(PENSACOLA) --- Ann Hill already knows what it means to sit on the dais.
The Pensacola mayoral candidate served as both council vice president and president during her term from 2018, and she is ready to serve again, throwing her hat in the ring with six other candidates, including the incumbent.
Her political drive began at age 10, when she found the Maryknoll Sisters' booth at the Michigan State Fair.
"I was so impressed by their charitable work helping undernourished babies and children my age that I promptly announced I wanted to become a nun," Hill said, noting Mother Theresa was also an inspiration. "My daughter is also named Teresa, but after the great doctor of the Catholic Church."
Over time, her future purpose began to change when she won the class presidency in a grade-school mock political campaign.
"I enjoyed the leadership role, although I was probably more interested in creating campaign posters and organizing a classroom parade than developing a platform," Hill said, adding American history also played a role.
"I remember reading page after page about presidents, generals, and political leaders and not seeing many women represented. It sparked an interest in public affairs and eventually led me to a career in journalism, focusing on state and local news," Hill said.
(Photo: Ann Hill)
But it is her role as a news desk copywriter at a major newspaper that thrust her political ambitions forward.
"My job wasn't simply to hear both sides of an issue; it was to understand them well enough to sort through the facts and make sense of them," Hill said. "Eventually, I realized I had spent years studying how government worked and an increasing amount of time thinking about how I might improve it."
In 2012, Pensacola City Council member Ron Townsend appointed Hill as a trustee to the Community Maritime Park, where she spent five years attending every board meeting and representing my neighborhood's views.
She also served on the board of the Belmont-DeVilliers Neighborhood Association and helped revise the city's code better to preserve the distinctive character of our historic district.
"It gave me a front-row seat to local government and taught me that communities are often shaped by the residents who keep showing up, asking questions, and paying attention," Hill said.
(Photo: Ann Hill)
After stepping down from the dais, Hill continued to serve since 2022.
"In some ways, I found myself right back where I started: sitting in the audience, paying attention, asking questions, and working alongside neighbors who needed help navigating issues affecting their community," Hill said.
The returning candidate said one of her top priorities for nearly four years on the council was public restrooms, which the council is now passing, surely in part due to her initial efforts.
"It may not be glamorous, but the importance of those basic facilities was reinforced when Roger Scott Pool was eventually closed by the health department because it lacked permanent restroom facilities," Hill said.
"Sometimes good local government is less about ribbon cuttings and grand visions and more about making sure the basics are there when people need them," she added.
But along with progress in public restrooms, Hill has seen regression.
"The turning point came when the historic Malcolm Yonge Gym was demolished before the Charter-mandated petition period I helped lead had expired," Hill said. "Those events reminded me why I became involved in local government in the first place and convinced me that I still had unfinished work to do."
Hill's campaign platform focuses on affordability, city services, parks, transparency, and habitat restoration.
(Photo: Ann Hill)
Funding first.
"I believe Pensacola needs a return to a 'Back to Basics' budget," Hill said. "Over the last several years, city revenues have grown substantially, yet many residents feel that some of the services and amenities they rely upon have become less reliable, less accessible, or more expensive."
As property values increased, Pensacola City Hall collected millions in additional revenue, according to Hill, adding that residents deserve to see those dollars invested in the services they use every day.
"This conversation may become even more important if the State of Florida moves forward with proposals to reduce or eliminate a portion of homestead property taxes," Hill said.
If local governments are going to face greater pressure to prioritize spending, Hill said, "we need to make sure every tax dollar is focused on core services and community priorities."
New is not necessarily better, according to the candidate.
"Before taking on new initiatives, I believe city government should make sure its core services are functioning well," she said.
That entails supporting local fire and police departments and reducing and eliminating programs that contribute to the enormous amount of tax dollars the city spends on consultants, planners, and legal fees, according to the candidate, adding, "It's about assuring core city services are reliable and responsive."
"After that, I would like to focus on making Pensacola's parks and waterfront as accessible and enjoyable as possible," Hill said.
That includes more splash pads and shaded play areas for children, additional clean public restrooms, less outsourcing of grounds maintenance and landscaping, and more free or low-cost after-school and youth sports programs.
"In many ways, my platform comes down to a simple idea: take care of the basics, maintain the public facilities we already have, and make sure residents see the benefits of the taxes and fees they pay," Hill said.
(Photo: Ann Hill for mayor website)
Hill, often seen in the local parks with her children and grandchildren, calls Pensacola locals kin as well.
"Beyond that, our family has always grown to include friends, neighbors, pets, and constituents, both former and future," Hill said.
Though much has changed since she sat on the dais, her political stance remains the same.
"One of the strengths of local government is that the council serves as an independent legislative body," Hill said. "When council members bring forward ideas, ask questions, and challenge assumptions, it creates the healthy checks and balances that residents expect from their government."
To get to know Hill more, visit her campaign website here.
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