Primary Results: Montanari, Cox, Wheeler-Bowman Top Vote-Getters

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — With all 38 precincts reporting in, the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections unofficially declared the St. Petersburg City Council candidates who will go on to face off in the general election Nov. 5.

Nearly 12,000 St. Petersburg residents cast their ballots Tuesday, 16.68 percent of those eligible to vote in the primary.

As predicted by pollsters, sitting councilman Ed Montanari handily led the District 3 race, garnering 70.65 percent of the vote. He will face retired Air Force officer Orlando Acosta, who obtained 19.97 percent of the vote.

The District 5 election proved more of a surprise. Adjunct St. Petersburg College professor Treina Cox garnered 34.96 percent of the vote in the five-way primary race and will face Deborah Figgs-Sanders who received 29.64 percent of the vote. Figgs-Sanders, the former executive director of the Childs Park YMCA, was the front runner going into the primary, according to pollsters.

Finally, a 22-year-old political newcomer, Eritha Canion, will challenge incumbent Lisa Wheeler-Bowman for the District 7 seat. Canion received 23.91 percent of the vote to Wheeler-Bowman's 57.39 percent.

Also on the ballot in November will be District 1 candidates Robert G. Blackmon and John Hornbeck.

St. Pete Council Candidates Head To Aug. 27 Primary