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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
With qualifying over, campaigning begins for municipal elections
Jun. 26—Running for office isn't cheap, and experienced politicians say the candidates who qualified for the 2025 municipal elections should be prepared for the campaign costs. Qualifying for the Aug. 26 elections ended Tuesday with 26 candidates entering Decatur's mayoral, City Council or Board of Education races. Qualifiers in five of the 11 races are unopposed, with five incumbents seeking reelection. The race to replace Mayor Tab Bowling, who is completing his second term and isn't running again, features four candidates: Billy Jackson, Kent Lawrence, Butch Matthews and Suzie Wiley. Bowling said Wednesday that he spent about $23,000 on his 2016 campaign and close to $50,000 in 2020. While his costs more than doubled, he said he was fortunate he didn't have to buy signs in the reelection campaign. District 5 Councilman Jacob Ladner, who also isn't seeking reelection, said he raised closed to $10,000, and he has about $30 left in his election account. "I spent it all on signs, door hangers, mailers, social media and a website," Ladner said. "I hired Heather Wilson as a consultant for about $1,000." Paige Bibbee has been through three campaigns. She ran unsuccessfully in 2008 for District 3 school board. She was elected to the City Council in 2016, but lost her reelection bid in 2020. Bibbee said she was more conservative than some candidates. She estimated she spent $5,000 to $6,000 on her campaigns because she didn't want to owe a contributor for a future vote on an issue. "I didn't take contributions, but I can see where someone in a council race could easily spend $9,000 or $10,000 if they solicit contributions," Bibbee said. She also said a mayoral candidate spending $50,000 on a campaign "is not out of the realm of possibility. Mayor is a pretty big step up from a city council race." All three said they see this year's campaign as different from the 2020 campaign because the previous race occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Going door to door, even during a hot summer campaign, has always been one of the most effective ways to campaigning, but personal contact was limited in 2020. Ladner said his campaign left a lot of door hangers and, since "most people didn't want to answer the door," he hoped he could catch them out in their yards and have a conversation. Don Kyle went through four mayoral campaigns, winning two and losing two. He spent close to $20,000 in his 2016 campaign. Kyle said he thinks door hangers were the most effective for him, particularly with the city's older residents. He said door hangers "might be the only time a resident thinks about you because they are so busy with their daily lives." While direct mail is necessary, he said it often gets lost in the junk mail that people receive. All four former or outgoing politicians agreed that it's important to take advantage of opportunities like city events and political forums to speak with people and talk about their platforms. Kyle said they tried to hit each home two or three times with a door hanger during the campaign and especially hit as many homes as possible two weekends before the election. That gives the electors plenty of time to put the election on their calendar, "so hopefully they won't forget," Kyle said. He said older residents aren't as tied in to social media, but it's a necessary tool in a campaign. "You still need to be active and constant on social media to reach the younger residents," Kyle said. While a higher percentage of older residents voted in past elections than younger voters, Kyle said he read a report this week that younger voters (ages 25-34) almost doubled in the New York City mayor's primary, which had in-person voting Tuesday. "That's amazing," Kyle said. "But trying to get younger people interested is very difficult." Kyle and Bibbee said one of the difficulties they had as incumbents was finding time to campaign while at the same time doing their job as mayor or councilwoman. "When I took the job I wanted to give it my all," Bibbee said. "I know of candidates who just abandoned their job for their campaign, and that's just not me." The upcoming municipal elections are a year later after the state Legislature passed a law in 2021 that pushed the term from four to five years, after which they will revert to every four years again. The change moves the municipal elections off of the even years when general and congressional midterm elections occur. Kyle said he's concerned that the change could create election fatigue and impact turnout, especially since he thinks municipal elections are more important than state and national elections. "I kind of wonder if people are kind of tired of elections," Kyle said. "We had the big one last year (presidential election) and the midterm is next year. It was a mistake (to move the municipal elections) because now there will be an election every three out of four years." Kyle said they moved the municipal elections because city clerks and probate judges complained that they were having trouble finding poll volunteers. Instead, he thinks they should have put the general and midterm election together with municipal elections. "That was probably too logical," Kyle said. Bowling said he doesn't think the date change will impact Decatur's turnout. He said the number of City Council and mayoral candidates shows the amount of interest in city