BY STEVE FLOWERS
When it comes to governing and how it affects your daily life, the most important vote you cast is for mayor of your city.
Most of our elections for mayor and city council were held in August. As is usually the case, the incumbents were reelected to most mayorships and city council. There were some significant upsets. However, for the most part, the city fathers will be back for four more years. City governing is where the rubber meets the road in Alabama and throughout the nation.
We have several mayors retiring this year, who will go into the annals of their city history as probably the greatest mayor their beloved hometown has ever had. Sandy Stimpson is retiring as Mayor of Mobile after 12 years. He has been one of the best mayors in Port City history, probably only rivaled by Arthur Outlaw.
Gary Fuller probably has been the greatest mayor in the history of the legendary city of Opelika. His decades reign has been marked with progress beyond compare. He has left his Lee County bailiwick in remarkably sound financial condition.
Joe Lee is retiring after 22 years as Mayor of Moody. He has overseen the transformation of his St. Clair County town from a population of 1500 to 15,000. He has left an indelible mark.
Two of our state’s most popular and accomplished mayors, Tommy Battle of Huntsville and Walt Maddox of Tuscaloosa, were elected without any opposition within the past year.
Pike Road founding father, Mayor Gordon Stone, was elected to yet another term. Dothan’s popular Mayor, Mark Saliba, was overwhelmingly reelected by a six to one margin to an unprecedented third term in August.
Troy Mayor Jason Reeves was first elected to the City Council in 1996 at 24 years old. Sixteen years later, he was elected mayor at age 40. He was unopposed for reelection to a third term as mayor this year. If he completes this term, he will be the longest consecutive serving city official in Troy’s history. He will probably make it. He is only 53.
Phenix City’s popular longtime Mayor Eddie Lowe won a fourth term unopposed. Chuck Ables was reelected to his fourth term as Mayor of Geraldine.
Read more here: https://yellowhammernews.com/steve-flowers-alabama-mayors-races-settled-this-year/
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