Wengay Newton files to run for St. Petersburg mayor
December 19, 2020 - Wengay "Newt" Newton has become the first candidate to file paperwork for the St. Petersburg's mayoral race in 2021. Newton has served in the Florida House of Representatives representing District 70 since 2016, but he did not seek reelection to the House this year to run for the Pinellas County Commission. He lost the county commission race to Renee Flowers. He previously served on the St. Petersburg City Council for eight years. No other candidate officially has entered the mayoral race, although there's wide speculation that former County Commissioner Ken Welch and current City Council member Darden Rice also will run. The current mayor, Rick Kriseman, has served since 2014 and is serving his second term. Term limits prevent him from running for re-election.