Phil Ammann
With a decisive primary win behind him, Democrat Wengay Newton is now looking toward the general election for House District 70, starting with a celebration in downtown St. Petersburg.
Newton’s campaign kickoff event will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at The LURE, 661 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg. Contributions are encouraged, and there will be a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres available.
“We have a Republican opponent,” says the invite, “and need your help to keep this seat BLUE.”
As a term-limited former St. Petersburg City Council member, Newton easily won the three-way Democratic primary over two lesser-known opponents: businessman Dan Fiorini and attorney Christopher “C.J.” Czaia. Newton received nearly 62 percent of the vote, while Fiorini received 21 percent, and Czaia took 17 percent.
HD 70 is a mostly Democratic region spanning parts of four counties — Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota — making it likely Newton will defeat 27-year-old Sarasota Republican Realtor Cori Fournier Nov. 8. The Tampa Bay Times reports that, as of February, the district has approximately 52,000 registered Democrats, compared to only about 14,000 Republicans.
Newton is a resident of one of St. Petersburg’s predominantly African-American neighborhoods, and during his eight years in the city council, he represented a bloc of voters that proved key to his primary victory.
“I’m going to be a strong advocate for the district,” Newton told the Times the night of his Aug. 30 win. “Most people already know me. My heart is overjoyed.”
Showing solid name recognition, Newton outperformed both Fiorini and Czaia in fundraising by more than double the two combined, bringing in more than $56,000 during the year since announcing his bid for HD 70.
For more information on the event, call 727-914-8000; campaign donations are also accepted online.
