Charter vote: Precinct-level analysis

A preliminary precinct-level analysis of votes cast in the City of Pensacola’s charter referendum reveals several interesting trends, including a measurable racial divide.

The charter passed in 20 precincts and failed in 10 precincts. One precinct, which has just a few City voters, saw no ballots returned. Yes votes won out in City Council Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, while “no” votes took Districts 5 and 7 — the City’s two districts with African-American majorities.

The City’s two most heavily black precincts, 90 and 98, rejected the charter soundly, both by more than 2-1 margins.

Why? It’s hard to say. The fact that the two African-American members of the Charter Review Commission voted against the final charter likely had some influence. One of those members, Sam Horton, actively campaigned against the charter, using racially-charged rhetoric. On the No Boss Mayor website, Mr. Horton writes that the proposed system “sounds good, except it can and may bring a return of the ‘good ole boy’ and/or patronage system and make it easier to ignore the minority community concerns.” Mr. Horton also said, “”This is a change that will benefit the moneyed and white business community and they will continue again to drag their feet on equity for the minority community.”

It’s possible that some African-American voters noted that the proposed charter would take some power from the City Council and reassign it to an executive mayor elected at-large and viewed that as a weakening of African-American influence in City government.

However, African-Americans certainly were not united in opposition; prominent leaders like Lumon May and Juanita Scott were adamant supporters of the charter.

It’s our hope that as this transition moves forward, we can bring everyone to the table and address whatever concerns the African-American community has about the new charter. Remember, this charter is easier to amend than the old one. If something doesn’t work, we can change it.

A few fun tidbits:

• Precincts with the largest margin: Precinct 47 (5 yes votes, 1 no vote, 66% margin) and Precinct 15 (221-158, 50% margin)
• Precinct with the smallest margin: Precinct 50 (4 votes, 0.8% margin)
• The precinct in which the highest percentage of voters rejected the proposed charter was Precinct 90, with 72% voting no
• Precincts 35 (East Pensacola Heights) and 64 (Airport Boulevard-Cordova Mall area) most mirrored the overall City vote with 55% yes, 45% no.

Below are the vote totals for each precinct as well as race demographics and turnout percentage for those districts located wholly within the City limits. Some precincts are only partially located within the City limits. For these, we haven’t listed the turnout because data delineating how many of such precincts’ voters are City electors is not readily available.

Precinct 2

YES: 32 (62%)
NO: 20 (38%)

Area northwest of Davis and Airport; only a portion is within the City limits. The precinct as a whole is 77% white, 18% black, 5% other.

Precinct 4

YES: 221 (58%)
NO: 158 (42%)

Woodcliff and Gull Point area; only a portion is within the City limits. The precinct as a whole is 89% white, 5% black, 6% other.

Precinct 14

YES: 309 (47%)
NO: 355 (53%)

Precinct 14 includes parts of North Hill Highlands, Kupfrian’s Park, and the areas around Baptist Hospital; a portion of the precinct is outside the City limits. The precinct as a whole is 24% white, 71% black, and 5% other.

Precinct 15

YES: 69 (75%)
NO: 23 (25%)

Portions of the downtown area, including the County Courthouse. All of Precinct 15 is located within the City limits. The precinct is 89% white, 5% black, and 6% other.

Precinct 17

YES: 4 (57%)
NO: 3 (43%)

Precinct 17 covers the area north of Palafox & Fairfield; the area is largely industrial and only a portion is within the City limits. The precinct as a whole is 82% white, 11% black, and 7% other.

Precinct 29

YES: 199 (59%)
NO: 136 (41%)

Precinct 29 includes portions of Eastside, Old East Hill, and downtown, and located entirely within the City limits. The precinct is 47% white, 47% black, and 6% other. Turnout was around 32%.

Precinct 30

YES: 635 (60%)
NO: 419 (40%)

Precinct 30 covers the area west of Scenic Highway between Summit Boulevard and Hyde Park Road, including the Inverness, Windermere, and Mallory Heights neighbourhoods. The precinct is located entirely within the City limits, and is 90% white, 4% black, and 6% other. Turnout was around 44%.

Precinct 31

YES: 298 (59%)
NO: 205 (41%)

Precinct 31 includes most of the North Hill and Belmont-Devilliers areas, and is located entirely within the City limits. The precinct is 56% white, 39% black, and 5% other. Turnout was around 34%.

Precinct 32

YES: 89 (45%)
NO: 108 (55%)

Precinct 32 includes the Sanders Beach neighbourhood and portions of the Tanyard, and is located entirely within the City limits. The precinct is 76% white, 19% black, and 5% other. Turnout was around 39%.

Precinct 35

YES: 435 (55%)
NO: 358 (45%)

Precinct 35 covers all of East Pensacola Heights and is located entirely within the City limits. The precinct is 90% white, 4% black, and 6% other. Turnout was around 37%.

