FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part series on the Fairhope City Council elections. The first article focused on the Place 1 race between incumbent Councilwoman Debbie Quinn and challenger John Meyer. This article considers the other four places, based on phone interviews with the candidates and highlights from the July 20 forum at Homestead Village.

A lively discussion on local Internet bulletin boards about which candidates are likely to prevail in the Aug. 26 Fairhope elections has noted the number of yard signs candidates have as an indication of the strength of their campaigns. The discussions have also questioned why certain challengers choose the place they do in an at-large City Council race.

One political science professor at the University of South Alabama offers his opinion, based on years of studying campaigns and elections in the state.

“In local elections, it’s more a case of going out and making contacts,” said Sam Fisher, who runs the master’s program in public administration at USA and has published several books on Alabama politics and elections. “On a small scale, it’s not like state or national elections with TV ads driving the campaigns. It’s going door-to-door and getting organized.”

Fisher said getting the vote out can be especially crucial in local races such as Fairhope with an estimated 13,000 registered voters.

“You’re not often going to get a real big turnout,” Fisher said. “The person who’s better organized with volunteers working for them. That’s when they’re going to be successful.”

As for deciding which place to run for, a candidate has some basic considerations, he said.

“Typically, the open seat is the preferable seat,” Fisher said. “The only reason a person might jump from an open to an incumbent is they must have decided there is some vulnerability on the part of the incumbent.”

In Fairhope, with a large field running for mayor and City Council — a total of 18 candidates — the turnout could be larger than usual.

Place 2

Danny Corte

From phone interview: I believe I would serve the city better. I’ve lived here longer. Frankly, I don’t care for some of (his) votes on the Street Committee. (He has) made things very interesting with the streets in the city. His was the best place to run against because I can run against his record because of messing up the streets. (He’s) also not up on finance of the city. I’ve been getting calls saying I’m beholden to Tim Kant. I’m not beholden to anybody. I’m going to agree with him on some things and against him on some things.

From the candidate forum: In the 50 years I’ve been here, we’ve grown five times in population. Growth is an issue. We’ve got to be smart about it. We can’t just go crazy with growth. We have to be controlled, and we have to be smart. As for city finances, I think everybody up here will agree we have to tighten our belts a little. I will go on record, barring anything unforeseen, I do not believe we need a sales tax. However, you have to also look whether it be a hurricane or it be another natural disaster that could change. But right now, we have enough money.

Dan Stankoski

From phone interview: I moved here in 1989 from Dothan. In 2004, I felt maybe it was time to give something back to the city to preserve and protect the uniqueness, character and beauty of Fairhope. I am running again because I consider serving on the council a civic duty and want to continue serving the public. Some of the things I care about: fiscal responsibility; controlled growth fair and impartial government. I feel that government grows best in sunlight. All street committee meetings are announced and open to the public. Input and recommendations are received from the public, Fairhope Police Department, ALDOT and concerned citizens. Recommendations are made and all matters are discussed and approved by council vote before any action is taken.

Douglas Taylor

From phone interview: Last year I jumped out of an airplane, and this year I’m running for office. I need to run because I don’t like the way city government is being run, (for example, regarding) law enforcement, traffic and parking. Pretty soon we’re going to be snowed under. I think we’re going to have to build a parking lot outside of town. I think the solution to traffic that would get rid of 60 percent of police would be to have cameras. They could take pictures that could lead to tickets.

Taylor did not attend the forum.

Place 3

Newton Delchamps

From phone interview: My next door neighbor had a sign (of Lonnie Mixon) in her yard. She said why don’t you give him a call. I did, and he didn’t return my call. That’s why I’m running, because he didn’t return my call. He’s not serious about it.

From forum: I am your visible candidate. I am out every day since I turned my driver’s license in and got the scooter trying to keep the beauty of Fairhope alive. That is my aim, my prayer, my wish, my platform. I have picked up so much garbage and trash that is unsightly in our beautiful city. It is a shame. There must be a penalty for anybody that litters because there is no excuse for it. We don’t need unsightly rubbish that I pick up every day. If you want to talk with me just let me know by telephone or just stop me on the street or on the highway.

