Jermaine J. Williams

I am a proud Pensacola native, community advocate, and mental health professional whose work has been rooted in service, accountability, and lived experiences. My leadership is shaped not by political ambition, but by years spent working alongside individuals and families navigating some of the city’s most complex challenges.

I have spent my life in Pensacola and I understand the city not just as a place on a map, but as a collection of neighborhoods, histories, and people whose lives are directly impacted by decisions made at City Hall. That very connection directly guides how I approach leadership, with respect for the past, urgency for the present, and responsibility for the future.0

That connection is why I believe leadership must always put people first and why I’m stepping forward to serve Pensacola with purpose.

Leadership Approach

I believe effective leadership is built on transparency, discipline, and accountability. I don’t view leadership as a platform for personal recognition, but as a responsibility to steward public trust and make decisions that stand up over time.

As a leader, I am guided by clear principles:

Listening before deciding
Data-informed, results-driven governance
Open collaboration with City Council, city staff, and community partners
Clear communication with residents about challenges, tradeoffs, and outcomes

I understand that being Mayor isn’t about having all the answers on day one. It’s about asking the right questions, surrounding myself with experienced professionals, and remaining accountable for the results of every decision I make.

My Entire Life Prepared Me for This Moment.

My life didn’t follow a straight line, and I don’t pretend that it did. I didn’t arrive here through shortcuts or comfort. I arrived here through experience, through lessons learned, responsibility earned, and a deep understanding of how leadership decisions affect real lives.

Pensacola isn’t just where I’m from, it’s where I learned who I am. This city shaped my resilience, my humility, and my belief that leadership begins with showing up, especially when the work is hard and the answers aren’t simple.

I’ve known stability and I've known struggle. I’ve seen what happens when systems work, and I've felt the results of when systems fail. Those experiences taught me that leadership isn’t about distance from problems, but proximity to people. It’s about listening before speaking, learning before deciding, and remembering that every policy and decision impacts someone’s life.

I’ve worked alongside families trying to stay housed, individuals seeking stability, and young people searching for opportunity. Those conversations taught me that people don’t need to be managed, they simply need to be respected.

I don’t believe leadership comes from perfection. It comes from accountability, growth, and the willingness to tell the truth and stand by the results.

I’m running not for power, but for responsibility, because I understand what’s at stake when leadership fails and what’s possible when it’s done right.

Every chapter of my life led me here. My entire life prepared me for this moment — and I’m ready to lead Pensacola forward with clarity, compassion, and accountability.

My Commitment to The City of Pensacola

My candidacy is rooted in a simple but serious commitment: to serve with integrity, to lead with accountability, and to never lose sight of who city government is meant to serve.

I’m running to help build a Pensacola that is fair, stable, and prepared for the future — a city where residents feel heard, neighborhoods are respected, and leadership shows up with clarity and purpose.

People First. Pensacola Always.