Grover Robinson and Brian Spencer advance to runoff in Pensacola mayors race

Jim Little | Pensacola News Journal

Pensacola mayoral candidate Brian Spencer talks with supporters Pensacola mayoral candidate Brian Spencer thanks supporters and asks for help in second half of the race.

The Pensacola mayor's race is now a contest between Grover Robinson and Brian Spencer as the two are heading for a runoff election in November.

Robinson had the most votes in Tuesday's six-way race with 34 percent of the vote after all precincts reported.

Spencer came in second with 20.7 percent of the vote.

No candidate got more than 50 percent of the vote, triggering a runoff election.

Along with Robinson and Spencer, candidates Drew Buchanan, David Mayo, Lawrence Powell and Johnathan Green were vying to be Pensacola's next chief executive.

Mayo came in third with 17 percent of the vote, followed by Buchanan with 13 percent.

Powell was in fifth with 11 percent and Green in last with 3.5 percent of the vote.

"We're very pleased we're advancing," Robinson said from his election watch party at his home in Cordova Park. "Fifty-five percent of the people voted for experience and nearly 80 percent voted for change. We're the one candidate that's got experience and trying to change things."

Robinson has represented District 4 on the county commission for 12 years, and was the first officially to enter the race in October.

Between October and Tuesday's vote, Robinson raised more than $122,000 and spent more than $84,000 winning 5,567 votes.

Robinson campaigned on his experience and track record in county government and said he would use that to move the city forward.

He said he feels good about the upcoming election.

"We'll get started tomorrow and it's 10 more weeks," Robinson said. "Tomorrow, we're back at and we'll be doing it again (in November)."

From his election watch party at the Lee House in downtown Pensacola, Spencer said he was grateful for the support the voters showed him in his short campaign.

Spencer has been on the Pensacola City Council since 2010 and announced his candidacy on the final day of candidate qualifying in June.

In the nine-week campaign, Spencer out-raised all the other candidates bringing in more than $164,000 and spending more than $121,000 on his campaign winning 3,367 votes.

Spencer campaigned on increasing funding for public safety and creating "vibrant" growth in the city.

"There's a clear message from voters that they want to see Pensacola's momentum continued," Spencer said. "There are some changes that are desired, however, I believe my reputation provides citizens the confidence that I can transition to this leadership position in order to propel Pensacola to an era of prosperity and inclusivity and access to city service for all neighborhoods."

The six candidates spent Tuesday campaigning outside polling places and waving signs on street corners in a final push for votes.

The campaign was the first open mayor's race since 2010 when Mayor Ashton Hayward was elected to the office.

Combined, all six candidates spent more than $273,000 on the race.

Mayo raised more than $46,000 and spent almost $24,500 in his campaign winning 2,704 votes.

Mayo campaigned on his experience as general manager of WHBR-TV, a local affiliate of the Christian Television Network, and wanted to "streamline" City Hall for local businesses and neighborhoods.

Despite Buchanan's comparatively low budget campaign — he raised more than $18,500 and spent about $14,000 — his decidedly anti-establishment message was enough to win him 2,114 votes. Buchanan used social media to get out his message to Pensacola voters with Facebook live and documentary-like video ads.

He also went after Spencer and Robinson at several mayor forums criticizing each candidate for past votes on the City Council and County Commission.

Lawrence Powell, pastor of Christ Our Redeemer Eternally Ministries, raised more than $24,000 and spent about $20,400 in his campaign winning 1,911.

Powell campaigned on his military experience as an Army officer and wanted to use that experience to improve the mayor's office and the City Council.

Jonathan Green came in last after raising just over $5,000 and spending most of it winning 605 votes.

Green, a local teacher and recent law-school graduate, focused on criminal justice reform and improving the city's social services.

Over the next 10 weeks, Robinson and Spencer will have to argue to the citizens of Pensacola why they should lead the city government over the next four years.

Jim Little can be reached at jwlittle@pnj.com and 850-208-9827.

Pensacola Mayor

Drew Buchanan 12.99%

Jonathan Green 3.72%

David Mayo 16.62%

Lawrence Powell 11.75%

Grover Robinson 34.22%

Brian Spencer 20.7%