ST. PETERSBURG — It's officially the most expensive mayoral race this city has ever seen.

Mayoral hopeful Scott Wagman rose to the top of a crowded field Friday, amassing a campaign chest worth $236,100 and shattering the record for the most money raised by a candidate in a St. Petersburg election.

Wagman, the wealthiest candidate in the race, has pumped $140,000 of his own money into his campaign since January, including an $80,000 loan within the last month, according to the latest batch of campaign finance reports.

"It means I am committed to this campaign and this city," said Wagman, 56, a real estate investor. "I need to invest at a higher level to get my name recognition up, remembering that I am competing with people that have been on council, have a lot more visibility than I have due to prior government service, and I have to step it up."

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