Low flow of voters for St. Pete city election

BY INDHIRA SUERO
NNB Reporter

An empty street and a few signs indicated where to vote for the candidates running for St. Petersburg City Council District 7.

However — around noon — only two voters appeared to exercise their right to vote at New Hope Baptist Church.

The District 7 race has community activist Lisa Wheeler-Brown squared off against Winthrop “Will” Newton.

Residents also got the chance to vote on four city referendum questions which dealt with protections to sea grass beds, district boundaries, residency restrictions for elected officials and electronic counting of council member votes.

Resident Phillips Ulises came out to support Newton. Ulises said he was not aware of the referendum questions.

According to poll workers,  participation has been low with just “a few voters” appearing at the precinct.

Estimated voter turnout averaged about 1.8 percent by 2 p.m., according to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections.