By Mike Odom
Staff Writer

FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The Citizens for Responsible Government and the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce sponsored a forum for the City Council candidates on Aug. 7 at the Fairhope Civic Center.

It was moderated by Lori DuBose of WABF Radio and broadcast live on that radio station. However, a lightning strike that night disrupted the radio transmission and ended the tape that the Fairhope Courier intended use to print a complete transcript of the event. What follows are the opening statements of the candidates.

Place 1:

•John Meyer: “Good evening and thank you for coming. I love Fairhope, because of its charm and its people. In my campaign I have visited over 1,500 homes to date and heard what citizens are concerned about. Those issues — we must plan. The plan needs to be aligned with the vision of our community and the comprehensive plan. The plan must be based on citizens’ input and have benchmarks to ensure that we are meeting our goals. I have used the process successfully in my career. We must be financially sound. Budgets should be built on or based on planning for the long-term and impending growth. Fiscal responsibility must be a priority of the City Council to provide for the needs of the citizens. I know how to write and read budgets. We must foster communication and engagement of the community. I would encourage the City Council to create a citizens advisory council whose role would be to research issues and bring information to the City Council for their input. I have professionally used this concept successfully for years. And of course we must respect our environmental integrity. Green spaces need to separate commercial entities. Other cities have used this concept very successfully. As a chief school official, my professional career focused on keeping our school system in the black through long-range strategic plans which utilized citizens’ input and support. I am trained in the Baldrige strategic planning process and have been an examiner for government organizations. I have had to make decisions and not straddle the fence on important issues, have worked with budgets in the millions and successfully wrote grants in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The vision statement of our comprehensive plan says to carry on the dream of our founders in previous generations. I want to carry on that dream. Thank you.”

•Debbie Quinn: “Hi, I’m Debbie Quinn. I’m a council member seated now. I grew up in Fairhope and graduated from Fairhope High School, lived here most of my life, until my husband joined the army. We went off for a little while and brought our two kids back home. And we wanted to come back home because this is where we grew up. This is a small town. This is a history for us, and we wanted our kids to share that same history, that same ambiance of Fairhope. Fairhope’s changed a lot since then, since I grew up, and we all are concerned about that, or you probably wouldn’t be here tonight. In 1992, I was appointed to the Fairhope Planning and Zoning Commission and had five years on that commission working through all kinds of design issues for growth in Fairhope. In ‘99 I was the one who helped get passed to be able to be able to start the new comprehensive plan that we have now. In ‘97 I was appointed to the City Council, won two elections in the past and hopefully I will ask for your vote tonight. Comprehensive plan. I know a lot of people have been upset about the comprehensive plan because it doesn’t seem like we’re sticking to it supposedly. The Comprehensive Plan is a vision for the future. It’s not written in stone, there’s nothing to tie you to it. And most of the comprehensive plan is vision for your growth which is outside the city limits. And of course as most of you know by now we can’t zone outside the city limits. We can’t tell anybody outside the city limits how to use their property. We can control subdivisions, how they put in roads and streets and subdivide property. But we can’t tell them what should go on that property once they subdivide it. And I want to say I’ve been open and accessible. I’ve been here for you, and I will continue to do that. Thank you.”

Place 2:

•Danny Corte: “Good to see everybody tonight, thank you for coming to take part in the process. My name is Danny Corte, running for Place 2 of the City Council. Just a little about myself. I am a lifelong Fairhope resident and a proud member of large family here who has been here for a 112 years, and made many contributions to our community all up and down the Eastern Shore, and I’ve very proud of that fact. I have one beautiful daughter (Carly) which is really what it’s all about for all of us anyway. I graduated from the University of Alabama with a bachelor and master’s degree in finance. I’ve been a financial consultant and also in the insurance and real estate business for almost 20 years in Mobile and Baldwin counties and right now I’m a mortgage broker for Home Mortgages Company in Fairhope. in 1998 my career took a turn and I was chosen as the president of the Mobile Area Sports Commission in Mobile where I worked jointly with the city of Mobile government to bring sporting events to the area. Believe me I had an education in how government works both good and bad over there, but I also learned how to build consensus on what I wanted to do in the six years I was over there. I’m right now serving on the government affairs council of the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce. Platform. Let’s face it we all are here. The big thing when I talk to people is the growth of our area. The growth is coming, it’s here, there’s nothing we can do about it but we need to control it and be smart with it. That’s very imperative as we grow Fairhope. City finances is also what I hear. I’m not one of those who believe we need a city sales tax but with my financial management expertise I believe we can do a better job managing. And also as I did in the sports commission I believe every decision should be made on the table, out in the sunshine. And I’ll work to keep Fairhope beautiful. Thank you and those are the reasons I ask for your vote on Aug. 26.”

