D. C. Reeves
D.C. Reeves | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2022 | |
| 64th Mayor of Pensacola | |
| Assumed office November 22, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Grover C. Robinson IV |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Pensacola, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Parent | Jim Reeves (father) |
| Website | |
Darcy Curran Reeves is an American businessman, journalist and politician who has served as the 64th mayor of Pensacola since 2022.
The son of James J. Reeves, he worked for the Florida State University's student newspaper, the Pensacola News Journal, Warchant.com and the Tuscaloosa News before being hired as chief of Staff for Quint Studer.
Reeves was the CEO of Perfect Plain Brewing Co., a brewing business, which he co-founded with his father, Jim Reeves, and his friend, Reed Odeneal, and sold to New Orleans–based Urban South Brewery in 2022.[1]
Early life and career
[edit]Darcy Curran Reeves was born in Pensacola, Florida, to Connie Bookman and Jim Reeves, attorney and politician who served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 4th district from 1966 to 1972 and on the Pensacola City Council from 1977 to 1983.[1][2]
In 2019, he authored The Microbrewery Handbook, a how-to guide to understanding the business of opening a brewery, published by Wiley & Sons. In October 2022, Reeves sold Perfect Plain Brewery, along with The Well, Perennial, and Garden & Grain, three other businesses he founded with Odeneal, to Urban South Brewery, a New Orleans–based business.[3]
In 2019, Reeves was the lead staff on the Mayoral Transition team for Mayor Grover C. Robinson IV,[4] and was the Chief Entrepreneur Officer at The Spring Entrepreneur Hub.[5] From 2020 to 2021, Reeves served as chairman of the board for Visit Pensacola, the community's tourism marketing organization.[6][7]
Mayor of Pensacola
[edit]Reeves' campaign focus was on three key areas: Safety, Housing, and Jobs.
One of the largest impacts has been establishing the city's first grants office. The Reeves Administration has received more than $100 million in grant funding for projects across the city in the first 500 days of his administration.
Reeves has also invested millions in public safety initiatives. This includes the purchase of the Pensacola Police Department's first new heavy-duty police vehicle, the Shot Spotter program, which helps police identify when and where gunshots occur, as well as the addition of a Community Response Team, officers tasked with connecting the homeless community with available resources.
Using a data-driven approach, Reeves authorized a top-down study of salaries across the entire city organization. Learning that pay at the City of Pensacola was in the 20th percentile, Reeves authorized to the largest pay reform plan in the city’s history. 75% of the $4 million investment went to City of Pensacola employees making less than $50,000 a year.
On February 26, 2024, Reeves signed a transformative agreement for Pensacola. It was a 10-year lease at the with American Magic, one of the premiere sailing organizations in the world, which will now call Pensacola its permanent home. The agreement and $18 million facility at the Port of Pensacola will plant the flag for the city as the top sailing destination in the United States.
In 2023, Reeves was appointed to the CareerSource Florida Board of Directors by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. In 2024, he was chosen by fellow mayors from across the country to serve on the Advisory Board of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. In September 2024, he was named Chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ committee on Jobs, Education and Workforce, giving D.C. a leading voice for cities across the United States.
2022 Pensacola mayoral election
[edit]
On September 1, 2021, Reeves announced his candidacy for mayor of Pensacola in 2022.[8] On August 23, 2022, in the primary election, Reeves earned the majority, 7,682 votes (51.11%), against three opponents, Jewell Cannada-Wynn, Sherri Myers and Steven Sharp. Because Reeves earned the majority in the primary, there was no runoff election on November 8.[9]
Mayor of Pensacola
[edit]On November 22, 2022, Reeves was sworn in as the 64th mayor of Pensacola, succeeding Grover C. Robinson IV.[10] At 38 years old, Reeves is the youngest mayor since J. Harvey Bayliss, appointed mayor in 1921, a span of 101 years.[4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Little, Jim. "Mayor candidate D.C. Reeves believes 'Pensacola is on precipice of such great things'". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ Ward, Robert L. / Florida House of Representatives (2011). "Membership of the Florida House of Representatives by County, 1845-2012" (PDF). Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ "From sportswriter, to entrepreneur, to mayor: The story of D.C. Reeves". WKRG News 5. August 29, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ a b "Mayor-Elect D.C. Reeves Announces Transition Team Lead". The Pulse. August 25, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ "Instructors | University of West Florida". uwf.edu. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ "About D.C. Reeves – DC Reeves for Mayor of Pensacola". Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ "Mayor's Transition Team | City of Pensacola, Florida Official Website". www.cityofpensacola.com. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ Little, Jim. "Perfect Plain Brewing Co. owner D.C. Reeves files to run for mayor of Pensacola". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ Little, Jim. "D.C. Reeves is elected next mayor of Pensacola, wins with enough votes to avoid runoff". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ WEAR Staff (November 22, 2022). "D.C. Reeves sworn-in as new Pensacola Mayor". WEAR. Retrieved November 23, 2022.