Panama City Gets A New Mayor

Before Allan Branch took office as Mayor of Panama City in May 2025, he was better known for opening brewpubs, restoring historic buildings, and revitalizing downtown storefronts. Now, he is bringing that entrepreneurial mindset to city government.

Branch’s roots run deep in Panama City, as his family has been doing business for nearly 80 years, operating places like Tally Ho Drive-In and Speedy Car Wash. After achieving success in software companies, Branch shifted into real estate and building restoration with his wife, Anna, launching History Class Brewing Company, El Weirdo tacopub, and The Sapp House.

During his mayoral campaign, Branch emphasized simplicity, accountability, and government accessibility. He speaks from experience, having found that working with City Hall as a builder was slow, inefficient, and frustrating.

“It felt like everything took 10 times longer than necessary,” Branch noted. “If I felt that way, people unfamiliar with the system must find it impossible. That’s not how a city should work.”

Photo by Boo Media

Even his sister, who opened a barbecue restaurant near City Hall, missed critical steps due to the city’s lack of how-to documentation. “That’s the fault of the system,” he says, “not the citizen.”

It was these types of frustrations that led Branch to run for office.

“My job is to advocate for initiatives and help the city function by shaping direction, building consensus, and incorporating community feedback,” he says, explaining that the city operates under a “weak mayor” system, such that the mayor shares authority with a city manager. He has no executive authority over city operations.

Many cities operate under a “strong mayor” system, where the mayor’s role is similar to that of a corporate CEO.

Branch’s leadership style is intentionally collaborative.
“I engage on Facebook and Instagram, and share my email and cell number so I can hear the opinions of the community.”

Within weeks of taking office, Branch began making tangible changes. City Commission meetings are now tightly focused on agenda items only. Public comments are integrated into town hall meetings on the first Saturday of odd-numbered months.

Branch says, “When you give people time to speak and not a three-minute limit, they’ll tell you what’s working and what’s not.”

Photo by Boo Media

Branch instituted commission workshops on the first and third Mondays at 4 p.m. and launched a plan to create shared department inboxes to ensure no resident inquiry goes unanswered.

“We want feedback from citizens,” he says. “Most cities don’t encourage it. When residents become frustrated with city employees, they may not realize that those employees don’t have the authority to make changes. So, feedback needs to reach the policymakers who can.”

Emails now feature feedback links, and office doors have signs encouraging residents to ask for help. A system of response tracking ensures follow-through. He’s also focused on creating clear documentation, including checklists available both online and in every city office.

“People tell me, ‘Every time I talk to someone at City Hall, I get a different answer.’ To me, it’s because the system hasn’t equipped employees with better tools to communicate well.”

Branch wants service-level budgeting to show precisely how tax dollars are spent, and code reform that eliminates or adjusts one outdated ordinance for every new one passed.

Photo by Boo Media

Since Hurricane Michael, Branch has helped attract over $50 million in private investment to downtown Panama City. However, such success brings challenges, particularly since inflated property values pose affordability challenges for long-time residents.

“We want to revitalize, not gentrify,” he says. “The goal isn’t to push anyone out. It’s to make sure people who’ve been here forever still feel like this is their city, too.”

To that end, he is bringing in the Incremental Development Alliance, a national group that teaches citizens how to become small-scale developers. The aim is to educate locals on how to finance, design, and construct affordable housing, as well as revitalize vacant lots.

His administration is exploring mixed-use projects, combining workforce housing and retail, while continuing to share progress through social media and public events.

Branch is clear that his two-year term won’t be long enough to solve every issue, but he believes it can lay the foundation for long-term change.

And while he resists the title of politician, Branch fully embraces the fact that local government can be efficient and helpful.