PENSACOLA, Fla. — In an effort to take classroom lessons and apply them to daily life, I have started asking my “AI Bestie” to “tell me everything there is to know” about my interview subjects. I use it as a foundation for questions because, in the communication field—as with artificial intelligence—sources must always be verified for accuracy.
On a cold, rainy morning during the lull between Christmas and New Year’s, I met Steven Barry at a Starbucks, armed with five pages of typed and handwritten notes.
Barry is the District 5 county commissioner in Escambia County. District 5—the county’s largest district, stretching from Nine Mile Road north to the state line—includes the University of West Florida. Currently serving his fourth term, Barry is the first Republican in Escambia County history to win four consecutive terms. When asked to name a defining moment in his career, he cited that fourth victory. I jokingly asked if his 2020 female opponent was his favorite, and he smiled.
News flash: It was me.
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In discussing the most rewarding aspects of his role, Barry noted the opportunity to change and enhance the community landscape. We talked about his deep roots in local service, including tenures as chair of the Fire Services Citizens Advisory Committee, treasurer with the Miracle League, 10 years with the Pace Center for Girls and the Covenant House Leadership Council.
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These roles prepared him for the complex issues we discussed over coffee: rezonings, consolidated government, economic growth and local frustrations like the paper mill “smell” and train delays. Throughout the talk, the conversation continually returned to one theme: relationships. He attributes his success to the bonds he has built and fostered throughout a lifetime in Escambia County.
Beyond his public service, Barry maintains a career in the private sector as a certified financial planner, having earned his accounting degree from UWF in 1997. Balancing a business and a commission seat is a heavy lift, so I asked how he spends his free time. For him, it’s all about his wife of 15 years and their two children. Whether coaching lacrosse or T-ball or visiting local spots like Sky Zone and Maker’s Loft, he is at his happiest when he is with his family.
Barry is also a regular at Smokey’s BBQ, where his go-to order is salad, chicken or fried mullet. His other favorite? McGuire’s Irish Pub. These are the small, human facts that AI did not provide—the kind that can only be found through human connection.
As technology evolves and AI becomes a permanent fixture, the theme remains that the human element is irreplaceable. By looking past the data points on the page, I was able to see the person behind the title. AI can provide the stats, the terms and the history, but it cannot capture the way a father’s eyes light up when talking about his children. In a world of algorithms, Barry reminds us that the best politics is still personal.