Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Anne LindbergOctober 7, 2016

Most Pinellas candidates running in the six races for a place in the Florida House of Representatives sharply disagreed with their opponents when the topic of guns on college campuses came up during a Wednesday forum on the Seminole campus of St. Petersburg College. The House District 68 race was the only exception. In that […]

Anne LindbergSeptember 30, 2016

A one-issue forum about mental health and substance abuse Thursday evoked some of the most private information from candidates seeking election to the Florida House of Representatives. Jennifer Webb talked about arriving at an intervention for her “baby sister” too late to do anything other than watch her shoot herself. It was through that experience, Webb […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 10, 2016

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 […]

Mitch PerryAugust 17, 2016

Wengay Newton has received another endorsement in his quest to win the House District 70 Democratic primary later this month. It’s former St. Pete city councilman, state legislator, and Juvenile Justice Secretary Frank Peterman Jr. who is backing his campaign. Newton has received the lion’s share of endorsements in the four-county district (Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota), which […]

Mitch PerryAugust 10, 2016

St. Petersburg City Council Vice Chair Darden Rice is backing her former council and PSTA colleague Wengay Newton in the Florida House District 70 contest. “Wengay “Newt” Newton has been a longtime leader on many issues, including education, youth employment, and mass transit issues in our region. I have seen firsthand his impressive dedication and diligence on the […]

Mitch PerryAugust 2, 2016

[Updated with response from Pinellas Realtors Organization.] CJ Czaia, a Manatee County-based personal injury attorney running for the Democratic nomination in House District 70, paid $1,000 last month to St. Petersburg community activist Theresa “Mama Tee” Lassiter for political consulting work. Lassiter is a well-known and somewhat controversial community activist in South St. Petersburg. “She had a one-time payment to […]

Mitch PerryJuly 18, 2016

The Reverend Manuel Sykes, who had intended to be a candidate in the House District 70 race this year but was disqualified when he failed to sign his disclosure form, said Sunday he’s backing Palmetto personal injury attorney C.J. Czaia in the race. “I want to work with him,” Sykes said shortly after finishing his Sunday service at Bethel Community […]

Mitch PerryJuly 12, 2016

Florida’s House District 70 is one of the most creatively designed districts in the state Legislature, encompassing parts of Sarasota, Manatee, Pinellas AND Hillsborough counties. With incumbent Darryl Rouson term-limited out later this year, four men are vying for the seat — Republican Cori Fournier, and Democrats Wengay Newton, Dan Florini and C.J. Czaia. Czaia, a Palmetto-based attorney, […]

Mitch PerryJune 27, 2016

Pastor Manuel Sykes announced recently he was a candidate in the House District 70 race that covers parts of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota counties, with the vast majority of the district’s voters living in Pinellas. It leans strongly Democratic in its makeup. However, Sykes did not qualify for the ballot at the end of the day on Friday, […]

Mitch PerryApril 28, 2016

Wengay Newton has received a strong endorsement from Pinellas County School Board member Rene Flowers in his bid for the House District 70 race. “Wengay Newton understands that he has an uphill mountain to climb,” Flowers concludes in a full-page statement backing the former St. Petersburg City Councilman, who represented South St. Pete from 2007-2015. “However, if there were […]

Tag: Cori Fournier

Carrying guns on college campuses? Pinellas House candidates split on the issue

Pinellas candidates for state House get personal at forum

Wengay Newton eyes general election with HD 70 campaign kickoff Tuesday

Frank Peterman is backing Wengay Newton in HD 70 race

Darden Rice endorses Wengay Newton in HD 70 race

CJ Czaia employs ‘Mama Tee’ Lassiter as political consultant in HD 70 race

Manuel Sykes backs C.J. Czaia in HD 70 race

C.J. Czaia says he’ll make a real difference if elected in HD 70

HD 70 candidate Manuel Sykes fails to sign disclosure form — doesn’t make it on the ballot

Rene Flowers strongly backing Wengay Newton in HD 70 race