St. Pete mayorâs race still has candidates weighing their options Insiders expect jockeying to begin in earnest next month. Â By William March Updated Dec. 14, 2020 As speculation continues about candidates in the upcoming St. Petersburg mayoral race, and insiders expect jockeying to begin in earnest next month, former state Rep. Wengay Newton said this week heâs âdefinitely consideringâ running. Businessman and civic activist Deveron Gibbons said people have asked him to run and heâs thinking about it, but that family considerations might get in the way. Newton lost the Democratic primary for county commissioner to Rene Flowers in November, but he said he would perform better in a non-partisan election including Republican and no-party voters.