Wengay M. "Newt" Newton Sr. is a native of St. Petersburg, Florida. He was born on August 27th, 1963, raised on the south side of St. Petersburg and grew up on 11th Ave & 11th Street in a single parent household that included 7 brothers and sisters.

He attended Rosa Park Elementary, 16th Street Middle School and graduated from Northeast High School in 1981.

To help out his mother he sold evening Independent newspapers (St. Petersburg Times' evening edition) at Trademore Cafeteria, Owl Restaurant, Orange Blossom, Drift Wood Cafeteria, William's Park and  Webb City Plaza.

Mrs. Susie Mae Wilson/Newton died at the young age of 47 in April 1985. But, before she passed she saw a special gift in her son. She encouraged him to apply at ITT technical institute after graduating from Northeast High in 1981. 

In 1983 when he graduated from ITT, he was at the top of his class. He accepted a Technician position at Xerox Corporation and was promoted to Senior Printing Systems Engineer.  He stayed employed at Xerox Corporation for 17 years.

In 1988 he met his beautiful wife Melissa and married her in 1990. They have 4 children: Anthonio, Brandon, Wengay M. Newton Jr., and Chelsea Newton. He is a devoted father and loves his family dearly.

Click here to watch Newt and Melissa's new video from

He and his family are members of First Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church. They try to take family trips every year and enjoy spending quality family time together. He and his wife are also proud grandparents of Camryn Newton and Anthonio D. Newton Jr.

Newt has seen many changes in the St. Petersburg area and has a passion for the Neighborhoods in the city. He wants to serve as a Neighborhood Advocate and your voice.

He is currently serving his 3rd term as the President of the Westminster Heights Neighborhood Association and serves on the City of St. Petersburg Nuisance Abatement Board.

With his experiences and his years in the community he believes he will be the difference to make things BETTER. for the “Greater Good of the Neighborhood”. Am I my neighbor’s keeper? Yes I am!!!!!

He is on the Board of Directors for the Gulfport Chamber of Commerce, Member of TAPPA (Tampa Area of the Professional Photographers Association), FPP (Florida Professional Photographers) and a Member of St. Petersburg Rotary.

Another passion of his was Photography. He started experimenting with photography back in the 1980s and as he worked at Xerox Corporation he was also working part time as a photographer. When he left Xerox in 2000 he opened Newton’s Photography Studio full time and has been producing precious images ever since.