issues. "It (the election change) might apply in the future, but right now in Decatur I think a lot of people are paying attention to the upcoming election," Bowling said. The election comes after almost two years of protests following the fatal Sept. 29, 2023, shooting of Steve Perkins by a Decatur police officer. While the city waits on the officer's murder trial, a review by a third-party consultant led to a police chief change. The city is also in the midst of growth as it tries to manage a large number of new subdivision developments and issues like build-to-rent homes and short-term rentals. Bibbee said she agrees with Bowling that this Decatur election will get plenty of attention, but said Kyle could be right about election weariness in the future. "There's so much going on in Decatur there's going to be a big push, although the turnout could depend on the weather too," Bibbee said. "The change may not impact this year, but people could have election fatigue for future elections." Bowling said he "perceives, and I could be wrong, some candidates are running on kind of an isolated agenda." He said City Council candidates should be aware that a lot of work goes into representing their districts if they're elected. — or 256-340-2432
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Filling Parks and Rec director opening next for council
Jun. 6—Parks and Recreation director is next on the lengthy list of job openings for the Decatur City Council to fill, and 73 people have applied for the position. Just this week, a new police chief took office and the council made an offer to a planning director candidate. City Council President Jacob Ladner said Wednesday that the priority for the next agenda is its midyear review of the fiscal 2025 budget, and then Parks and Recreation director is next. The City Council, which is responsible for hiring directors, is seeking to replace former Parks and Recreation director Jason Lake, who retired in February. In response to a request based on the state's Open Records Act, city Human Resource Director Richelle Sandlin released the applications for Parks and Recreation director and an email containing her recommendations to the council, Mayor Tab Bowling and Chief Financial Officer Kyle Demeester. In the email, she recommended the council interview five applicants: —William Collins, statewide trails coordinator, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Montgomery. He previously served as athletic programs director, city of Bessemer; director of parks program, Red Mountain Park; and athletics coordinator, city of Orange Beach. —Stephanie McLain, interim operations manager and Point Mallard Park superintendent; previously Point Mallard marketing and group sales after starting as aquatic facilities operator. —Joseph Rodecker, former recreation superintendent, Canton, Ohio; previously assistant parks and recreation director, Montgomery County, Tennessee; athletic division, Franklin, Tennessee; and assistant property manager, CNA. —Jerry Smith, director of parks and grounds, Boynton Beach, Florida; previously county parks director, Bexar County, Texas; and deputy director of parks and recreation, North Miami Beach, Florida. —Todd Strubhart, golf and street services, University City Parks, Illinois; previously director of Parks and Recreation, Godfrey, Illinois; recreation supervisor, Belleville, Illinois; managing partner, Midwest Team Training LLC; vice president of select sports operations, Belleville Select Youth Sports. Sandlin listed a second group of four applicants who she writes, "are minimally qualified and recommended for hold pending consideration of Group 1 candidates." She writes that a third group of 63 applicants "did not meet the minimum requirements for consideration and further review is not recommended." — DYS director The City Council is also looking for a new leader of Decatur Youth Services after Brandon Watkins resigned in March. Retired DYS Director Bruce Jones stepped in to run the department on a part-time basis. The city received 70 applications, but Sandlin has not made a recommendation on how the council should proceed. Ladner said that's OK with him. He said he prefers "to let Bruce guide us on how he wants to proceed," especially since the department seems to be running smoothly. Jones has indicated he's willing to work with the city through November when a new council term begins. — or 256-340-2432
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Decatur Council President Ladner won't seek reelection as District 5 councilman
May 24—One term is enough for Decatur City Council President Jacob Ladner, who announced Friday that he will not seek reelection as the District 5 councilman. Ladner said he has known for a while that he would not run and felt it was time, with the June 10 beginning of the qualifying period for the municipal election approaching, to make his announcement. "I wanted to give potential candidates time to consider whether they want to run knowing that there's an open seat," Ladner said. "Hopefully, this will get more people interested." So far, there haven't been any formal public announcements from potential candidates for District 5, located mainly between Beltline Road Southwest and Gordon Terry Parkway. Ladner said several factors went into his decision not to run again. The 39-year-old has three young, active children. He is also chief executive officer of Thirdmark Capital, a commercial finance company that's 3 years old and growing. He said former Councilman