The Making Of A Mayor

Bobby Wagner first attended a city council meeting to talk about planting trees along roadways. At the time, Wagner was executive director of the nonprofit Trees on the Coast organization. But the meeting left him with the seed of a thought planted in his head.

In November 2021, Wagner was appointed to the Destin City Council. A year later, Wagner became Florida’s youngest mayor at the age of 28.

“I still care deeply about trees, but seeing how government can influence other sectors really excited me,” Wagner says. “Realizing it only takes four votes to change things for the better is powerful, and that’s when I fell in love with local government.”

During that first meeting, he got to witness what community members were passionate about but also where there were areas for improvement.

Photo by Boo Media

At the time, Wagner had been a business owner for 10 years with his own video production company, Land Air Sea Productions. Running a company dedicated to telling the stories of locals, Wagner was naturally connected to locals, understanding their wants and needs.

Wagner’s mayoral campaign slogan, “revive, reclaim, sustain,” focused on natural revitalization and green development, but it also referred to giving the community back their voices.

“I ran on a platform realizing that locals feel they have been left in the dust,” Wagner says. “The majority of citizens of Destin now feel that they have a voice again; that they have a seat at the table.”

Among wins for the community under Wagner’s mayoralty is the reclamation of Destin beach land and a renewed emphasis on rebuilding local parks. Looking into the future, Wagner is excited to be a part of the upcoming Marler Bridge and Destin Harbor projects.

“Those are going to be projects that, if we do them right and get the locals involved, in 10 to 15 years, we’ll see the fruit of our labor,” Wagner says.

A typical day in the office for Wagner doesn’t often include an office at all. He might be attending the grand opening of a locally owned business, visiting a busy intersection to try to improve traffic patterns, or cleaning up a nearby public beach.

Photo by Boo Media

As a result of his on-the-move workdays, Wagner’s closet staples prove versatile, from blazers and chinos to polos and khaki shorts, depending on the agenda.

“If I don’t dress like a mayor, the public thinks I’m 12,” Wagner says jokingly.

Wagner has been dubbed the Millennial Mayor by the general public. At 31, Wagner is by definition a millennial, but he also abides by many of the generations’ most notable characteristics. He finds a strong sense of purpose in his job, taking his role seriously, while also realizing comfort and even fun are important in the working world.

“I enjoy dressing up for council meetings and fundraisers, but this community gets work done, and I need to be able to dress for the beach or wherever the day takes me,” he says. “This translates to going with the flow and being comfortable.”

When selecting an outfit for an event or quality business casual clothes, Wagner is loyal to Men’s Wearhouse and has been since high school prom.

“They may be a chain, but our Destin store is as local as it gets,” Wagner says. “They do a lot in the community, too.”

Each year, he selects a new color scheme and invests in a high-quality blazer.

“I chose green for this year, because of the political hostility right now, so green was a good neutral color for both the Emerald Coast as well as my own environmental background,” says Wagner, who is registered as a No Party Affiliation (NPA) voter.

Wagner adds small details to his business look that are ritualistic and symbolic. Adorning his blazer are an American flag pin and a City of Destin pin, and on his wrists, bracelets and a gold watch.

Photo by Boo Media

For casual styles, Wagner looks to his rather impressive baseball cap collection to complete his look. The more local in theme, the better. Currently in rotation are a City of Destin hat, Destin High School hat, and Big Kahuna’s hat.

Of all attire, a wetsuit is his preference. Wagner was born in New York but has called Destin home since the age of 6, always loving the area most for its waters. As an avid diver, it’s his favorite way to decompress and connect with nature.

“Diving lets me experience the vibrant world beneath the surface—where life unfolds in a beautiful, delicate balance,” Wagner says. “It’s a front-row seat to the ecosystem that makes Destin the ‘World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.’ Seeing it firsthand deepens my appreciation for our environment and reminds me why protecting it matters so much.”

From the start of his campaign, Wagner has expressed the importance of honesty, transparency, and communication.

“I never got into this role to climb a political ladder, but the biggest thing I’ve witnessed now being in it, is that one person can absolutely make a difference,” Wagner says. “You can make a difference in whatever you care about, and I am here to help.”

To him, this is the definition of having style—knowing who you are and what you believe in and standing by it.