Mayor Hayward’s Year Win, Lose & Draw Edition This year has definitely been a mixed bag for the city of Pensacola’s first strong mayor, Ashton Hayward. The voters and media are not as easily swayed by his bright smile as they were back in 2011. His speeches are becoming a little worn. His favorite sayings like “Day One,” “Perception is Reality” and “Pensacola is open for business” have vanished. Instead he is referring to himself in the third person, which is never a good sign.
For most elected officials, there is a path normally followed. The first year is when all the initiatives are introduced, usually within the first 100 days while still in the “honeymoon period.” The second year is the hardest year, when the official gets pushback and must modify programs. The third year is when all of those initiatives bear fruit, leading to a smooth fourth year that in turn, helps the official glide into a re-election campaign. Hayward has taken a different path. His administration didn’t harvest much “fruit” in 2013, which is why we created this “Win, Lose & Draw” review of his year.
Economic Development
Win: In early November Southwest
Airlines launched service from Pensacola International Airport.
Lose: Several projects touted by the
mayor in 2012—Majestic Candies, Pen Air Federal Credit Union and Project “High Hat” at the port never came to fruition. Draw: Project Stallion is still a possibility. The not-so-secret deal has been reduced from 500 to 350 potential employees at the commerce park at the airport. County commissioners have balked at the city’s request of $10 million to complete the deal.
Budget
Win: The mayor announced at his 2013
State of City address, “Our City budget has been reduced by nearly $30,000,000.” Lose: Handing over the library system to the county made up $4.8 million of that reduction. Another $19.8 million came from the city’s enterprise operations—Pensacola Energy Services (down $11.8 million), Pensacola International Airport ($4 million)
BE THOSE PEOPLE. LOVE. ADOPT. ADVOCATE. Pensacola Humane.org December 12, 2013
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