Take Me to Your Leader

Before settling into the Thanksgiving holidays, the Pensacola City Council will select a new leadership to take it through the next year. Council members choose their 2012 president and vice president on Tuesday.

“It’s a very bizarre game because you don’t really run for this position,” said Councilwoman Megan Pratt. “No one makes campaign speeches, yet, it’s a really important job.”

Pratt said she hasn’t decided who she’ll cast her lot with. She’s going into the meeting with an open mind.

“If they’re interested on Tuesday then I’ll consider them,” she said.

Council members who are definitely interested in the presidency are Sam Hall and John Jerralds. They nominated themselves for the seat.

So did current Council Vice President P.C. Wu. But he said this week that he’s reconsidering.

“I’m thinking of pulling out of the president’s race,” Wu said.

The Councilman said his duties with the League of Cities—he’s currently second VP, and looking at the body’s presidency by 2013—could possibly divide his attentions. Wu is, however, apparently comfortable in his current post; he also nominated himself for another term as vice president.

Councilwoman Sherri Myers joined Wu and Council President Mauren DeWeese in nominating the Vice President. If Wu drops out those are assumably open votes.

DeWeese could not be reached for comment. Myers seemed to truly be pulling for a Wu win, saying he had “wisdom” and was “held in high regard.”

Councilman Jerralds is convinced that he would make the best President for the Council.

“At this time I think the Council needs leadership and guidance,” Jerralds said.

It’d difficult to guess Councilman Hall’s strategy. While he nominated himself, he also nominated councilmen Brian Spencer and Ronald Townsend. Spencer could not be reached for comment. Neither could Townsend, but the Councilman did nominate himself for the vice president’s seat. Hall, along with Councilman Larry Johnson, also nominated Townsend for the number two seat.

Johnson said he’s feeling pretty strongly about a Hall-led Council.

“I’m pretty set on it,” Johnson said. “He understands Robert’s Rule, I’d say, better than anyone on Council.”

A common-theme seems to be a Hall-Johnson-Townsend alignment geared toward a Hall presidency and Townsend vice-presidency.

“It’s going to be interesting,” Johnson said.

The Pensacola City Council votes on its new leadership Nov. 22.