With the Rays issue off the table who will do the best job for their District and the City?
With the Rays agreement back in play and a demonstration that
there are enough votes for the Rays to get a deal if they are willing to be
reasonable, the Rays and a new stadium should NOT be a big concern in the
November 4, 2015 City Council elections.
No candidate is screaming, "No deal!"
With the Rays issue off the table who will do the best job for
their District and the City.
In District 1 the matchup is between Charlie Gerdes now serving
as City Council Chairman and Monica Abbott a newcomer to St. Pete politics
Gerdes is the hands-down choice in this race. In his almost four
years on City Council, Gerdes has shown a steady approach to citywide issues.
Charlie has a good grasp of the big picture and while he respects
the office of the Mayor, he is not overawed by it. Gerdes and his fellow Council member Jim Kennedy's
efforts to get a deal moving on the Rays have been indicative of the kind of thinking
required to deal with an ever more aggressive strong Mayor.
In the District 5 Race Steve Kornell and Phillip Garret face off.
Kornell is by far the
candidate of choice. His proven record in his District, focus on children and
attention to citywide needs make him the right choice to represent District 5 for
another term.
Kornell has evolved into a complete City Council member during
his first four years on the dais. His calm, knowledgeable and steady hand will
be needed to guide the City through the next two years of the Kriseman
administration.
In District 7 Will Newton and Lisa Wheeler-Brown are in a tough
battle to replace Wengay Newton who leaves City Council due to term limits.
This has been one of the rather dicer City Council races in the
last few years.
Wheeler Brown has been working toward this goal for several years
with service in her neighborhood and the Council of Neighborhood Associations.
Recent news paper articles and Posts on social media sites have
painted an unprofessional approach to the Wheeler-Brown campaign and a lack of
good judgment and decision making.
As the strong Mayor form of government continues to evolve in St.
Petersburg, becoming more politically and cronyism based people elected to City Council
must be upright in character and uncompromising in their ability to follow the
rules.
Will Newton comes to the voters with years of public service as a
fire fighter/paramedic and lots of experience negotiating with politicians and
City staff members during union bargaining sessions.
Will Newton shares his brother's deep concern for his District,
the plight of children in poverty, failing schools and the real issues in
District Seven. He also has a solid view of all of St. Petersburg.
Much has been made lately
of Newton's issues with the IRS, but Will Newton did exactly what most of us
would do. When a tax problem arose, he sat down with the IRS worked out an
agreement and honored its terms.
That's what Will Newton does. He sets down works out differences
and honors the result.
These are the reasons Will Newton is the right choice for St.
Petersburg and District seven.
E-mail Doc at mail
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