Pensacola City Councilman Brian Spencer launches bid for mayor

Kevin Robinson | Pensacola News Journal

Pensacola City Councilman Brian Spencer has entered the race to become Pensacola mayor.

Spencer, who has represented District 6 since 2010, announced earlier this month that he would not seek re-election to the council.

In an interview Friday, Spencer said he deliberated late into the night Thursday before making his decision to run for the city's highest office. He filed for the office at 11:52 a.m. Friday, just minutes before the candidate qualification deadline.

"I thought voters would like to have one more candidate to consider," Spencer said. "In spite of the current list of candidates, I still felt that there was a void I could fill."

Brian Spencer's beliefs and qualifications

Spencer has served two, consecutive four-year terms, and was president of the City Council from Nov. 22, 2016, through Nov. 28, 2017, according to the city's website. He represents the City Council on the Downtown Improvement Board and Keep Pensacola Beautiful.

A founding principal of SMP Architecture in Pensacola, Spencer said he believed his education and experience in the fields of planning and design can help lead Pensacola into the future.

"I strongly believe man's built environment plays a significant role in the sustainability, growth and prosperity of cities," Spencer said.

Up against a crowded field

Spencer enters an already crowded field that includes five other candidates: Drew Buchanan, Jonathan Green, David Mayo, Lawrence Powell and Grover Robinson.

The outgoing councilman admitted he was off to a very late start, but he said he is confident his experience serving as a council representative would serve him well in his campaign and, if elected, in office.

"I have almost eight years of experience of operating under the Florida Sunshine Law as an elected representative and I am anxious to utilize the tools provided by the mayor- council form of government in order to maximize my engagement with individual council members," Spencer said.

Ashton Hayward, the current mayor of Pensacola, announced in March he would not seek a third term.

Two candidates have filed to run for Spencer's seat, Pensacola resident Ann Hill and City Council budget analyst Wilhelm "Butch" Hansen.

The general election is set for Nov. 6.

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Kevin Robinson can be reached at krobinson4@pnj.com and 850-435-8527.