St. Petersburg Managing Director of Economic and Workforce Development Brian Caper, one of the city leaders behind work to redevelop the Historic Gas Plant District and on the canceled[1] deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, has resigned his position after findings that he subjected a subordinate in his department to “sexual harassment and other inappropriate behavior.”
Caper’s resignation, dated Oct. 22 and effective immediately, did not reference the sexual harassment findings. Instead, Caper wrote that it is “the right time” for him “to pursue new career opportunities outside the public sector” in his home state of Illinois.
But documents obtained by Florida Politics outline a troubling history of allegations against Caper by Economic Development Coordinator Veronika Slep, who officially filed a complaint against Caper on Aug. 29.
A City Investigation Panel reviewed text messages Slep provided showing evidence of inappropriate comments and content and interviewed witnesses, including Slep and Caper, finding that claims of sexual harassment were substantiated as defined in city policy.
Slep, who began working under Caper in the Economic and Workforce Development department in February of 2023, told investigators she began feeling uncomfortable in October of 2023 when Caper “began sharing sexually explicit images” with her, according to the investigation’s final report, issued on Oct. 20, 2025.
The investigation outlines an evolving relationship that began as friendly, but soon turned inappropriate, with eventual declarations of love from Caper to Slep and an invitation to attend an out-of-state conference for which Slep declined because she was uncomfortable.
“You have been and will always be so much more than a work friend,” one text message from June 3, 2024, reads. Caper was responding to a text from Slep explaining that she had “only recently learned how close you consider me when you told me you had to have a chat with Sarah (Caper’s wife).”
Caper, at that time, added that he did “have feelings for you,” but said they were “not in a romantic/crush way, but in a very deep emotional way that I don’t have with most people.”
On July 2, 2024, Caper told Slep that “his wife asked him if he was in love with Slep, but he could not answer the question,” according to the investigation report.
On Aug. 19, 2024, the report shows that Caper texted “believe it or not I do love you,” to Slep.
The report also outlines how, when Slep first began working with Caper, he “shared his cell phone tracker” with her “so she could see when he was out of the office.” She told the investigation panel that she “was uncomfortable accepting, but relented at Caper’s insistence.”
She then said she “felt obligated” to also share her cellphone information “after further pressure from Caper. Then, he “occasionally referenced her after-hours activities,” which the report said made Slep “very uncomfortable.”
In December 2024, Caper responded to Slep’s attempt to address ongoing workplace tension “by apologizing for not reciprocating Caper’s feelings,” according to the report. Caper responded by text that “I love you but I’m not in love with you,” saying “there’s no way it could ever work” because he is married and she was dating someone else. But he added that “I’m very much attracted to you,” a statement the report says “disturbed” Slep.
By March 5, 2025, Slep’s discomfort escalated to fear, as evidenced by a text message from Caper stating that “he saw her shaking with fear the last two times they interacted.”
The city’s human resources department instructed Caper to cease personal contact with Slep. But on April 1, Caper sent her an Instagram message at 10:33 p.m. “asking her when the standoff was going to end,” according to the report. In all, the report says Caper tried to contact Slep nine times on April 15 from 10:17 p.m. until 11:34 p.m.
The report further highlights text message evidence showing Caper making “derogatory, unprofessional, and inappropriate comments” about his department and its employees.
In one, Caper wrote that “whenever I cheat on Sarah it’s with the bull dyke kind of woman,” in reference to one of his female staff members.
In reference to another, Caper wrote about “her f***ing bulls**t about how her heart isn’t into and she doesn’t know what’s next when she already accepted a position with Ray Jay. F**k you. She’s a lying c**t.”
Another text referenced Caper’s boss, Community and Neighborhood Affairs Administrator James Corbett, saying that “If I was gay, I’d be most interested in James.”
The texts included profanity, complaints about city workers’ public speaking skills, educational attainment, and other various unprofessional complaints.
Caper earned a salary of $125,000 per year, according to city documents.
Florida Politics has requested comment from Mayor Ken Welch regarding the allegations and evidence presented against Caper and his subsequent resignation. This post will be updated if a statement is provided.