The Pensacola City Council will have two new city council members: Brian Spencer and Sherrie Myers. Both ran aggressive door-to-door campaigns.
Spencer beat incumbent Jewel Cannada-Wynn who has served since Jan 2005. Spencer outraised her $32,575-$8,101 but more importantly he walked the streets of his district. Cannada-Wynn has a reputation of being ill-prepared for the council meetings, at times speaking out without understanding the issue or the motion. She opposed both the new charter and Pensacola Promise. Spencer won by 167 votes, 1276-1,109.
Sherrie Myers upset Courtney Peterson in the race to fill the seat vacated by Sam Hall, who moved over to an At-Large spot. Myers is a outspoken advocate for handicap- accessibility. She spearheaded the effort to get more handicap parking spots on Palafox and throughout downtown Pensacola. Not much money was raised in this race. Peterson had $4720, Myers $2,125—$1700 was her own money. Myers will be beholden to no one and it will fun to watch how she leads from the other side of podium. Myers won by 70 votes, 1116-1046.
The alignment of the new council will be interesting:
Progressive:
Maren DeWeese
Larry B. Johnson, Jr.
Brian Spencer
Status quo:
P.C. Wu
Megan Pratt
Ron Townsend
John Jerralds
Swing votes:
Sam Hall
Sherri Myers (she definitely won’t be a status quo voter)
Predictions on first city council president (in order of probability):
1. P.C. Wu — elder statesman, would run a fair meeting
2. John Jerralds – even more experience on council, but has done little to build alliances with others. Meetings would have to have nap time because they would be so long.
3. Sam Hall – plays both sides too much and hasn’t done much in his two terms.
4. Maren DeWeese – a lightning rod for those opposed to change. People will move mountains to stop this.
5. Megan Pratt – very intelligent, but definitely tied to status quo.
6. Larry B. Johnson, Jr. – too close to Hayward. Council needs to be independent.
7. Ron Townsend – doesn’t care enough to council president.
8. Sherri Myers, Brian Spencer – both are too new.