Latest / Rick Outzen: (we don’t) color on the dog / Meet Boyce White
Transcript
- Rick Outzen: The City Pensacola has two city council races this year. We've got District 2 and District 4. District 4 is only two people have held that office for much of the last two decades. Larry Johnson, Jared Moore. Jared Moore has decided not to run, so it's an open seat, which means the we've got two rookie candidates involved here, or at least, well, one is not. We have Boyce White, who's run for office before. County Commissioner, your dad was very active on Santa Rosa Island authority. Cool, cool. Well, you know, we've got Boyce White running for District 4. Boyce, for viewers, who is Boyce White? Boyce White: Boyce White is a third generation Pensacolian who grew up in a political charge family. Actually, I don't even know if you know this, but my grandfather on my mom's side represented Escambia County in Alexandrade seat and then actually went over to Jacksonville and became state senator. gosh. So it was kind of fun actually when I went through LEAP and you go over there for legislative days, right? And and actually get to see where he sat and and things he his voting record. So that was kind of cool. But Boyce White graduated Washington High School, went to the Citadel, then went and got my MBA out at UWF. There were no jobs for me here back in nineteen ninety-three when I graduated. So I had to do the typical thing, move to Atlanta to get some experience. I gone through that experience and came back here and been a contributing citizen for for Pittscoal ever since. Rick Outzen: Yeah, w why run for city council? Boyce White: Actually, I didn't want to do this job. I thought Jared was doing an amazing job. And when Jared decided not to seek reelection, I preyed on it. he decided in December that he wasn't gonna do it. And it took me till February to convince myself that I feel like Pensacola is headed in a great trajectory. I feel like DC's got a lot of good things going on. and I feel like my relationships, I've always been an ambassador for Pensacola. I didn't want this seat just to be filled with somebody who Is looking for political aspirations, higher political as aspirations. I wanted somebody who really cares about Penskola. And so I took the initiative and I took the dive. Rick Outzen: Now as you've you know as you've walked through the community as a candidate, knocked on doors, listened, what are you hearing from voters in District Four? Boyce White: The biggest thing they really get upset about is some traffic issues on on Scenic Highway right over there by Calverts. Because apparently as soon as people make that turn right onto Scenic Highway from Cervantes, they're trying to get to the interstate and they think they can do fifty-five the whole way there. So East Penskola Heights is concerned about that. Cordova Park actually the the the parks are having some issues, so they they want to see some more mu money invested in the parks, but project or Direction twenty twenty five actually funnel a lot of money in that. And it's really concerning if the if the property tax passes. Rick Outzen: The moment it does work Boyce White: Then that's gonna be hit. And then lastly, parking downtown. Th that seems to be something that a lot of people from Cordova Park or East Pensacola Lights or even East Hill are like, I just don't go downtown, which is really sad because we got so many great things going on downtown, but they just don't want to deal with parking or the technology. Rick Outzen: Yeah, when you look at your family's been here for a while, you look at you were here when the when the city had a city manager form of government where the the mayor was actually appointed for a while, appointed by the city council the city council had two at large members. It was t you know, and then they finally let the mayor be a voting member and elected and John Fogg had that spot. Now we have a strong mayor form of government. How do you see the the city council acting in a government where the the mayor has a considerable amount of power? Boyce White: He does have power. The only thing that the council really actually has influence over is passing the budget that he's looking at. However, I feel like the city can also work as ambassadors to help the mayor accomplish these goals. And I know one of the biggest goals that DC is trying to accomplish is economic development. And my relationships, I feel like, at the federal level and at the state level can truly help accomplish that. I I've Going to the citadel, I've got friends from all over the place, you know, that that live in Atlanta, that live in DC, some of these power areas that at my age now, these guys are now running businesses. And they're trying to find a place to actually work remote or or run their business remote and live in the area that we like to say, you know, thousands live, millions wish they could. Rick Outzen: You know, if you look at economic development, what do you think the city's doing right and what could they do better? Boyce White: I think that actually Quent has done a really good job of trying to model Pensacola after other cities that attract people and and live downtown. And I actually I just attended the civic leadership conference that he had where they brought down the mayor from from Greenville. And Greenville is actually one of the most vibrant when you're getting Greenville. Rick Outzen: Carolina. Yeah. Boyce White: the the gentleman actually maybe he's a cousin. because the last name's White. But he he he's done some amazing things with Greenville, just revitalizing and making that a place where everybody wants to live. And when you actually have that, it be it success begets success. Right. And and so businesses look at, yeah, I want to bring kids here or I want to bring my family here, raise kids here. The biggest obstacle, I think, in that is the school board. And I I I like Patty Hyde Town, I think they've tried to do a good job. I think we really did our county a disservice by going back with an appointed superintendent. Because when we were appointed when we were elected, we were the sixty fourth of sixty-seven counties for school. And that's just absolutely horrible. Rick Outzen: What what you as a city council member, what can you do to help the schools in your district? Boyce White: That's that's a tough one as city council. I mean, you gotta stay in your lane. Right. And so but I mean I can certainly advocate for if if when it comes back up trying to get another elected or appointed superintendent if we can do that, or elected, encourage sharp people to actually run for that position. Running for a an elected position is just not a lot of fun. Right. It's a grind. It is. You've got And there's there's so many psychological barriers to entry, the smart people and sharp people just don't want to do it. And plus actually you also got to put yourself out there, be ready to accept criticism, because as soon as you put yourself in in that fish bowl, people are gonna come after you. And so I just prepare any sharp people for that and let them help them overcome the obstacles. That's about the best thing I can do in that regard. Rick Outzen: We've got about two minutes left. It goes by fast, doesn't it? A great conversation happens that way. T first question is, as a council member, you have to have a matrix in how you look at issues. So you're given an issue with a lot of different options in it, what's gonna be the thing you're gonna hang on to first in trying to make a decision? Boyce White: I don't know if you remember a campaign that Escambay County had or Pensacola Beach had leaf foot footprints only. Right. I want to elaborate on that and say, well, why don't you build a sand castle, an organic sand castle, that somebody else can actually come improve upon? So that's what I want to do is actually put the structure in place so that generations after me can look at Pensacola and be proud of it and actually call it home and and want to recruit other people. Get that vibe that I have that where I just Really wanna make sure that this is where people wanna live and they're excited. Good. Rick Outzen: Good, so so you've got I'm gonna give you about thirty seconds or so to give your your elevator speech to the voters. You can look at the camera, tell why they should vote for voice water. Boyce White: Basically, well you're down to two choices. It's it's basically me or or my opponent who who is a great, nice guy, but at 31 it's not his fault. He just doesn't have the experience, the bandwidth that I have. And if amendment three passes, we're gonna be in trouble. First things that are gonna get hit are parks. Now, my experience at 58, I've served as East Hill Neighborhood Association president. I'm the current zoning board of adjustments chair. I've served the city. I have a very servant heart, Rick, and my contributions and experience are gonna be able to help propel us into where we want to go. Rick Outzen: Boys, thank you so much.