The Pensacola City Council will elect its officers at a special meeting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25, in council chambers at Pensacola City Hall. According to the agenda, one person has been nominated for council president and two for vice president.
Council member Teniade Broughton has nominated Allison Patton for president, writing, “Ms. Patton has served well as vice president, and I know she would be a stellar president.”
For vice president, Councilman Delarian Wiggins has nominated Jennifer Brahier. Broughton nominated Wiggins: “Delarian has served us well in the past and will do a fine job for us!’
Roles
The city charter states: “The president shall preside at the meetings of the City Council and in his or her absence, the vice president shall preside. The president shall perform the duties consistent with the office and as otherwise imposed by the City Council.”
Behind the Scenes of the First Council President Election
In January 2012, Maren DeWeese won the first Pensacola City Council presidency by a 5-4 vote over Megan Pratt. The swing vote was PC Wu. I talked with Wu at the City Hall reception after the historic vote. He said that he hadn’t always agreed with DeWeese on council votes, but he admired her passion and commitment to the City.
Two council member withdrew their names before the vote: John Jerralds and Sam Hall. Jerralds said he was more focused on implementation and was no longer interested in the post. Hall said that he had reached a decision over the weekend at a church leadership retreat to withdraw his name. He apologized to his supporters, but he no longer had a passion for the position.
Hall said that he thought the council president should be an at-large council member and that it should be like a “consensus builder,” Megan Pratt. The only statement made by any council member for a candidate for the position.
Councilman Ronald Townsend joined Hall, Jerralds and Pratt in voting for Pratt. Wu was later elected council vice president.