Richard Murray "Rick" Baker (born June 27, 1956) is an American attorney and politician who served as mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida.

[7] Baker also developed the "A+ Housing" program, which provides financial assistance in the form of an interest free loan up to $18,000 for a down payment for St. Petersburg teachers who buy a home or condo in the city.

Outside the classroom Mayor Baker launched the "Playing Close to Home" mission with a goal of providing a playground within a half mile walk of every child in the city.

[7] After his first 5 years as mayor a group of pastors led a protest march to call for an end to gang violence that had claimed the lives of 85 young African Americans.

[8] During Baker's tenure, St. Petersburg's urban core - the downtown waterfront and Midtown - added several businesses, including a grocery store, a full service post office, and a credit union.

Notably, the Manhattan Casino was renovated, the Royal Theater was turned into a Boys & Girls Club for performing arts and the Seaboard train station became home to one of the largest working potteries in the Southeast United States.

The city's Mahaffey Theater was renovated, the waterfront park system was developed and a new building for the Salvador Dalí Museum was finished.

[11] Running against the Democratic Party chair, Baker was re-elected in 2005 to a second term with over 70 percent of the vote, winning every single precinct in the city.