Wengay Newton
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Wengay Newton
|image = Wengay Newton.jpg
|caption =
|state_house = Florida
|district = 70th
|term_start = November 8, 2016
|term_end = November 3, 2020
|predecessor = Darryl Rouson
|successor = Michele Rayner
|birth_name =
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|8|27}}
|birth_place = St. Petersburg, Florida
|party = Democratic
}}
Wengay M. Newton (born August 27, 1963) is an American politician from Florida. A Democrat, he served two terms in the Florida House of Representatives from 2016 to 2020, representing parts of Pinellas, Sarasota, Manatee, and Hillsborough Counties.{{cite web|author=Mark Puente |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/wengay-newton-wins-democratic-primary-for-house-district-70/2291591/ |title=Wengay Newton runs away with Democratic primary for House District 70 |publisher=Tampabay.com |date=2016-08-31 |access-date=2018-11-18}}{{cite web|url=https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4659&LegislativeTermId=87 |title=Florida House of Representatives - Wengay "Newt" Newton - 2016 - 2018 ( Speaker Corcoran ) |publisher=Myfloridahouse.gov |date= |accessdate=2018-11-18}}
Early life and career
Newton was born and raised in the Midtown South neighborhood of St. Petersburg as one of eight children of a divorced mother. Newton graduated from Northeast High School in 1981 and attended ITT Tech where he earned an associate degree in Electronics Engineering. After graduating from ITT Tech, Newton went to work for Xerox, where he worked for eighteen years.{{cite web |title=About Newt |url=https://www.newt4mayor.com/about |website=Newt4Mayor |access-date=16 September 2021}}
Political career
Newton first ran for the St. Petersburg city council in 2007. His opponent was Gershom Faulkner, outreach director for Congresswoman Kathy Castor. Despite Faulkner being considered the establishment candidate, Newton ultimately prevailed and was elected to the city council.{{cite news |last1=Nelson |first1=Libby |title=DISTRICT 7: FAULKNER VS. NEWTON |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2007/10/28/district-7-faulkner-vs-newton/ |access-date=17 September 2021 |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=5 November 2007}} In 2011, while running for reelection, Newton faced Faulkner in a rematch. Newton increased his share of the vote from 52 to 66%.
Newton ran for the 70th State House District in 2015 as incumbent representative Darryl Rouson was term-limited.{{cite news |last1=Perry |first1=Mitch |title=Wengay Newton files to run for Darryl Rouson's HD 70 seat |url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/2192-wengay-newton-files-to-run-for-darryl-rousons-hd-70-seat/ |access-date=16 September 2021 |work=Florida Politics |date=4 December 2014}} Newton ultimately won the Democratic nomination with 60% of the vote over Dan Fiorini and C.J. Czaia.{{cite news |last1=Perry |first1=Mitch |title=Wengay Newton one step closer to Tallahassee, wins HD 70 primary |url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/220778-wengay-newton-one-step-closer-tallahassee-wins-hd-70-primary/ |access-date=16 September 2021 |date=30 August 2016}} In the general election, Newton faced Republican Cori Fournier, a realtor. Newton beat Fournier with 76% of the vote.{{cite news |last1=Ammann |first1=Phil |title=Wengay Newton eyes general election with HD 70 campaign kickoff Tuesday |url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/221653-wengay-newton-eyes-general-election-hd-70-campaign-kickoff-tuesday/ |access-date=16 September 2021 |work=Florida Politics |date=10 September 2016}}
In 2020, Newton opted to run for a seat on the Pinellas County Commission, losing to Rene Flowers.{{Cite web|last=Taylor|first=Janelle Irwin|date=2020-08-19|title=Rene Flowers bests Wengay Newton for Pinellas County Commission|url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/359043-rene-flowers-upsets-wengay-newton-in-tight-pinellas-county-commission-race|access-date=2020-10-26|website=Florida Politics|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Taylor|first=Janelle Irwin|date=2020-01-06|title=Wengay Newton to forego another term in Florida House, will run for Pinellas Co. Commission|url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/314971-wengay-newton-to-run-for-pinellas-county-commission|access-date=2020-10-26|website=Florida Politics|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=State Rep. Wengay Newton to run for Pinellas commission seat|url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2020/01/08/state-rep-wengay-newton-to-run-for-pinellas-commission-seat/|access-date=2020-10-26|website=Tampa Bay Times|language=en}}
On December 19, 2020, Newton filed and declared his candidacy for Mayor of St. Petersburg in the 2021 St. Petersburg mayoral election.{{cite web | url=https://stpetecatalyst.com/zaps/wengay-newton-files-to-run-for-st-petersburg-mayor/ | title=Wengay Newton files to run for St. Petersburg mayor | date=19 December 2020 }} Despite being endorsed by former Republican Mayor Rick Baker, Newton received only 7.5% of the vote in the first round and was eliminated.{{cite web| url = https://floridapolitics.com/archives/449932-here-are-all-the-major-endorsements-in-the-2021-st-petersburg-primary-election-so-far/| title = Here are all the major endorsements in the 2021 St. Petersburg primary election so far| date = 12 August 2021}}
In September 2021, Newton announced a run for his old state house seat as incumbent Michele Rayner-Goolsby is not running for reelection.{{cite web| url = https://floridapolitics.com/archives/458645-wengay-newton-to-run-for-former-state-house-seat-after-unsuccessful-mayoral-bid/| title = Wengay Newton to run for former state House seat after unsuccessful mayoral bid| date = 19 September 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:Politicians from St. Petersburg, Florida
Category:Democratic Party members of the Florida House of Representatives
Category:African-American state legislators in Florida
Category:Candidates in the 2021 United States elections
Category:21st-century African-American politicians