BY ZENENA MOGUEL
NNB Reporter
ST. PETERSBURG – Residents quickly filled the Enoch Davis Recreation Center for a final City Council Candidate forum hosted by the St. Pete National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Monday (Oct. 26) evening.
“This is a part of the NAACP legacy is the having an important voice in the voting process,” said NAACP President Maria Scruggs. “Our goal was we couldn’t afford to be silent, and we have two very important seats – District 5 and District 7.”
Four City Council candidates engaged in a tense and lively two-hour forum including District 5 candidates Steve Kornell and Philip Garrett and District 7 candidates Lisa Wheeler-Brown and Winthrop ‘Will’ Newton. While the candidates were there to express their plans to tackle issues and future for the city, the reason the residents attended centered around a main goal – a better understanding of what’s at stake this election.
“I really just want to understand what are some of the positions that some of the candidates are taking on specifically key things that are affecting our community,” said resident Kent Channer of District 5. “Water registration, education for our children, economic opportunities for the diverse people that are here.”
“I plan on really understanding more of what (the candidates) are all standing for,” said resident Shane Armstrong, who lives in District 7.
The forum began with opening statements from each candidate expressing their goals for the overall betterment of the community. Coming out strong and highly intense in her statement was Lisa Wheeler-Brown addressing the allegations her opponent, Will Newton, has brought about throughout the race.
“My opponent and some of his supporters have been saying some pretty terrible things about me and my murdered son,” said Wheeler-Brown. “They’re accusing me of profiting from my murdered son’s murder.”
The forum continued with candidate responses on issues concerning economic development, the Failure Factories series of stories, and education. The issue of the Tampa Bay Rays even arose with Newton and Kornell sharing in agreement to not take the proposed deal and Wheeler-Brown and Garrett proposing the city should.
While Wheeler-Brown and Newton shared a similar vision for the community in providing better housing and job opportunities, Garrett and Kornell shared their differences with Garrett accusing Kornell of the lack of progress he has done over the past six years especially with education. However, Kornell was not afraid to hit back at these accusations with his involvement in educating youths and the importance of proper housing and jobs that will impact education.
“You want kids to come in ready to learn, well of course we do,” said Kornell. “To do that your parents have to have a good job. You have to have a house – not sleeping in a car.”
As the candidates continue to share their stance on each issue, the crowd of residents was not afraid to show their agreement or disagreement with the candidates. In the end, many residents felt the forum strengthened the decision they already had.
“I came here knowing who I was supporting,” said resident Ashley Green.
For Green, this merely was an opportunity to confirm her decision. However, for other attendees such as Ray Tampa, who lives outside of districts 5 and 7, this was a chance to make sure the city continues to grow and prosper especially in education concerning the Failure Factories stories.
“I cried when I read what I read (Failure Factories),” said Tampa. “I’m very passionate about education.”
Although confirmed to attend, District 1 candidates Monica Abbott and Charlie Gerdes were not present at the forum.
Residents get to make their choice with their vote Nov. 3.