(PENSACOLA) --- Alicia Trawick has always fought for an inclusive community.
The Pensacola mayoral candidate was just 10 years old when she realized her interest in leadership and public service.
"That year, I was elected class president, and I immediately felt a sense of care and responsibility for my classmates," Trawick said. "I wanted to make sure everyone felt included, especially the kids who weren't as popular or as outspoken."
(Photo: Alicia Trawick)
Leadership is not about being in charge; it's about looking out for people, according to Trawick, who is challenging five other candidates and the incumbent for the head seat on the dais this election.
Along with her childhood peers, Trawick's personal experiences heightened her interest in politics.
"My mother was an immigrant," Trawick said, adding her family culture was separate from her friends. "We faced many challenges, and those experiences taught me early on how important kindness, fairness, and empathy are."
As she got older, her passion for history, government, and civic engagement deepened.
"When I went to college, I knew I wanted to study politics," Trawick said. "I earned both my bachelor's and master's degrees in international relations, and I also studied urban planning because I wanted to understand how communities grow and how government decisions impact people's daily lives."
(Photo: Alicia Trawick)
All of that knowledge led her to public service, beginning with her career in the state planning office, where she eventually moved into disaster recovery.
"I've spent years helping communities navigate some of their most difficult challenges," Trawick said. "Through that work, I've seen firsthand how important effective government is and how critical it is that public resources are distributed fairly and responsibly."
The candidate said the current political divide drives her campaign.
"One of the biggest things I've learned from personally knocking on more than 1,500 doors so far is that we have more in common than we realize," Trawick said.
There is a common thread among what locals want, according to Trawick.
"They want affordability, reliable infrastructure, a responsive city government, and a mayor who listens and treats every community with respect," Trawick said.
"My goal is to focus on practical solutions; listening before speaking, and making decisions based on what's best for Pensacola—not partisan politics," she said. "I think it's important for us to remember that we are neighbors first."
Trawick keeps her campaign simple: making Pensacola a city that works better for the people who live here every day.
"That means investing in the fundamentals while preparing our city for the future," she said.
That future includes increased public transportation, stronger infrastructure, more available public services, and historic preservation.
(Photo: Alicia Trawick campaign website)
"Reliable transit is an economic development tool as much as it is a public service," Trawick said. "It creates opportunities for people to get to work, school, medical appointments, and local businesses without the financial burden of owning a car."
Not to mention, better transit also helps reduce traffic congestion, eases our downtown parking challenges, and makes Pensacola a more accessible and affordable place to live, according to the candidate.
It starts with infrastructure.
"Too many residents and businesses deal with flooded streets and property damage after heavy rains," Trawick said, adding that aggressive state and federal grant funding can help solve the local issues. "We need proactive planning, strategic investment, and long-term solutions that make our neighborhoods safer and more resilient."
Next, Trawick said Pensacola needs dependable trash and yard waste collection, expanded recycling options, and city services that are responsive, efficient, and easy to use.
"These may seem like small things, but they have a tremendous impact on quality of life and on how people experience their local government," Trawick said.
(Photo: Alicia Trawick)
The candidate also fights for Mother Nature, supporting "a stronger tree ordinance to make it far more difficult for developers to remove mature trees, especially our magnificent heritage oaks that define so many of our neighborhoods."
"Once these trees are gone, they cannot simply be replaced," Trawick said, adding that trees provide shade, improve the environment, reduce flooding, support wildlife, and serve as living landmarks that connect generations of Pensacola citizens.
Speaking of landmarks, the candidate said preserving historic homes and buildings is a must.
"Pensacola proudly claims its place as America's first settlement, and our history is one of our greatest assets," Trawick said. "We should embrace thoughtful development that respects our past rather than undermining it."
She points to the underlying priorities of her larger vision: bring Pensacola into the modern era.
"That means embracing innovation, planning for sustainable growth, improving the delivery of city services, and making thoughtful investments that benefit neighborhoods outside of just downtown Pensacola," Trawick said. "My administration will make Pensacola more affordable, more connected, more resilient, and ready for the future."
Trawick points to her partner—a librarian who fills their lives with education, curiosity, and lifelong learning daily —as a source of inspiration.
"We also have a cat named Fig, who brings a lot of joy to our days," Trawick said, adding that working from home allows her to enjoy her garden and nature.
That will change if elected, moving her office to 222 W. Main Street to address local affairs.
(Photo: Alicia Trawick)
"I decided to run for mayor because I believe every community deserves a voice and every resident deserves to be treated with dignity and respect," Trawick said.
The candidate said that, in many ways, the values that motivated her as a 10-year-old class president still guide her.
"They are the same values motivating me today: making sure people feel heard, treating others with kindness, and using my experience and knowledge to create opportunities for everyone," Trawick said.
To get to know Trawick more, visit her campaign website here.
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