Charles Bare, who ran for the mayor of Pensacola in 2010, has pre-filed for Pensacola City Council At-Large Seat b, which is currently held by Council President Sam Hall.
“Two years ago, I walked the streets of Pensacola and saw and heard the needs firsthand,” said Bare in his press release. “Our city’s strength beans with strong neighborhoods, As your councilman, I will work with my fellow council members and Mayor Hayward to strengthen our neighborhoods and match our city’s efforts & budget to the needs of the people.”
Bare placed fourth in the mayor’s race with 14-percent of the vote and he supported incumbent Mayor Mike Wiggins in the 2010 general election. He did bring up the city charter in his announcement stating that, according to the charter, “the council shall be the governing body of the City with all legislative powers of the City vested therein.”
“The Council must work with citizens to develop and maintain laws that support business growth, encourage community development and maintain an environment that is both healthy and stable,” said Bare. “The current economy, including impacts of rising pension costs, acres of vacant land & buildings and bad planning decisions from decades past provide ample opportunities for the council to make improvements and to serve citizens.”
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This race will be interesting to watch. Though he failed to garner many votes in 2010, Bare is personable and a hard campaigner. Will the Wiggins group come out and support his candidacy? Bringing up the council’s legislative powers and not stressing that he will work to help Mayor Hayward would appear to place him in the opposition camp –Myers, DeWeese and Pratt –but it’s early and Bare will have six months to clarify his positions.
If some candidates take an anti-Hayward approach to their campaigns, then the 2012 City Council races will be a mandate on the first-term mayor’s tenure and a possible omen for 2014. Mayor Hayward may have to get involved in the races and actively endorse and campaign for those he believes will help his agenda.