Ann Hill

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Ann Hill is an American public official, journalist, community advocate, and non-partisan candidate for Pensacola mayor in the 2026 Pensacola mayoral election. Hill previously represented District 6 on the Pensacola City Council from 2018 to 2022 and later served as President of the Pensacola City Council.

During her time in office, Hill became associated with numerous neighborhood, parks, waterfront, environmental, and recreation projects throughout Pensacola, including initiatives involving Bruce Beach, the Pensacola Bay Paddling Trail, Blake Doyle Skatepark, Magee Field, Cecil T. Hunter Pool, the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program, and neighborhood revitalization efforts in Belmont-DeVilliers.

Hill's mayoral platform is known as The Ann Plan, a neighborhood-focused vision centered on parks, infrastructure, public spaces, environmental stewardship, youth recreation, and improving quality of life throughout Pensacola.

Early life and background

Hill has lived in Pensacola’s Belmont-DeVilliers neighborhood since the early 1990s and has been active in numerous civic and neighborhood organizations. She is a retired journalist and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Hill raised her children in Pensacola Catholic schools and has frequently spoken about the importance of parks, museums, waterfront access, public spaces, and youth activities in maintaining Pensacola's quality of life.

Her family history in Pensacola is connected to the city's maritime industries, military heritage, and historic neighborhoods, including ties to NAS Pensacola and [{Eglin Airforce Base}], and Pensacola’s early fishing and boat-building industry.

Board and committee service

Before and during her service on the Pensacola City Council, Hill served on numerous neighborhood, environmental, waterfront, transportation, and civic boards throughout Pensacola and Escambia County.

Her board and committee service has included:

• Community Maritime Park Associates
• Executive Board Member of the Belmont-DeVilliers Neighborhood Association
• Council of Neighborhood Association Presidents representative
• Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization
• Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program
• Pensacola-Escambia Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
• Eastside Neighborhood Community Redevelopment Agency representative
• Downtown Improvement Board
• Keep Pensacola Beautiful

Hill's board work frequently focused on waterfront access, environmental restoration, neighborhood revitalization, parks, recreation, transportation safety, and quality-of-life improvements throughout Pensacola.

Pensacola City Council

Hill was elected to the Pensacola City Council in 2018 to represent District 6. During her term, she focused on neighborhood projects, public access improvements, recreation facilities, environmental initiatives, transportation safety, and waterfront development projects throughout Pensacola.

She later served as both Vice President and President of the Pensacola City Council.

Bruce Beach

Hill supported restoration and public access improvements at Bruce Beach, including beautification projects, waterfront access improvements, habitat restoration, and recreational investments.

In 2022, Hill participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for major Bruce Beach improvements involving public access, trails, and waterfront recreation amenities.

Hill also worked with local leaders and historians on efforts connected to the continuation of Pensacola’s African American Heritage Trail, including historic interpretation markers and educational signage associated with Bruce's Beach Pool and surrounding historic sites.

General Daniel "Chappie" James Museum and Flight Academy

Hill supported restoration and expansion efforts involving the General Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. Museum and Flight Academy in Pensacola’s Eastside neighborhood.

As a member of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), Hill participated in approval of final design plans for Phase II improvements to the General Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. Museum and Youth Flight Academy project.

The project focused on restoration and expansion of facilities honoring General Daniel "Chappie" James Jr., the Pensacola native who became the first African American four-star general in United States military history.

Pensacola Bay Paddling Trail and Blueway designation

Hill helped organize planning efforts and public meetings connected to the Pensacola Bay Paddling Trail and Pensacola’s designation as a Florida Blueway Community.

Pensacola officially became a recognized Blueway Community connected to the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail system during Hill’s time on City Council.

Hill also participated in environmental initiatives as a founding member of Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program, a nationally recognized estuary restoration and environmental protection organization focused on Pensacola Bay and Perdido Bay.

Blake Doyle Skatepark

Hill supported development of the Blake Doyle Skatepark, Pensacola’s first major public skatepark facility located beneath Interstate 110 near downtown Pensacola.

Construction officially began in 2022 with participation from city officials, local skateboarding advocates, and community leaders.

Youth recreation projects

Hill advocated for investments in youth recreation and neighborhood athletic facilities throughout District 6.

Projects supported during her term included improvements at Magee Field for the Eastside Rattlers youth sports program, including funding for a press box, concession stand, shaded bleachers, and mentoring space for youth activities.