Lonnie Mixon

From phone interview: It was an open seat that would give me a better chance to be elected. I went to a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting where they were talking about connectivity at Quail Creek and Spring Branch. We (Quail Creek) had gone to the meeting to request that they not make any more openings, and they kind of laughed us out of the building. We had about 300 people there. I was encouraged by the people at Quail Creek to run.

From the forum: I think we need to have a closer working relationship between the council and the mayor. I don’t think the city or Fairhope can continue to have the animosity that exists there. I think (the budget) needs to be updated. I think we should extend the boundaries of Fairhope so that we have some control over the zoning in those areas. I think we need to institute a new strategic plan with the existing comprehensive plan.

Place 4

Phil Brady

From phone interview: My feeling is Fairhope needs a new council. There may be one or two who could be reelected and additional support could do a better job. Someone said, “Don’t run against (Mike Ford) because he’s unbeatable.” I did not consider an open seat from the outset. If I ran at all it would be against Ford. What we have had previously is a subterranean government, much of it seems to take place after hours among and between friends. Fairhope deserves a much more comprehensible way of doing things. People don’t understand how the city works. Bills are presented just to be paid (without discussion). We’ve got to follow the comprehensive plans. Anything that affects the people needs to take place in the open.

Brady did not attend the forum.

Mike Ford

From phone interview: I’m running because I like the job and want to continue improving the city in an orderly manner. I think I can still contribute. I think we’ve been fairly open. I don’t think we’ve been closed. A lot of the council didn’t converse with the mayor.

From forum: In 1982 we started the programs that brought most of you people here. Back in that time, you could buy many stores uptown. They were vacant, and there were no flowers around except in people’s yards. I’m a proponent of no sales tax until we need it. That’s our ace in the hole. I’m positive about Fairhope. I think we’ve been running a pretty good ship. All this beautification started under Nix and Tim Kant. In fact, I was one of the ones who hired Tim Kant several years ago with the mayor. I’ll take the credit or the blame for hiring him. We can’t keep Fairhope like we used to know it, but we can keep improving it little by little And I’m not a developer. Don’t put me in that category. I’m open to new ideas. I listen to everybody, and I try and make decisions based on my research.

Place 5

Rick Kingrea

From phone interview: It’s always easier to get elected to an open seat. I may have heard Lonnie (Mixon) was running for the other seat, and he’s a good guy. There are a couple of things that have concerned me that I have seen since attending council meetings. The mayor and City Council have not gotten along as they should. I feel like we’re in a crucial stage in Fairhope. We know that the area is going to get bigger. We need to figure out and keep the city the way we like it. The city has to be user-friendly. We need to give the city employees the tools they need to do their jobs.

From forum: We need to keep the magic that is Fairhope. For us to do that, we’re going to have to look ahead three years, five years, seven years and 10 years. And we’re going to have to plan for what we want to do. We need a strategic plan. A lot of what we need to do isn’t sexy. For example, we will need a new waste water treatment plan. And I do not think we should mix the utilities (department) with the mayor’s office. We need some separation there.

Alan T. Hall

From phone interview: I want to bring business sense and common sense to the council. I want to promote the downtown business district as a destination point, not someplace where you just come for the day, but where you want to come and stay (overnight). I want to promote open and transparent city government, for example, next-day (Internet) posting of city government documents. I want to develop connectivity and access from east of Greeno Road to downtown. As downtown goes, so goes Fairhope.

From forum: I’m here to talk with you about about our future and also about our present, where were we are and where we’re going to be in 5 years. I’ve put together a six point plan. This plan will help us protect our quality of life in Fairhope and create a new sense of openness and trust in city government. Wouldn’t it be nice to freeze our utility bills? Wouldn’t it be nice to seek public and private funds to build a co-generation plant? Wouldn’t it be nice to have all these things to leave to our children. I think you expect for us to balance our city budget.