By Michael Van Sickler, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
ST. PETERSBURG — Bill Foster told about 150 attendees at Wednesday's Suncoast Tiger Bay luncheon that his first year as mayor has been a "glorious ride, satisfying fun."
But he also spent much of his speech, which resembled an abbreviated "State of the City" address, telling the crowd at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club about how hard it was to oversee a city of about 250,000. He said his 10 years on the City Council didn't prepare him for what it would be like as mayor.
"This past year was pretty intense; it's not like anything I expected," Foster said. "I didn't expect being under the microscope. The scrutiny. Your life isn't your own."
Even weekend trips to Publix, Lowe's or Home Depot turned into impromptu meetings with residents, Foster said. He said ...