St. Petersburg spokesperson quits to return to TV news, mayor says

St. Petersburg public information officer Erica Riggins is leaving the city to return to Spectrum Bay News 9 as a reporter.

Mayor Ken Welch announced the news on social media on Friday morning. He praised Riggins for her media and communications expertise, calling her a “local news legend.”

“I fully support her decision to return to reporting at her other home,” Welch wrote in the post. “Wishing her and her boys good luck and Godspeed!”

Welch’s post included a photo of Riggins’ sons — three brothers adopted from foster care — and Riggins’ resignation letter dated Wednesday.

“Before joining your city team nearly two years ago, you spoke to me about the powerful impact of making a difference in the lives of residents and St. Pete and Opportunities for All,” Riggins wrote in the resignation letter. “You had me at ‘impact!’ It’s been an impactful journey working with you directly, along with our city leadership team, on the Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment, numerous affordable housing initiatives, community conversations, two State of the City addresses, and so much more.”

Riggins, who started with Bay News 9 in December 2005, was the early-morning anchor before Welch hired her in September 2022.

She is the second spokesperson to leave under Welch. The mayor’s first hire, Janelle Irwin Taylor, resigned after she accused then-Deputy Mayor Stephanie Owens of bullying. Owens denied the allegations and later resigned.

Riggins told the Tampa Bay Times she will return to news as a reporter but said she did not know what shift she would work or what she would cover. Her last day with the city is May 2 and her first day of work back at the station is May 6.

“I missed news,” Riggins said Friday. “News was my calling. I enjoyed and embraced everything with the city of St. Petersburg. It’s special to reach even more people and have an impact on their lives that is amplified. I’m excited to get back to it.”

Riggins said she reached out to her former workplace about coming back.

“I do consider them my family. We’ve been in contact because I’ve worked with them for so long,” she said.

Riggins said she makes an annual salary of $150,000 with the city.

“I’ve had a great experience with this mayor,” she said. “I am grateful for all the opportunities that helped me grow professionally. My family has grown.”

Alizza Punzalan-Randle, communications and community engagement managing director, said Friday that the city is in the “early stages” of determining how the public information officer role will be filled.