GULF SHORES – Blair Castro, a law instructor, policy advisor and co-host of a Gulf Coast podcast, has entered the race for Gulf Shores City Council, bringing what she says is an “unapologetic, people-first campaign focused on halting overdevelopment and putting locals first.”

“I’m running because I’m tired of being ignored,” Castro said in an announcement sent to media. “It shouldn’t be this hard to do business in your own town or get real answers about what’s going on. Gulf Shores is growing fast — and not always in the right ways. It’s time we hit pause and put our community first.”

Raised in the Perdido Key area of West Pensacola, Castro now calls Gulf Shores home with her daughter, Juliet, and partner, Thomas. She has worked behind the scenes as a policy advisor and communications strategist for over 25 local elected officials and governments across the Gulf Coast area.

Castro owns Shook PR, a digital strategy firm with an office in Gulf Shores, serving community leaders, nonprofits and small businesses. She is also the co-founder of WFUZ-TV, an online podcast and independent media outlet that covers underreported issues across Baldwin and Escambia counties.

Castro, graduate of the Leadership Pensacola Class of 2022, earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of West Florida, a master’s in entertainment business from Full Sail University, a graduate certificate from Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a juris doctor from Barry University School of Law. She also worked as an adjunct law instructor at Pensacola State College.

Some of Castro’s goals for Gulf Shores include halting development, working on traffic and parking issues, building the Coastal Gateway Park project, speeding up permitting and business licensing processes, investing in public safety, cutting “freefall” spending, amending sewage and water issues, protecting walkability and green space, expanding infrastructure before new growth and enforcing term limits in city government, according to her announcement.

Castro is running for Place Five, which is currently held by Councilman Steve Jones who has held the position since 2000. He is also a Realtor and is vice president of events and community affairs at the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber. In Gulf Shores, candidates — and voters — are not bound to districts. Candidates challenging an incumbent councilmember choose who they want to challenge and qualify to run for that place.

Qualifying is open through June 24. Gulf Coast Media will post a list of candidates running for municipal seats across Baldwin County when they become available.

As of June 16, the most recent candidate list posted by the city, both Castro and Jones have qualified. To be placed on the ballot, candidates must be verified by the Ethics Commission. The list currently shows the mayor and all incumbent candidates except Philip Harris, mayor pro tempore and representative for Place Three, will face challengers to their seats.

Municipal elections across Baldwin County and the state will be held Aug. 26. Lawmakers voted in 2021 to postpone city elections, extending the terms of those elected in 2020 by one year.

Officials said the move was made to be able to hold municipal elections on an off year from the presidential election, citing poll worker fatigue, voter confusion over voting venues and equipment shortages as reasons for the shift.

Note: This reporting originally stated Councilman Steve Jones was first elected in 1996 and has since been updated to reflect the correct year.