About Scott Wagman | About Beth Houghton

About Scott

Scott's Life Principles:
Work Hard, make a difference, give back
Scott Wagman dramatically grew his family's business. He created jobs while taking care of his employees and constantly gave back to this community. As mayor, he will be a strong leader for change, focusing on making city government more efficient and improving public safety.

A Small Family Business:
Scott Wagman’s parents taught him to work hard, make a difference and to give something back. They named their family’s small family-owned paint business Scott Paints after their only child. At age 26, Scott took over and grew it from four employees to 140 and from $400,000 to $19 million in revenue. Scott implemented a company retirement plan and in down times took no pay to prevent layoffs and to meet company obligations. Even though Scott was the CEO, this was not an AIG situation. Scott knew the names of his employees, know when they were married, had graduations, had children. He was connected to his team.

Giving Back
Scott Wagman’s parents taught him to always give back to his community and make a difference. This is one reason he went without a paycheck during the recession of 1991 so the business could retain employees and survive. He and his wife Beth have given back to the community in lasting and meaningful ways. They helped save Great Explorations Children’s Museum. Scott has tutored in schools and helped the Free Clinic which gives health services to the homeless and those in need. Scott and his wife have been giving back to this community for years and running for mayor is the next way he wants to work to improve this great community.

Thirteen years ago Wagman was asked to help keep unused paint out of the county landfills. Scott and his team developed a solution that eventually led to the first paint-recycling program in the state of Florida. That program still exists today, running at a profit and has even grown within eight counties in Florida.

Only Candidate Of Change
The other candidates are good people, but it will be hard to be a strong force for change when each of them has been very connected to city government in the past few years. To get our budget on track, reduce crime, and generate economic growth while preserving our quality of life, we need a mayor who has gotten results and who is not vested in politics as usual on the council or city government. Scott Wagman is the only candidate who has run a large organization, personally managed multi-million dollar budgets and led a large team to get dramatic results.


Scott Wagman's Bio
Scott K. Wagman is a successful, socially responsible business executive who led his family’s mom-and-pop business (Scott Paint) from a one-store operation to a $19 million, 140-employee multi-store success story (Sold in 1998 as a Division of Bruning Paint). Thirteen years ago Scott created the first leftover paint-recycling program in Florida at Scott Paint. Today, the program is now recycling paint for thirteen counties in Florida and is run at a profit.

Scott and his wife, Beth Houghton, have called St. Petersburg home for over 25 years, raising their three children here. Both Scott and Beth are very active members of the community supporting organizations such as Great Explorations – The Houghton Wagman Children’s Museum, Lawyers for Literacy, American Stage Theater and The Free Clinic. Recognized for their volunteer leadership, they recently received these awards: Celebrity Award, Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services (2007); Distinguished Citizens Award, West Central Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America (2008).

Scott also has participated in:
  • Council of Neighborhood Associations Leadership -CONA (Class of 2008)
  • St. Petersburg Citizen Police Academy (Class of 2008)
  • Canterbury School of Florida (Board)
  • Pinellas County Citizens University (Class of 2008)
  • American Stage Theater (President)
  • Leadership St. Petersburg (Class of 2009)
  • NAACP St. Petersburg Branch (Executive Committee & Life Member)
  • Friends of Williams Park
 

Scott Volunteering at St. Petersburg Free Clinic

Past Volunteer/Civic Activities:
  • Lawyers for Literacy 2005 to present
  • Volunteer tutor, Sanderlin Elementary
  • Suncoast Ronald McDonald House 1998 to 1999. Board Member
  • Leadership Sarasota Graduate (Sarasota, FL), 1987
  • City of Sarasota Bi-racial Council, Chairman, 1970 (Youngest chairman of any Florida City or County Board at age 17)

Relationship
Married for 31 years to Beth Houghton

Activities
Reading political and business news, theater, lively discussion, golf

Interests
Politics, community problem solving, friends

Favorite Music
Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, Rolling Stones

Favorite Movies
Saving Private Ryan, Caddyshack, Slumdog Millionaire, Glory

Favorite Books
Team of Rivals, The Four Agreements, Marley and Me

Favorite Magazines
Popular Mechanics, Popular Science

Favorite TV Shows
CSI Las Vegas/Miami, 24, CNN, Saturday Night Live

Favorite Quotation
“The past we inherit, the future we create" -- The Talmud
"It's important to do things right, but it's more important to do the right things."  -- Me ;-)

Work Info
Employer – Business Executive (self employed)
Position – Last served as President/CEO of Scott Paint Corporation

Education Info
College – Tulane University ‘75
High School – Riverview High School