Last issue, I described who was running for mayor in the two big cities on the Eastern Shore. In this column and the next, I’ll provide insight into the personalities, platforms and probable principal players as Fairhope and Daphne pick their next mayors.
Today (Part 1) it’s a look at Fairhope – a crowded field, all committed to replacing incumbent Tim Kant, plus Mayor Tim, hisself.
Given the past four years it would seem like any challenger would win, but in fact a substantial number of voters honestly seem to feel that that everything’s going well in the operation of the city. If it ain’t broke, why fix it? After all Fairhope is known for its flowers – and plants and fertilizer are Mayor Tim’s real strengths.
So consider this possibility: Responding to a real threat of change, there’s a high turn-out among the “Keep Kant-ers.” And the four opponents (at current count): Jack Burrell (fresh face – virtual unknown), Rick Gambino (Long-time local businessman – deep community roots), Dean Mosher (Single Tax Colony exec – artist and activist) and Chris Warner (Professional urban planner – loser in council bid) fragment the “Kan Kant-er” votes. Then for four more years the official face of Fairhope would be the too-often-fumbling (whoops – forgot to tell somebody to install lightning rods on the already-struck new library) incumbent.
So what’s to be done? Not too hard, but ego-deflating for some of the mayoral-wannabes. Get the reformers together and cull the field to a single candidate and then get out the vote in support of him. The problem with this is that the two strongest candidates, Rick Gambino and Dean Mosher, have different bases – sure they got some overlap, but nothing even close to congruency.
Dean has years of experience as a member of the board of The Colony and often has been the face and voice of the community, filling a void left by the inaction or inability of elected officials. He was one of the principals in the campaign opposing Wal-Mart and followed up by taking the lead in efforts to get land use planning for unincorporated areas around Fairhope. Neither was successful, but I’m not sure that success was possible – given the earlier actions of the mayor.
Mosher’s base is the more affluent, often better educated, in the community, civic activists and (unsurprisingly) those associated with the arts. This is not to suggest he doesn’t appeal to other groups, but there is a feeling among a fair number of Fairhopers that Dean doesn’t have the hard-nosed business orientation they want in the next mayor.
It is this very experience that makes Rick Gambino appealing – especially to local business owners. While the Downtown Merchants’ Association (once described by a consultant to the city as “dysfunctional”) is doing a better job of selling Fairhope as a place to visit and spend bucks (not just smell the flowers), they could use some help from city hall – something oft-promised, but seldom-delivered by Kant. Fixing this is why many voters look to Rick – sympathy for the small business-person, sensitivity to the need for helping businesses compete with the ever-increasing number of malls, and savvy on how to make the city more efficient and business-like.
As for the other two candidates, I see each as having too small a base and too limited an appeal to be more than spoilers in the race. Jack Burrell and Chris Warner are getting visibility and name recognition that may serve them well in future campaigns, but this time around they should stay off the ballot and support one of the two stronger candidates – unless they want to risk a Kant victory by dilution of the opposition.
But there is yet another possibility. At one time it looked like City Council President Bob Gentle was going to run. He is a popular civic leader, highly regarded throughout the city and a successful professional business owner. Even better, his service on the council has given him a clear, very public record of doing what’s right and best for the community, rather than what’s personally aggrandizing or politically expeditious. For many he appeared to be the best choice to challenge the long-entrenched incumbent. Bob could rally the various factions looking for reform, present a united front in campaigning for change, and offer a clear alternative to Kant on the August ballot.
But shortly after announcing his intention to run for mayor, with fellow councilmember Cecil Christianberry signed on as his campaign manager, Bob dropped out. For a minute it looked as if 2008 might be a repeat of 2004: Mayor Tim vs. a lone unknown with virtually no support. But Dean Mosher stepped into the void and is doing a good job of building support by reaching out to a broader base than his natural constituency. But he lacks the record as an elected official and the breadth of public and private experience Bob Gentle offers.
As I said at the start, I think it’s necessary to cull the reform candidates to a single individual. And now I’m saying this candidate should be someone who’s not currently running. But for a guy with Bob Gentle’s credentials it’s possible to leave the starting blocks late and still win the race.
So Bob, please reconsider. You’ve announced that you’ll be leaving the city council at the end of your present term and you’re just about finished with your new house. What better use of all your new-found free time than as Fairhope’s new mayor?
Contact Pete Gleszer at jubilee@lagniappemobile.com.
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