Hill also supported improvements connected to Cecil T. Hunter Pool, playgrounds, neighborhood parks, and public recreation programming.

Hill additionally supported renovations and improvements at the Bayview Park Senior Center, including accessibility and community facility upgrades.

Transportation and mobility planning

Hill supported transportation and mobility planning efforts connected to safer, more accessible streets throughout Pensacola, including sidewalks, crosswalks, bicycle infrastructure, ADA accessibility, traffic calming, and multimodal transportation planning.

During her service on the Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization, Hill supported projects focused on improving walkability, bikeability, neighborhood connectivity, and public safety throughout Pensacola.

Hill publicly supported the Gonzalez Street Shareway bicycle safety project proposed by Bike Pensacola, as well as bike lane improvements and traffic-calming efforts along North Palafox Street.

Hill also supported new sidewalks, pedestrian lighting, and streetscape improvements in the historic Belmont-DeVilliers neighborhood.

Public restroom and park access projects

Hill supported installation of public Portland Loo restroom facilities in downtown Pensacola and at the Blake Doyle Skatepark as part of broader public access and quality-of-life improvements.

She has also worked with local veterans organizations and community groups on efforts to install permanent restroom facilities at Veterans Memorial Park in Pensacola.

Malcolm Yonge Community Center

Hill publicly opposed demolition of the Malcolm Yonge Community Center in Pensacola’s East Hill neighborhood and participated in citizen-led efforts to preserve the historic facility.

She helped organize and support a citizen petition effort seeking a public vote related to the proposed demolition of the Malcolm Yonge Community Center property.

Hill and neighborhood advocates argued that the facility continued to serve as an important community gathering space and recreational resource for surrounding neighborhoods.

Environmental and waterfront initiatives

Hill supported projects involving:

• Pensacola Bay restoration
• Waterfront ADA accessibility improvements
• Stormwater and drainage projects
• Shoreline resiliency initiatives
• Tree preservation ordinances
• Native landscaping projects
• Public marina and waterfront improvements at Community Maritime Park and Baylen Slips

She also promoted public access to Pensacola's bays, bayous, waterfronts, trails, and public parks as part of broader quality-of-life initiatives.

2022 redistricting and election

Hill narrowly lost reelection for the District 6 seat on the Pensacola City Council in 2022 following major changes to district boundaries during the city’s redistricting process.

According to reporting by Rick's Blog and comments from Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender, one of the most significant changes involved moving Precinct 90, including portions of the St. John Divine area, out of District 6 and into District 5 during the 2022 redistricting process.

The changes substantially altered the voter makeup of District 6 prior to the 2022 Pensacola City Council election.

Hill later described the 2026 Pensacola mayoral race as an opportunity to reconnect with voters throughout Pensacola following the district boundary changes.

The Ann Plan

The Ann Plan is the name associated with Ann Hill's mayoral platform and broader neighborhood-focused vision for Pensacola.

The Ann Plan emphasizes practical quality-of-life improvements involving:

• Parks and recreation
• Neighborhood infrastructure
• Public waterfront access
• Historic preservation
• Environmental restoration
• Walkability and bikeability
• Public spaces and beautification
• Youth recreation
• Reliable city services

The platform has been described by local media as a "back to basics" approach centered on neighborhoods, public spaces, and community investment.

2026 Pensacola mayoral campaign

Hill is currently challenging incumbent D. C. Reeves for Mayor of Pensacola in the 2026 Pensacola mayoral election, which will be held on August 18, 2026.

The election is officially non-partisan under the Pensacola city charter.

Hill formally entered the race in September 2025 after filing to run for Mayor of Pensacola.

Her campaign has focused heavily on parks, public spaces, infrastructure, environmental stewardship, waterfront access, recreation, and neighborhood investment throughout Pensacola.

Local media coverage involving Hill's campaign has appeared in WUWF, Rick's Blog, WEAR-TV, and the Pensacola News Journal.

See also

• 2026 Pensacola mayoral election
• Pensacola
• Pensacola City Council
• District 6
• Bruce Beach
• Community Maritime Park
• Pensacola Bay
• Belmont-DeVilliers
• Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program

External links

• Official website
• The Ann Plan
• Press and news coverage
• Escambia County Supervisor of Elections

References

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