St. Pete Dist. 7 race follows predictably contentious course Credit: courtesy of will newton

St. Pete Dist. 7 race follows predictably contentious course Credit: courtesy of will newton

The two candidates running for St. Pete City Council's Dist. 7 seat, which covers much of south St. Pete, have a bit in common when it comes to what they want to achieve on issues like education for southside students, police-community relations and a plan to aggressively develop the economy in the district.

Where Winthrop "Will" Newton and Lisa Wheeler-Brown really split is on the issue of the Tampa Bay Rays, and whether to let the team explore stadium sites in Hillsborough, potentially leaving before their agreement to play is up in 2027.

It's become a central issue in the race, but appears as though it's being taken over by the kinds of character attacks and other tactics you see in any race that gets close (we haven't seen any recent polling, but we get the feeling things are close enough to, well, inspire some recent endorsements).

Wheeler-Brown is being hammered on a couple of possible campaign missteps, though her supporters seem to be staying put regardless, citing rumors that Newton's supporters would try to tear her down after each won the August primary.

St. Pete Dist. 7 race follows predictably contentious course Credit: courtesy of lisa wheeler-brown
Her supporters and endorsements include Pinellas County Commissioners Pat Gerard and Ken Welch, School Board Member Rene Flowers and St Petersburg City Councilmembers Karl Nurse and Darden Rice. The Tampa Bay Times is endorsing her as well as the Florida Public Services Union, Ruth's List Florida and the Pinellas Stonewall Democrats and numerous other Democratic and progressive outfits.

Key endorsements have been rolling in for Newton recently, including one from former mayor Rick Baker (not surprising, as Newton told CL of their friendship during an interview, when he cited Baker's "seamless city" concept). Also giving his endorsement to Newton is Ed Montanari, who is running unopposed for City Council and is a friend of Baker (who also endorsed him).

Also on the list of Newton supporters is State Reps. Darryl Rouson and Kathleen Peters, St. Pete Council members Steve Kornell, Amy Foster, Wengay Newton (Will Newton's brother) and Bill Dudley (the latter two of which are outgoing). Organizations include Suncoast Police Benevolent Association,St. Petersburg Firefighters Association and Pinellas Realtor Organization. Notably, the Tampa Tribune on Monday pulled its endorsement of Wheeler-Brown and gave it to Newton.

But Newton also faces questions over his leadership of the local firefighter's union, during which he oversaw three impasses between the union and the city, which a Wheller-Brown campaign spokeswoman told the Tampa Bay Times ought to raise concerns as the stage is being set for a major stadium debate.

Newton brushed of the comments as "mudslinging" out of desperation.

Mail ballots for the race, as well as two others and four charter amendments, go out today. The election is Nov. 3, and everyone in the city can vote.

This article appears in Sep 24-30, 2015.