•Daniel Stankoski: “Thank you, Lori. I spent 30 years as a special agent with the FBI and an additional 12 years in the federal court system. A question was often asked, how do you predict future behavior? All the experts agree the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. What is part of my past behavior? I supported sound financial practices. I said no to broadband, we couldn’t afford it, we couldn’t compete with the big guys. I favor a three- to five-year strategic financial plan. I have pushed to enlarge our recycling program and to move forward with biodiesel fuel made from cooking oil to use in our city vehicles, not only because it makes financial sense but because it’s the right thing to do. I voted for stormwater regulations requiring reinspection of detention ponds to make sure that they work so that our neighbors downstream don’t get flooded. I voted for the impact fee and a moratorium on building permits to control growth and development. I supported additional police officers and new equipment for the police and fire department. My record is one of fairness, consistency and openness. I have no personal agenda. I abstain from voting on issues where it would appear that I nor any member of my family would benefit. This election cycle I have not solicited nor have I accepted campaign contributions. I am obligated to no one except to you citizens of Fairhope. My past behavior is how you predict my future behavior. On election day do you want someone on the council with a record of preserving and protecting the Fairhope we love?”

•Douglas Taylor: “My name is Douglas Taylor and I moved to Fairhope in 1979 and I lived here continuously since that time. During that period of time I believe that Fairhope was run by an efficient honest government and they have done a great job. I hope that any new people coming into the government will do as well as the ones who were here before. Two incidents happened during the time I lived here which I will always carry with me. In a high speed chase a car slammed into a brick wall above the pier and five people were killed. Three little children and two adults. In another occurrence an elderly couple died in their house and no one found them for several days and you have to imagine the horror they went through as they died. The result of these two incidents I would not allow a high speed chase under any circumstances I would also say in this city no one would be without a health watch emergency contact system because of cost. I would have the city provide one for anyone who needs one. This city should not get behind on getting new equipment and move to alternative energy. We should investigate wind, solar, (and other sources) and we should get right on it. I believe that we should build a parking facility outside the city and use buses to carry people into the city. With the change of government, every department should be under scrutiny and ( all records ) available to any citizen who wanted to see them.

About the library. I’m (very) proud and believe that we should all be. It says in a loud voice who we are ...” (interrupted by moderator because time was up)

Place 3:

•Newton Delchamps: “Thank you. I would like to ask a question of the audience. How many of you have seen me on my electric scooter picking up litter on the streets of Fairhope? Anywhere my good city furnishes a sidewalk I can go as long as I’m back home in three hours. How many of you have seen me? Please raise your hand. Thank you. I say to those of you who have not, I say maybe you should get your eyesight checked because I am there. I am the visible candidate. Should I be elected and you bestow on me this honor, I will be visible on my electric scooter, and all you got to do is say “hey Newt I want to talk to you.” And my time is my own. I have no schedule. I make my own schedule, and if it includes talking to you, so be it. I will be available. Have you ever had a candidate who was so available all day, every day? As long as it don’t rain, I’ll be there for you.”

•Lonnie Mixon: “I’ve lived in Fairhope the last eight years and in Baldwin County the last 30 years. I grew up in Mobile, graduated from McGill Institute, which is now McGill-Toolen High School. Attended Spring Hill College prior to entering the United States Coast Guard. After entering the Coast Guard, I was selected for officer candidate training, went to New London, Conn. where I received a commission. and after that to Navy flight training in Pensacola. After receiving my wings in Pensacola, I was designated Coast Guard helicopter and flew throughout the United States in various locations. I was in Miami during the Cuban Missile Crisis, flew in the Great Lakes out of Brooklyn, N.Y., served a tour in Vietnam flying combat rescue with the Air Force with the Jolly Green Giants. When I retired from the Coast Guard, I was commander at the aviation training center in Mobile and the senior helicopter instructor there. For the last 24 years I’ve been a trustee in federal bankruptcy for the Southern District of Alabama. In that job, my primary responsibility is to investigate and audit the assets of individuals, companies and corporations, and in doing that, after I do that, I facilitate either the liquidation or reorganization of those companies. I’ve had over 9,000 cases in bankruptcy that I’ve administered, and I think that would help me tremendously in looking into the financial affairs of the city of Fairhope. Thank you.”

Place 4:

•Phillip Brady: “Thank you Lori. My name is Phil Brady. I grew up here in Fairhope, and I think I have that special affection for this city that only someone who grew up here can have. I spent most of my career away from Fairhope in tourism and in public relations but I’m back here. I’m doing some writing, and what I’m finding is there are a great many people whom I have never met before who do have that same kind of affection that I have. But in this election we have some really serious choices that we will have to make. You will choose whether or not you want the history of the Comprehensive Plan to become its future also, or whether you wish to make a new future for the Comprehensive Plan. You choose whether you want your creeks and streams and bays to be clear and free of clay and sediment and silt or whether you want them to look like strawberry milk shakes. You will choose whether you want your city government to be out of touch with you or in touch with you. You will choose whether you wish to shape the future of Fairhope for the next 25 years which is what you will do. So on Aug. 26, choose well. Thank you.”

