One Pensacola publication seeks to measure the unmeasurable—publishing an annual roster of the influencers, power brokers and leaders who define our corner of Florida. The Inweekly Power List was born during a casual conversation at Atlas Oyster House in May 2007, when someone posed a deceptively simple challenge: what locals could move mountains with a single phone call?
That evening, the first answer came easily: attorney Fred Levin. As beers were poured and the debate continued, I jotted additional names onto a cocktail napkin: Judge Lacey Collier, Ted Ciano, Jim Reeves, Lewis Bear Jr., Ernie Lee Magaha, Collier Merrill, Quint Studer, Jim Cronley and Mort O’Sullivan. None of us imagined that off-the-cuff conversation would become one of Pensacola’s most anticipated annual traditions.
The current Power List—now featuring 100 names—has grown far beyond that bar napkin beginning. Our selection methodology has advanced to a more systematic assessment incorporating public feedback and successive revisions. The number ones have included business leaders, elected officials, philanthropists, educators and media personalities. We balance new entries against removals, comparing visibility to actual impact. The formula remains imperfect, yet it provides a meaningful snapshot of who is steering Pensacola today and tomorrow.
Though we rarely select elected officials, Sheriff Chip Simmons tops the 2026 Power List because he has transformed law enforcement in Northwest Florida while building unprecedented trust with the community. Sheriff Simmons’ leadership style and commitment to innovation, technology and community engagement have improved public safety throughout Escambia County. His unopposed run in 2024—a first in Escambia County’s 200-plus-year history—reflects a level of public confidence rarely seen in modern politics.
The choice of Simmons for number one isn’t the only surprise in the 2026 Power List. We hope you will enjoy it. If not, blame me.