Precinct 39

YES: 248 (67%)
NO: 121 (33%)

Precinct 39 covers portions of East Hill and is located entirely within the City limits. The precinct is 93% white, 2% black, and 5% other. Turnout was around 41%.

Precinct 40

YES: 519 (66%)
NO: 271 (34%)

Precinct 40 covers portions of East Hill and is located entirely within the City limits. The precinct is 95% white, 1% black, and 4% other. Turnout was around 51%.

Precinct 41

YES: 179 (44%)
NO: 228 (56%)

Precinct 41 covers portions of East Hill and is located entirely within the City limits. The precinct is 47% white, 47% black, and 6% other. Turnout was around 35%.

Precinct 42

YES: 819 (62%)
NO: 497 (38%)

Precinct 42 includes the areas west of Scenic Highway between Summit and Langley, and is located entirely within the City limits. The precinct is 92% white, 3% black, and 5% other. Turnout was around 47%.

Precinct 46

YES: 794 (62%)
NO: 481 (38%)

Precinct 46 covers Cordova Park and is located entirely within the City limits. The precinct is 94% white, 2% black, and 4% other. Turnout was around 52%.

Precinct 47

YES: 5 (83%)
NO: 1 (17%)

Only a small portion of Precinct 47, in the Brownville area, is within the City limits. The precinct as a whole is 47% white, 44% black, and 9% other.

Precinct 48

Only a very small portion of Precinct 48 is located within the City limits, and none of those voters voted in the referendum.

Precinct 49

YES: 102 (52%)
NO: 95 (48%)

Only a portion of Precinct 49 is within the City limits, including the Broadview Farms and Parker Circle neighbourhoods. The precinct as a whole is 75% white, 18% black, and 7% other.

Precinct 50

YES: 250 (50.4%)
NO: 246 (49.6%)

Precinct 50 includes portions of Eastside and East Hill, and is located entirely within the City limits. The precinct is 59% white, 36% black, and 5% other. Turnout was around 32%.

Precinct 51

YES: 6 (43%)
NO: 8 (57%)

Only a very small portion of Precinct 51, near Tippin and Stark Avenues, is located within the City. The precinct as a whole is 80% white, 13% black, and 7% other.

Precinct 56

YES: 167 (47%)
NO: 185 (53%)

Precinct 56, including Bayou Grove and adjacent areas, is located mostly within the City limits. The precinct as a whole is 49% white, 43% black, and 8% other.

Precinct 58

YES: 261 (65%)
NO: 139 (35%)

Precinct 58 includes the Devereux and La Mirage areas near Gull Point, and is located entirely within the City limits. The precinct is 90% white, 4% black, and 6% other. Turnout was around 47%.

Precinct 64

YES: 251 (55%)
NO: 203 (45%)

Precinct 64 includes areas around Airport Boulevard and Cordova Mall, and is located entirely within the City limits. The precinct is 77% white, 15% black, and 8% other. Turnout was around 32%.

Precinct 72

YES: 165 (60%)
NO: 112 (40%)

Precinct 72 includes the Brookview and Pineglades neighbourhoods, and is located entirely within the City limits. The precinct is 83% white, 11% black, and 6% other. Turnout was around 44%.

Precinct 90

YES: 47 (28%)
NO: 122 (72%)

Precinct 90 includes portions of Eastside and is located mostly within the City limits. The precinct as a whole is 4% white, 91% black, and 5% other.

Precinct 97

YES: 405 (60%)
NO: 275 (40%)

Precinct 97 includes areas north of the Airport and is located mostly within the City limits. The precinct as a whole is 82% white, 11% black, and 7% other.

Precinct 98

YES: 302 (33%)
NO: 605 (67%)

Precinct 98 includes the neighbourhoods of Granada, Highland Terrace, and Woodland Heights, and is located mostly within the City limits. The precinct as a whole is 25% white, 69% black, and 6% other.

Precinct 106

YES: 187 (49%)
NO: 194 (51%)

Precinct 106 includes the Dunmire neighbourhood and the areas around John Carroll and Schwab Drives, and is located mostly within the City limits. The precinct as a whole is 79% white, 15% black, and 6% other.

Precinct 107

YES: 638 (52%)
NO: 590 (48%)

Precinct 107 includes much of the Scenic Heights area and is located mostly within the City limits. The precinct as a whole is 86% white, 8% black, and 6% other.

Precinct 108

YES: 112 (47%)
NO: 128 (53%)

Only a small portion of Precinct 108, including the Eau Claire and Camelot neighbourhoods, is located within the City limits. The precinct as a whole is 78% white, 14% black, and 8% other.

Precinct 110

YES: 14 (39%)
NO: 22 (61%)

Only a small portion of Precinct 110 (an area north of Brent Lane and east of Davis Highway) is located within the City limits. The precinct as a whole is 81% white, 6% black, and 13% other.