•Mike Ford: “I grew up here four months out of the year at Battles Wharf and then at Point Clear. In fact so long ago that we had the last telephone on the line down there. So I know this area and love it. I always wanted to come back. I too graduated from McGill Institute and also the Jesuit College of the South, Spring Hill, where I was president of the student body and played tennis for four years. But that’s a long time ago. I moved to Fairhope when I got out of the Army. I’ve always loved Fairhope and I still do. I was appointed first in 1982 by Jim Nix to fill an unexpired term, and I’ve been reelected since then. The last time I took any campaign contributions was 1984. I decided after that I’d run it all my own. If I couldn’t do it, then I didn’t need to be here. But of course it doesn’t cost that much to run for council as it does for mayor. Anyhow, I think most of you know my record if you’ve been around a while. I’m for Fairhope, I’m for good fiscal responsibility, I’m for common sense in government. I was on that Tree Committee for 20 years. When I got appointed, Jim Nix said, “What do you want to do, Mike, you got anything you really want to push up there?” I want a museum for Fairhope. I want to preserve the history of Fairhope, and also I said I’d like to start a recycling program. Neither one was very popular at the time but thank goodness we’ve done it, and we’ve got a very good recycling program. It’s well run, and one of the best of the state of Alabama. Like I say, I’ve been on the Tree Committee, been on the Finance Committee, been on the Airport Authority, about anything you can think of I’ve been on, and I think you know my record. I’m for Fairhope. Thank you very much. I appreciate your vote again, on the 26th.”

Place 5

•Alan Hall: “Thank you Lori. Good evening. Thank you for coming out on a stormy evening, braving the weather. My wife, Beth, and I have lived and raised our family in this unique community for the past 18 years. I have a bachelor of science degree in urban planning and for the past 11 years have been employed at Mobile Aerospace Engineering, the area’s largest employer. Tonight you’re going to hear quite a bit of agreement among candidates concerning the many issues and challenges facing Fairhope and this is a good thing. However, we as a community need to take this a step farther. Therefore relying on my business and urban planning experiences, I will be able to address these concerns and challenges beginning on day one. By listening and talking with hundreds of you throughout our neighborhoods, I’ve developed a six-point plan that puts on the table strategies and actionable items that will enable us to hit the ground running right now. Some of these strategies include an aggressive approach in seeking additional revenue streams through grants and entitlements from both public and private sectors. Let’s make the downtown district a destination and not just a stopover. And let’s create connectivity to areas east of Greeno Road and the downtown areas. One of my points calls for the exploration of a co-generation plant that produces electricity that we’ll sell back to the grid. The revenue generated will help freeze utility rates and will help with the management of our debt. We (must) acknowledge that growth is inevitable. In order to manage this growth to our advantage, we must practice sustainable planning that protects our neighbors and our businesses. This includes responsible and fair annexation of the areas east and south of Fairhope, allowing everyone to reap the benefits of our community.”

•Rick Kingrea: “Thank you Lori. My name’s Rick Kingrea. I’m running for Place 5. Deb and I moved over here 10 years ago from Louisiana and have enjoyed every single minute that we have lived here, and that’s one of the reasons I’m running for City Council. I believe that we have to work hard to maintain the magic that is Fairhope. Before that I graduated from Tulane. I was fortunate enough to play eight years in the NFL where I was the union representative for three of those years. Realizing after I got cut and traded that I wasn’t going to make my lifelong money that I needed to make and that I needed to go to work I went to work as a program manager. While I was there, I finished law school, and after I finished law school, I was able to go to work as a lawyer, which is what I’ve been doing for the last 28 years. For the last 10 of those years I’ve been doing alternative dispute resolution or mediation, that is, bringing parties together. Those things aren’t necessarily important for anything but to show the experience that I have. What does football teach you? It teaches you teamwork for a common goal. Being a program manager teaches you to bring in a quality program on budget, on time. And being a mediator teaches you how to bring diverse views to a common goal and to a common good. Look, we have problems here in Fairhope. We’re a unique community, but those problems are not unique to Fairhope. They’ve been experienced all over the country. We know that we have watershed problems out to the east. We know that we have an old water treatment plant north and that we have a landfill south. We need to work on those problems, and together, not the five council, and not the five council and the mayor, but all the people of Fairhope will make those problems go away and keep the magic that is Fairhope.

Supplemental Forum Info

Residents of Fairhope submitted many more questions at the City Council Candidate Forum held last Tuesday than could be asked in the time alloted. Some of those questions were forwarded to the mayoral and council candidates with an invitation to respond. Some responses have come in, and the results are now available to the public online. Additional responses will be published as they are received. The Web address is: www.ResponsibleGov.net.

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