BAY MINETTE, Alabama — Robert “Bob” Wills will resign the first week of November during an organizational meeting of the Baldwin County Board of Education and take office Nov. 5 as they city’s new mayor.

Wills defeated 16-year District 2 councilman Mike Phillips Tuesday in a tightly fought runoff election and said he entered the municipal election fray to help guide the city into areas of industrial recruitment and tax-base growth.

Both candidates espoused local, county and state contacts which have not reached fruition.

Will said he will promote job growth by recruitment of businesses to the megasite, seek out area expertise, promote volunteerism in the community and call for belt-tightening measures for city expenditures, while maintaining police, fire and sanitation services.

“I live in Bay Minette,” Wills said Wednesday. “Going door-to-door in the campaign, it became clear to me that the city is not progressing economically.

“People tell me they see it in other cities but not here. There are opportunities to do it.”

Phillips shared many of Wills’ views, but said he was thwarted by being one vote on the council.

“I enjoyed the last 16 years on the council and I thank my friends and supporters,” Phillips said. I wish Mr. Wills the best.

“I am not going anywhere. I have been in community service all my life and will continue to do so.”

Wills said his city and state contacts will facilitate business negotiations for the sprawling, 100-plus-acre megasite north of Bay Minette which has been widely called a top attraction for industrial development, with rail, road, ocean port and utilities readily available.

“The megasite is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Wills said. “But there are other, smaller, unexplored sites.”

Specifically, Will said a Baldwin County EMC tract north of the city has not been pushed as an industrial site.

He also said he will tap the non-utilized expertise of residents for landscaping, conservation and vision for the city’s future.

“I want to reinvigorate the community spirit,” he said. 'It is not what it once was. We need to bring citizens together, be inclusive.

“When I was campaigning, I realized there were many talented people who are not active in the city, civic clubs and North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce matters. I want to utilize their expertise.

“We have a beautification committee that is doing a great job, but we need to step it up. It’s the same for the chamber.”

Wills said the economy is on the verge of a turnaround and that the chamber needs to play a bigger role. He said the city should renew efforts to support the chamber in reciprosity.

He said the city has a tight budget, but he wants to work with the council to trim costs while maintaining quality of public health.

He cites the explosion of potential tourism dollars based on the development of Live Oak Landing, Bicentennial Park, the scenic designation of State Road 225 and the natural attraction of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta.

“The key is to work with people,” he said. You work with, encourage and develop the people around you. They have the skills and knowledge.

“A leader should facilitate. Everyone has a role in this community. Everyone.”

Wills has served as president of the Baldwin County Board of Education, city attorney, director of the Baldwin County Mental Health Association, a North Baldwin Infirmary trustee, and numerous other posts.