking office for at least one calendar year from the date of the primary election. That means Blackmon had to live in District 1 since Aug. 27 of last year.
But rumors quietly swirled that he didn’t actually live in District 1 because he still owned the Coquina Key home. He has been renting an apartment in the Tyrone area since mid-August last year.
Before listing his home for sale, Blackmon provided several forms of documentation proving his new residence, including an updated driver’s license indicating his new address, an updated voter registration receipt and the copy of his lease. All were dated before the Aug. 27, 2018, deadline to live in District 1.
Blackmon is listing the house for $250,000. It’s a two bedroom, two bathroom home with new upgrades in the kitchen and bathrooms, and includes a large sunroom overlooking the backyard.
Blackmon is running against John Hornbeck for the District 1 seat currently occupied by Charlie Gerdes. Gerdes is leaving office because of term limits.
Blackmon and Hornbeck don’t square off at the polls until Nov. 5 at the citywide general election. They won’t be on the primary ballot because they’re the only two candidates in the race.
