Some have questioned whether Pierce can be county planner and Apalachicola mayor at the same time. That's something a lot of people have asked me about - is there a conflict. Most people think I'm the county administrator - that I have independent authority. But I don't. Everything I do, the Board of County Commissioners has to sanction.
Pierce hopes to calm the stormy waters that have roiled city politics in recent years.
The county has done work for recreational facilities for residents, but the city hasn't done anything. The city is also in the middle of a large sewer and water project, but once they finish digging up the roads and alleys, they have no money to bring them back into good condition. We need to work on that. Pierce said the Apalachicola waterfront is key to more than the seafood industry. The waterfront has a value to the city not only because it provides jobs and opportunity for seafood, but also it's one thing the tourists come here for.