Greg Reeves gave him some advice in 2020 when he was considering running. "Greg talked about having the mentality if I won that I was not going to run again," Ladner said. "He said that would really free you up, so you don't have to worry about whether you're making the right decisions just to get reelected." Despite this mentality, he said it wasn't always definite that he would just serve one term. Mayor Tab Bowling, who has had an occasionally rocky relationship with Ladner, said he's "disappointed (with the decision) but I understand." The mayor complimented Ladner, saying he "has a good mind for business," but that working as council president takes a lot of time away from his family and company. "I know people see what goes on during Monday's council meetings, but they don't see all of the other work that goes on," Bowling said. "They don't see us working with developers or making plans for other types of quality-of-life projects." As president, Ladner has led the council during the almost 20 months of controversy following the Sept. 29, 2023, shooting death of Steve Perkins by a Decatur police officer. The controversy included criticism of Ladner by Bowling and others for continuing the often loud and rowdy public comment periods at council meetings because some felt the sessions were having a negative impact on the city. "No, that had no bearing on my decision on whether to run again or not," Ladner said. Ladner and the council majority also pushed out Todd Pinion as police chief and hired Torry Mack, who starts June 2. Sharonda Acklin, of Standing In Power, a social justice group group that has led many protests related to Perkins' death, said she's surprised that Ladner isn't running again. "We wish him the best of luck on his future endeavors," Acklin said. "I think he did the best he could with the way he knew how to do it. He was open to hearing what the community had to say regarding the state of the city, whether or not that was put into action or taken outside of the words he heard." Most recently, Ladner was criticized for pausing public comment at two council meetings and changing the public comment rules after a chaotic meeting that led to the arrest of six people in attendance. Bowling also banned the six from City Hall. "I think he did the best he knew how with everything that's going on," Acklin said. "I believe making change to the public comment was to appease his higher-ups." While he's not running again, Ladner said serving on the council for the last four and a half years "has been one of the greatest honors of my life," and he's "incredibly proud" of the accomplishments during this term. He said he is proud of how aggressive this City Council has been. He mentioned the $98 million 3M Co. lawsuit settlement, which led to the ongoing construction of the new Wilson Morgan Recreation Center and multiple recreation facilities. Bowling said he thinks the 3M settlement was the biggest accomplishment of Ladner's term. He said this set in motion Ladner's goal of making Decatur a leader in recreation again with the construction of the new sports facilities. Ladner is council liaison to Decatur Utilities, and the utility is working on ending sanitary sewer overflows with a $165 million rate increase. Previously a problem that led to state fines, the city hasn't had a rain-induced sewer overflow in more than two years. The city also made public infrastructure improvements like the new Morgan County-Decatur Farmers Market and a new downtown parking deck. The council built the deck as an incentive for a new Fairfield Inn by Marriott hotel. The council under Ladner's leadership agreed to an incentive package that is bringing GreenPoint Ag's headquarters to Lee Street Northeast. Ladner is also proud of the renewed focus on residential development. "This led to more housing growth this term than in recent memory. People are choosing to make Decatur home — an encouraging sign of the city's momentum," he said. He said that when he ran, he "wanted to change the attitude of waiting for things to happen. I hope this is a good thing, but I wanted to make things happen and change how aggressive we are." Ladner said he hopes the next administration stays aggressive in adding quality-of-life attractions to the city. "I hope it doesn't just sit around worrying about mowing the grass and paving the roads," Ladner said. "Those things need to occur, but I want them to make things happen." He said several important projects are underway and will continue beyond his term. These include the Sixth Avenue streetscape, drainage improvements at Princeton Place, widening of Modaus Road and Bunny Lane, the planned $30 million Ingalls Harbor commercial and residential development and a hoped for additional Tennessee River bridge. City leadership will change when the four-year term begins Nov. 3. Bowling is not seeking a third term. In addition to Ladner's decision, Councilman Billy Jackson is running for mayor after almost 29 years on the council. He has three announced opponents for mayor so far. District 2 Councilman Kyle Pike is running again while Councilmen Carlton McMasters (District 3) and Hunter Pepper (District 4) have not announced their decisions. District 4 has two announced candidates, Pam Werstler and Angie Thom, and District 1 has one announced candidate, Terrance Adkins. Qualifying for the municipal election is June 10-25 at the City Clerk's office. The registration fee is $50. The election is Aug. 26, with the runoff, if necessary, on Sept. 23. — or 256-340-2432
