By John Hayden
The only thing constant is change. And, if you’re in Wilton Manors, Scott Newton. He’s spent his life in the city and seen lots of change. The city has grown from a Broward County backwater to a booming LGBTQIA+ mecca. Now another growth spurt is on the horizon and Newton wants to see it get off on the right foot.
“Everything I’ve been working towards for years should be in place in our city. That’s making sure growth is happening, the stability of our infrastructure and our sea level rise,” he told OutClique.
To do that, he is running for reelection this November. “I want to see in the next two-and-a-half years that we get all the codes to make sure we’re a viable city in Broward.”
With three major projects on the verge of breaking ground, Wilton Manors’ capacity for visitors and residents is about to skyrocket. Aside from a brief stint in college, Newton is a Wilton Manors lifer. He’s owned Quality Interiors for more than 25 years and has served the city in some capacity since 1990 when he was appointed to the Board of Adjustments.
“I still have the energy and the heart and soul of the community. I believe this community enjoys what I’m trying to do and the direction we are going in.” You’ve likely seen Newton out and not even noticed, but he’s there. “I’m a grounds kinda guy. I’ll go out and pick up garbage, help people change a flat in the city. I’m a hands-on kinda person.”
One thing he wants to see is the city to become affordable once again. “My daughter’s a teacher, and there’s no way she could afford to buy in Wilton Manors.”
Newton appreciates that people move here and retire, but he also wants a vibrant population that not only works in the city, but lives there, too. “We really need to put in workforce housing. I mean people that work for a living that work at our small businesses like Storks, Alibi, and The Pub. If they have to travel four or five miles then they need a car, then insurance, then parking. It’d be nice if they could actually enjoy living in their own community.”
Keeping the city’s hometown vibe while also encouraging growth and development is a delicate balancing act. Many see Fort Lauderdale’s building boom and worry it will cross the river into Wilton. Newton is not worried. “Let Fort Lauderdale keep their forty and sixty storey buildings. I want to keep the hometown feel in Wilton Manors. Getting above six to eight stories you start to lose that.”
City code caps buildings at eight stories, which would still be smaller than the city’s tallest structure, Wilton Tower behind the Dairy Queen.
While Newton’s not going anywhere, he says this is his last campaign. “I will be seventy years old in two years, and I’m gonna let the younger guns come in.”
