An Insider’s View of Pensacola’s Transformation
Twenty years ago, Pensacola was a dramatically different city. Downtown was virtually empty, and when visitors came to town, locals had limited options for entertainment. As CPA Jeff DeWeese recalls on the latest “We Don’t Color On The Dog” podcast, “You never would’ve had any issues with downtown parking day, night ever.”
The Pensacola of 2005 was struggling with its identity. DeWeese, who had recently returned with his young family after working with GE in Germany, found himself thrust into the middle of what would become one of the most contentious political battles in the city’s history. Working alongside community giants like Admiral Jack Federman and Quint Studer, he witnessed firsthand the vision that would transform Pensacola.
Behind Enemy Lines
What made DeWeese’s perspective unique was his strategic decision to attend every “Save Our City” meeting – the opposition group fighting against the Maritime Park referendum. These weekly gatherings at the Bayview Senior Center followed a predictable format: “They would have an opening act, then they would have the message, then they would pass the offering plate.”
- DeWeese’s intelligence gathering proved invaluable to the pro-park campaign. As he explains, “I would spend Tuesday night talking with you. Then I’d have to try to get Quint wherever he was and give him a brief. And then seven o’clock the next morning, I was in Mort’s office giving everybody a breakdown.”
The Power of Positive Messaging
The campaign’s success hinged on maintaining an optimistic vision for the future. DeWeese learned from consultant and pollster Bruce Barcelo that “people want to support something. They naturally want to support something positive.” The pro-park side consistently asked opponents a simple question that they couldn’t answer: “If not this, then what?”
From the Right Idea, Right Time:
The campaign was meticulously organized. Barcelo provided detailed street maps showing each resident’s party affiliation, helping volunteers tailor their approach. The team followed strict canvassing hours – no earlier than 9 a.m. or later than 4 p.m. on Saturdays. On Sundays, they started after 2 p.m. to respect family time.
After each weekend, Jeff reported back to Barcelo and Nolan (Barcelo’s partner Tom Nolan) about what the volunteers heard. “If we had people objecting in a neighborhood, the volunteer would ask if we could send them any additional information and record their name and address. Tom would mail them a package of information. It was amazing.”
Looking back, DeWeese sees the Maritime Park as the catalyst for everything that followed: “Everything that has happened is born out of this project.”
Really good interview! Thank you for sharing.