St. Pete City Council candidate Lisa Wheeler-Brown has earned two key endorsements from elected officials in Pinellas County. Pinellas County Commissioner Pat Gerard and Pinellas County School Board member Rene Flowers both gave a nod to Wheeler-Brown for her candidacy in the District 7 race.
“Lisa has faced significant adversity in her life, she has embraced her past, and now utilizes it to help those in similar situations. Lisa has come out the other side a strong, compassionate, and dedicated woman,” Flowers said. “She understands the hardships that individuals face in District 7, and will continue to listen, learn, and lead as a City Councilwoman.”
The primary election is just one week away. Wheeler-Brown faces four challengers including Will Newton, Sheila Scott-Griffin, Aaron Sharpe and Lewis Stephens.
“Lisa understands that the recession isn’t over for everybody,” Gerard said. “We need her on St Petersburg City Council to work with small business owners to create good-paying jobs that people can raise a family on.”
The latest endorsements build on an already formidable list including City Council members Karl Nurse and Darden Rice, Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch, the Pinellas Stonewall Democrats, Ruth’s List of Florida, both Tampa Bay newspapers and others.
“I’m so thankful to have the support of County Commissioner Gerard and School Board Member Flowers,” Wheeler-Brown said. “Both of them have been strong leaders on issues that matter most to District 7 and St. Petersburg at-large, and I look forward to standing up with them to fight for our families.”
As the primary looms just next week, the race is getting heated. A mailer paid for by the Florida Democratic Party went out this week blasting Scott-Griffin, the only Republican in the race. A mailer sent out last week by Newton’s campaign criticized Wheeler-Brown and Scott-Griffin for giving a thumbs up to a question asking whether or not they supported the Rays leaving St. Pete.
The top two vote-getters in next week’s primary will move on to the November 3 general election.
