Municipal elections were around the corner across Mobile County, with voters in nearly every town preparing to choose mayors and council members on Aug. 26 and, where needed, in Oct. 7 runoffs. Some contests were as heated as a Gulf Coast afternoon; others drew little notice. Here is a look at the races and the reading offered by a number of seasoned local observers.
Saraland
In the self-styled “Gateway to Progress,” Mayor Ken Williams sought a fourth term against long-time friend and Place One Councilman Marvin “Skooter” Adams, a former city sewer superintendent whom Williams had once coached in youth baseball. With a steel mill, a proposed racetrack and a new school system on the horizon, the race pitted growth-minded voters against residents who preferred a steadier pace. Observers gave Williams an edge with the city’s senior citizens, while Adams needed strong turnout among newer residents west of Interstate 65. A last-minute council entry by former mayoral candidate Ron Mitchell against retired state trooper Benny Peoples, and a contest between two members of the same church, drew particular interest.
Satsuma
The headline in Satsuma was the decision by Mayor Billy Bush not to seek re-election. The contest to succeed him centered on council member Mark Barlow and retired teacher and civic activist Pat Hicks, with two other candidates in the field raising the odds of a runoff. Lingering questions over the former administration and the fallout from Saraland’s move to form its own school system added to an unusually crowded ballot, where by one count it seemed half the town was running for something.
Prichard
Incumbent Mayor Ron Davis faced three challengers, including former Mayor Charles Harden, who campaigned on lowering water bills. Observers expected Davis, who had won a crowded field without a runoff four years earlier, to prevail comfortably.
Citronelle, Creola and Mount Vernon
In Citronelle, incumbent Michael Waltman faced a field that included the widow of a former mayor and the wife of another, a crowded race that observers thought could work to the incumbent’s advantage. Creola appeared headed for continuity, with a water dispute between the city and the Le Moyne Water Board the issue most worth watching. Mount Vernon faced an open seat as its long-serving mayor stepped aside, leaving a field led by veteran local figure Leophus Lyde and popular candidate Jerry Lundy.
Bayou La Batre and Dauphin Island
In Bayou La Batre, Mayor Stan Wright sought a third term against former Mayor Warren Seaman and commercial fisherman Rodney Lyons, campaigning on the town’s recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Council races there were expected to be competitive, with several incumbents facing strong, family-backed challengers. On Dauphin Island, Mayor Jeff Collier drew no opposition, a reflection of broad approval for his stewardship of the barrier-island community.
Chickasaw
Chickasaw drew notice for the emergence of a citizens group formed in response to a metal-shredding plant, which fielded a slate emphasizing police protection and crime. Mayor Jim Trout, a favorite son of the city, was seen as well positioned, though the organized opposition represented the first cohesive challenge to a sitting administration there in some time.
As one veteran put it, all politics is local — and it rarely gets more local than a small-town election, where a church congregation, a coffee-shop rumor or a single well-timed endorsement can decide who wins.