Pensacola mayor race: Fifth candidate files to run for office

A fifth candidate has entered the race for the mayor of Pensacola.

Jonathan Green filed his candidacy paperwork Monday with the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections office.

Green, a teacher, was born and raised in Pensacola and holds a law degree from Southern University Law Center in Louisiana.

Green told the News Journal he is entering the mayor's race because he wants to address issues of inequality and injustice. He said he wants Pensacola to become a model city when it comes to addressing mass incarceration by reallocating city law enforcement resources to reduce recidivism rates and by implementing criminal justice reform.

"We have never resolved the issue," Green said. "We just sweep it under the rug."

Mayor Ashton Hayward said earlier this year he will not seek a third term. Four other candidates have also filed to run: Drew Buchanan, David Mayo, Lawrence Powell and Grover Robinson.

Current mayor: Ashton Hayward says he will not run for third term

Candidate: Grover Robinson files to run for Pensacola mayor

Candidate: Third candidate files to run for Pensacola mayor

Candidate: Pensacola mayor race sees fourth candidate enter field

Mayoral candidates can qualify for the race by either submitting 1,993 valid petitions or paying a $3,000 qualifying fee. The petitions are due today, and candidates have until June 22 to pay the qualifying fee.

Although it is non-partisan, the mayor's race will appeal on the state's primaries ballot on Aug. 28.

If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two candidates will advance to a runoff Nov. 6.