Endorsments: I am voting for Wengay Newton, Bob Kersteen and Bill Dudley

Please vote on Tuesday November 6th!

Candidates from Districts 1,3,5, & 7 are asking for your vote.

In District 5 the incumbent is unopposed but on the ballot because his opponent withdrew.

Three races have of a slate of candidates endorsed by the Times and by the Mayor. Their election could change the climate on council and give the Mayor more of a free hand to run the city. In my opinion south St. Pete could go from bad to worse if that happens.

Fortunately the other three have been more independent and I feel more responsive to southside residents. They also agree on making public safety a priority and cutting waste in government. For that reason I am voting for Wengay Newton, Bob Kersteen and Bill Dudley. These three have been actively involved in our neighborhood for some time.

Neighborhood activists invited all current and some former council members to celebrate the transition of the adult bookstore on 4th Street and Bob Kersteen was the only one who took the time to join us. Bob was our supporter on council years ago when the city worked on an adult business ordinance to keep these uses out of neighborhoods. This block party was an important event in our campaign to transform Newton Avenue into a model block. The block is dotted with beautiful new, renovated and older well kept homes. Removing blight from the two entrance ways was the culmination of a ten year effort to give our neighborhood a model of success.

Wengay Newton grew up a few blocks near 11th Street and 11th Avenue South and knows our needs very well. He is currently President of his Westminster Height's neighborhood association and has to get a lot of the credit for his area being among the most desirable and safest in south St. Pete.

Bill Dudley has been a mentor to many neighborhood youth who attended Northeast high School where he taught and coached for many years. He and his opponent are both big supporters of the nearby airport but Bill is not a single issue candidate. His opponent has run on his role in the success of the airport in obtaining big government grants and lots of cooperation from city council. I am not so sure that the airport plan is really something to brag about. South side residents who live in the main flight path have a right to ask why we were left out of the planning for the airport. One of the several plane crashes destroyed a home on 15th Avenue South. Noise pollution from planes and helicopters continues to be a nuisance. Why are they allowed to fly late at night? We need a council member who will listen to our concerns and not just cater to owners of private planes who may not even live in the city.

Among these six good candidates for the three contested seats three stand out and have demonstrated strong support for southside residents over many years.


Another view of the election you might want to read is in the Tampa blog "Sticks of Fire". Tommy says "With the upcoming city council elections, keeping that check on the administration is a good idea."

All of the seven candidates have demonstrated their support of the Bartlett Park neighborhood by buying adds in the newsletter. This publication just barely breaks even each month so their support is really important and appreciated. Please thank them for this.