Not so long ago in the two big cites of the Eastern Shore, mayors were pretty much picked to run by the powers-that-be (If you don’t know who these be, just talk to a long-term resident in your community – they know). The actual election was more of an affirmation than a selection.
Sure, four years ago in Daphne the incumbent Harry Brown lost to the political novice and convenience store owner, Fred Small. But by that point in Harry’s tenure, he was staggering under a load of baggage that would drop a Budweiser Clydesdale. Losing was almost preordained.
The experience in the next city down the Bay was more typical. Mayor Tim Kant kept his job without breaking a sweat. He didn’t run, he strolled to victory. There was an opponent but hardly anyone knew he existed, and with the passage of time, even fewer can identify him by name.
But what a difference a Wal-Mart makes. And a budget process that generously could be described as “Puzzling.” And the little matter of Mayor Tim’s “Keeping Book” on the council members as in, “One of you isn’t paying property taxes; another, his utility bills; yet another is using a city project contractor to build his new house; etc.”
Competitors have come out of the woodwork. First, Jack Burrell, a sales rep for GlaxoSmith/Kline. His issues: improved fiscal responsibility, open and honest government and properly managed growth. His initial focus would be on financial stability, noting with some concern the $45 million in debt the city currently carries.
Jack was followed by Dean Mosher, Rick Gambino and Chris Warner. And of course Mayor Tim is looking to reprise his long-running act – only at a new, higher salary (from sixteen-to sixty-thousand bucks), but almost certainly without the public works lagniappe (with it his pay would go to a frighteningly profligate $120,000!).
Dean Mosher has long been involved in Fairhope’s political, business and cultural affairs. A nationally recognized artist and long-term Single Tax Corporation executive, Dean’s plans for a better Fairhope include: protecting the integrity of the master plan, enhancing quality-of-life, (achieving) transparency of city finances, separating the jobs of mayor and superintendent of public utilities and (developing) a long-range budget plan.
The sole local businessman among those seeking the mayoral post, Rick Gambino has made that unique experience central to his campaign. He adds that he understands planning and finance – as well as how to coordinate the efforts of groups of people for a common purpose.
“I have the experience and skills to unite this city,” Rick stated in a recent interview, while observing that conflict between the council and mayor has weakened Fairhope.
The most recent to declare his intent to run for mayor is Chris Warner. But he may not be the last – official qualification to run for the office doesn’t close until July 15, with the election held on Aug. 26. Chris is a planning consultant and author with a Ph.D. in urban planning. Not surprisingly, he bases his unique qualifications on this work experience and education.
He notes that recent growth in Fairhope has not been in concert with the master plan and with an expected influx of retiring Baby-Boomers in the near future, this deficiency must be corrected if Fairhope’s unique heritage is to be protected.
Lots of candidates in Fairhope, offering varied solutions to a set of well-identified problems that are largely the legacy of the current regime. This is in contrast to Baldwin’s largest city, Daphne (bet you were betting I’d get lost and forget to develop the Daphne thread). It looks like a rematch of last election – assuming that incumbent Mayor Small does actually run – but with an extra competitor, Ernie Berger.
Mayor Fred talks about wanting to see some projects, started during his first term, through to their conclusion. Beyond, voters will have to assess his merits based on what they have seen since he beat Harry Brown four years ago.
Brown, on the other hand, is trying to come back as a guardian of the public purse. An interesting approach and credible just so long as you buy into the leopards and spots thing. But he can get traction in some quarters when he describes the lavish (but exceptionally attractive) new city hall – with its multi-room mayoral suite – as an “irresponsible use of city funds.”
The really interesting candidate is Ernie Berger. A business executive and entrepreneur, he is founder and head of “Santa America,” an international hospice program focused on children. With his white beard and (slight) rotundity, he seriously looks like Santa. And nobody but Scrooge would not vote for Santa Claus.
But his appeal is more than his looks – Ernie has a broad reform platform based on (in his words), an “historic opportunity” in this election to move Daphne’s government into “a new era that must deal with rapid growth and infrastructure development in a responsible, planned manner, based on continuous citizen input and support.” While everybody else talks making adjustments, Ernie wants to shift paradigms.
And that there’s a quick look the major ESho mayoral players – at least what we know as this issue goes to press. In the next Lagniappe, “Jubilee” will provide analysis – with kudos and brickbats – of the candidates, their platforms and (to use a term from the national campaigns) who their “base” is. Plus any late breaking candidate additions or deletions, the buzz from voters (not scientifically sampled) and anything that pops up over the next two weeks that is slightly relevant to the races.
So keep reading Lagniappe and become a member of the informed – if not funky – electorate.
(Statements by candidates and descriptions of their platforms as used in this column were taken from their official Web sites and/or published interviews.)
Contact Pete Gleszer at jubilee@lagniappemobile.com.
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