Corey Givens Jr. denies his political comeback Wengay Newton and will replace John Muhammad on the St. Petersburg City Council

Corey Givens Jr. won Wengey Newton in the race for deputies of the St. Petersburg City Council in the 7th district.

With 84% of the precincts polled, Givens received 52% of the vote.

His victory denies Newton a political comeback. Newton served two terms on the City Council from 2008 to 2016. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2016, where he served until 2020, when he ran unsuccessfully for the Pinellas County Commission. The following year, Newton lost his bid for mayor of St. Petersburg and lost a bid for his old House district in 2022.

Despite some advantagesNewton’s losing streak continues. A registered Democrat, Newton was often criticized by members of his own political party for his votes and alliances with the Republican Party. In some of his races, he enjoyed the support of the former mayor of St. Petersburg. Rick Bakeris a prominent Pinellas County Republican, and has alliances with Chris And Jack LatvalaThe Republican Party is the political center of power at the local level. Latvalas supported Newton when he ran against the Democratic Party. Michelle Rayner in 2022.

Givens has overcome enormous fundraising The downside: He raised just over $17,000 to Newton’s over $72,000. He also returned from the August primary, in which Givens finished behind Newton just 23%, a full 12 percentage points behind, but still enough to claim second place and advance to the second round of the general election.

Givens will replace City Council member John Muhammadwho was appointed to this post after the sudden resignation of a former Council member Lisa Wheeler-Bowman after it was discovered she no longer lived in the area. Muhammad decided not to stand for election to the seat.

Givens is a recognizable name. He served on numerous boardsincluding the Poor People’s Campaign, Junior League of St. Petersburg Community Advisory Council, Sickle Cell Foundation of St. Petersburg, Neighborhood Association Council, Concerned Organization for Educational Quality for Black Students, and others.

He also volunteers as a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters and the 5000 Role Models group. He is a past president of the Lakewood Terrace Neighborhood Association.

While Givens’ victory continues Newton’s losing streak, it ends his own. He lost election to the City Council in 2007 after allegations that he exaggerated his academic achievements and after depositing a $500 campaign donation into his personal checking account, which he said was made in error. He also lost a bid for the Pinellas County School Board in 2020.

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