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Politics

District 7: Faulkner vs. Newton

By LIBBY NELSON, Times Staff Writer
Published October 28, 2007

Much of the difference between the two candidates for the District 7 City Council seat come down to one word: politician.

One sees it as a positive word; the other, an insult.

Gershom Faulkner, 36, a former Marine who served in the Persian Gulf War, is outreach coordinator for U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor and owns a bail bond business.

To him, politics - connections and compromise - is the way to get things done.

Wengay Newton, 44, who owns and operates a photography studio, is president of the Westminster Heights Neighborhood Association.

Newton sees being a politician as a detriment, someone who is out of touch with the people.

The two are vying to replace council member Rene Flowers, whose seat is up because of term limits.

They agree that the flow of young people between prison and the streets, and back, is a major problem facing their district, which has some of the city's highest crime rates.

Faulkner is seen as the establishment choice because of his legislative experience. Newton is considered the antiestablishment choice.

"You don't need to be in Tallahassee six years to know what's going on," Newton said. "You need to be in St. Pete. That's how you fix it."

Experience in working with the state and federal governments helps solve a city's problems, Faulkner said.

"Being a politician isn't a bad thing," he said.

Newton supports fiscal responsibility and lower taxes but thinks it's a bad idea for the city to cut 50 jobs while some employees get a 2 percent raise.

Budget cuts affect services to the community, said Faulkner, who doubts that the mandated rollback in property taxes is a good idea.

Both say connecting people with the government can improve it.

"They're putting people in office for a long period of time, and the only recourse they have is to yell at them at council meetings," Newton said.

Gershom Faulkner

Age: 36

Faulkner is outreach coordinator for U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor. Faulkner graduated from Pinellas Park Senior High and served in the Persian Gulf War in the Marine Corps and as a legislative aide in the Florida House of Representatives. Faulkner is a deacon with Souls Harvest Fellowship Church. He is married to Lynette Pacherrah Faulkner. Assets: Business, Angel Bonding Agency; mutual funds. Liabilities: Home equity loan, student loans. Source of income: U.S. House of Representatives salary; business. Web site: www.faulknerforthepeople.com.

 
Wengay Newton

Age: 44

Newton, a former printing system engineer for Xerox, owns a photography business. He was born in St. Petersburg and graduated from Northeast High School. Newton is president of the Westminster Heights Neighborhood Association. He is married to Melissa Newton and has four children: Anthonio, 27, Brandon, 19, Wengay Jr., 17, and Chelsea, 9. Assets: Home, sub lots, cars, motorcycle. Liabilities: Credit card, mortgage. Source of income: photography business. Web site: www.newt7.com.

[Last modified October 28, 2007, 14:16:34]