Escambia County Voters Prepare for Aug. 18 Primary Election: Key Races and Referendum

Voters across Escambia County—from Pensacola and Warrington to Cantonment and Perdido Key—are preparing to head to the polls for the Aug. 18 primary election. The ballot features critical decisions shaping local governance, public safety, fiscal policy, and educational oversight.

Among the major items put before voters are a countywide referendum on whether to elect or appoint the school superintendent, a six-candidate nonpartisan mayoral contest in Pensacola, a competitive Republican primary for Escambia County Commission District 2, and three Escambia County School Board seats.

School Superintendent Referendum: Elected vs. Appointed Leadership

Voters countywide will decide a key administrative question regarding the governance of Escambia County Public Schools. According to official election notices from the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections, the ballot referendum asks voters whether the Superintendent of Schools should be chosen through a public election rather than appointed by the school board.

• A YES vote: Converts the superintendent into an elected official chosen directly by Escambia County voters, increasing direct accountability to the electorate.
• A NO vote: Retains the current appointed structure, keeping the hiring and oversight of executive school leadership under the purview of the elected School Board.

The outcome will determine how executive school leadership is held accountable to taxpayers, parents, and community members regarding district management and educational outcomes.

Pensacola Mayoral Race: Six Candidates Seek City Leadership

In the nonpartisan election for Mayor of Pensacola, six qualified candidates are on the ballot. If no candidate secures more than 50 percent of the vote on Aug. 18, the top two vote-getters will advance to a general election runoff on Nov. 3.

The Candidates and Platforms

• D. C. Reeves (Incumbent): Serving as mayor since 2022, Reeves is seeking a second term centered on economic development, public safety investment, and infrastructure continuity. While supporters emphasize steady commercial growth and administrative experience, skeptical residents have raised concerns regarding developer influence and the pace of local growth.
• Alicia Trawick: A local government consultant, Trawick advocates structural reform of Pensacola’s “strong-mayor” system toward a hybrid city manager model to balance executive power. According to her published platform, her priorities include core municipal services, stormwater and flood mitigation infrastructure, historic preservation, downtown parking management, public transit improvements, and addressing homelessness.
• Eric Shorter: A local businessman, Shorter bases his campaign on bringing private-sector efficiency, business development, and management expertise to municipal operations.
• Ann Hill: Former Pensacola City Council President (2018–2022), Hill emphasizes municipal administrative experience, neighborhood-level service delivery, and restoring public trust in city hall.
• Jasmine Brown: A community organizer and housing advocate who describes her platform as socialist-leaning, Brown prioritizes public housing equity and community involvement while challenging developer participation in city policy.
• Jermaine Williams: A behavioral health professional and filmmaker running on a “people-first” platform focused on community wellness, health resources, and civic inclusion.

Escambia County Commission District 2: Republican Primary

In Escambia County Commission District 2, two Republican candidates are competing in the primary. With no opposition from major-party challengers in the general election, this contest will largely determine who represents the district on the county commission.

• Mike Kohler (Incumbent): A retired Navy veteran, registered nurse, and former local Republican Party leader, Kohler has served on the commission since November 2022. According to his campaign, his platform focuses on fiscal conservatism, supporting public safety personnel, addressing neighborhood blight, expanding infrastructure, and protecting local waterways such as Pensacola and Perdido Bays while supporting military installations in the district.
• Glenn Dorsey: CEO of a real estate and community association management company, Dorsey emphasizes business management principles, strict property tax restraint, transparent government operations, and infrastructure repair while safeguarding established residential neighborhoods against unmanaged expansion.

Escambia County School Board Races

Three nonpartisan seats on the Escambia County School Board are on the Aug. 18 ballot, giving voters a direct voice on classroom performance, spending priorities, and educational policies.

• District 1: Incumbent Kevin Adams faces challenger Erin Toler, who has received endorsements from progressive advocacy groups. Adams stresses board experience and policy stability, while Toler promises new oversight on district spending and student programs.
• District 2: Incumbent Paul H. Fetsko faces challenger Gerald Washington, with both candidates focusing on academic standards, campus security, and support for teachers.
• District 3: Incumbent David Williams is challenged by Isaac L. Williams in a race centered on school performance metrics, fiscal accountability, and student resources.