Pensacola Politics

Reeves on Myers Support: Not an Official Endorsement, but “That’s My Opinion”

Asked about Citizens for Pensacola’s texts backing Sherri Myers, the mayor said he can’t speak for the PAC, then shared his views on Councilman Charles Bare.

Mayor D.C. Reeves stopped short of endorsing Sherri Myers at his Oct. 28 press conference, saying he can’t speak for Citizens for Pensacola and isn’t “giving out official endorsements.” But he criticized Councilman Charles Bare’s votes, praised Myers’ recent work on Carpenter Creek, and said plainly that he has an opinion about the District 2 race.

A reporter asked Reeves whether the PAC’s advertising for Myers, the former councilwoman challenging Bare, is also an endorsement from him.

“I just shared my feelings with them. I’m not giving out official endorsements or anything like that, but that’s my opinion.”

What the Mayor Said

On the PAC. Reeves said political committees are governed by state law and that he would not speak for a committee he isn’t on.
On Bare. Reeves pointed to the affordability crisis and said Bare voted down $500,000 for police radios and asked local taxpayers to pay it. He also referenced Bare’s opposition to the city’s free cardboard pickup.
On disagreement. “There isn’t one member of council, not one, that hasn’t voted against something that the administration has sponsored or supported,” Reeves said. He said he has not had four years of consensus with any of the seven council members.
On Myers. Reeves said he hasn’t agreed with her on everything either, noting that she ran against him the first time. But he said that in the last three months, they have talked more about Carpenter Creek than he has heard from the city council member “for years,” an apparent reference to Bare. “We’ve got real impact happening,” he said.
On the voters. “The voters in District 2 will vote. See what happens.”

Reeves also drew a line between council members whose mission is to have a positive impact on the community and those he doesn’t “necessarily see that way.” He called that “one guy’s opinion” and said voters decide who represents them.

The Hofberger Question

I asked the mayor whether that meant he wasn’t endorsing either candidate. He repeated that he was not giving official endorsements.

I then noted that he had endorsed Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger, so he has done endorsements. His answer: “Yeah.”

Citizens for Pensacola has contributed to Hofberger’s campaign.