SPANISH FORT, Ala. — The Spanish Fort Sun knows that many residents  want to learn more about their muncipal election candidates’ plans before heading to the polls Aug. 26. The Sun recently intereviewed each candidate on their positions.

Mayoral candidates

•Joe Bonner — a Spanish Fort resident of 23 years, elected mayor in 2004 — said he hopes to concentrate on a city complex, the U.S. Highway 31 corridor and a mixed-use downtown district, if re-elected.

“During the next term, we will continue to work on plans for a new city complex with the emphasis on a senior center. This is a work in progress,” he said. “We will continue to support our schools at all levels in the city, working along with the Baldwin County Board of Education.”

Matching growth with infrastructure is a challenge the city faces, he said. If re-elected he will continue to work to match the needs of the growing Spanish Fort Police Department and fire rescue as the city grows.

“Our vision is to help the 31 corridor and everything north we want to keep low key and residential,” he said. “During that construction process we hope we can add serene lighting, sidewalks and landscaping.

“We are trying to envision what a downtown district should be.

“One of the important goals will be to continue to have a strong financial plan for the city.”

Bonner attended the University of Southern Mississippi before becoming owner and operator of Cock of the Walk restaurant. He has more than 20 years of business experience. He served on the board of aldermen in Natchez, Miss., for seven years.

He and his wife, Debbie, share three children: Chad, Emily and Sarah. They also have six grandchildren.

•Terry Reeves — a Spanish Fort resident of 12 years — said he hopes to help control high density housing and better support Spanish Fort schools, protect the Causeway from over-development and have a meeting facility for senior citizens, if elected.

“I also want to get the proper facilities for our youth,” he said.

“Spanish Fort High School is entering its fourth year of existence yet we still don’t have all of the proper facilities that the students need and deserve,” he said.

“I think in the past few years we have been more reactive than proactive and I would like to see us more proactive,” he said. “I’d like to see us stay a step ahead … (rather) than a step behind.”

He said if elected he wants to help the Spanish Fort Police Department and fire rescue keep up with rapid growth; other plans include making sure roads, water and sewer can keep up with growth.

“It’s just a great area to live and I think Spanish Fort will be the largest city in Baldwin County in the next 20 years so we have to be proactive,” he said. 

“We have to be ready for the growth; it’s here.”

He is a graduate of Bethel College in McKenzie, Tenn., and works as a real estate agent at Coldwell Banker Reehl Properties. Before real estate he worked in management and oversaw a $60 million budget, he said. He was a volunteer youth coach in Spanish Fort for 12 years. He and his wife, Laura, share two children: Terra and Golden.

Council candidates

District 1

•Dennis Dismuke — a Spanish Fort resident of 12 years — said he can help the city control and plan for growth. He also said the city needs a long term plan that includes the widening of U.S. Highway 31, landscaping, sidewalks, a community center and library.

“I would like to see better recreational opportunities for our kids and would like to see the police and fire department staff meet the demands of a growing city,” Dismuke said.

The city is unprepared for rapid growth, he said, adding this is the city’s biggest challenge. Spanish Fort needs to get control of the current building trend of high density housing, which will contribute to overcrowding and heavy traffic, he said.

“It is crucial that the city government protect the quality of life and safety of the citizens while managing growth and laying the foundation for the next several decades,” he said.

He is a graduate of the University of Akron in Ohio and has worked in the computerized process control industry for 23 years. He and his wife, Maura, share three children and one grandchild.

•Wanda Finch — a Spanish Fort resident for 51 years — said she plans to build a senior center, library and finish with Spanish Fort High School’s sports facilities, if re-elected.

“Just seeing how far we’ve come in the past 15 years is remarkable,” she said, alluding to the city’s incorporation in 1993.  Finch is also proud the city is conservative with its funds.

“We started off with nothing. Now we have recreational facilities, a building department, a city court, nice parks, nice shopping facilities and we are able to help out local schools,” she said. “To see what we’ve accomplished is fantastic.”

Rapid growth and the economy are challenges Finch believes Spanish Fort faces. She also said she hopes the council can continue the path they are on to make Spanish Fort a great city.

Finch, a council member of 15 years, works as director of First Baptist Day Care. She and her husband, Jim, share two children: Carrie and Katie.

District 2

•Mike McMillan — a Spanish Fort resident of 17 years, recently elected to the council without opposition — said he will support the development of a recreation facility and city complex, along with laying additional sidewalks. 

“A senior center should also be started,” he said.

McMillan is proud of supporting repaving and drainage projects, completing the negotiations for the Spanish Fort Town Center and development of Spirit Park.

He believes the biggest challenge the city faces is balancing infrastructure to meet the demands of growth.

McMillan owns McMillan Sales Inc. He attended the University of Mobile and Faulkner State Community College. He lives here with his wife, Tricia, with whom he shares two children: Barbara and Angelle.

District 3

•Joe Thomas — a Spanish Fort resident of 38 years, recently elected to the council, unopposed — said he hopes to see a city complex and athletic facility.

“We need our own place to have our council meetings,” he said.

He did not respond to e-mails in time for the newspaper’s deadline.

District 4

•Tom Sawyer — a Spanish Fort resident of 13 years, recently elected to the council, unopposed — said he plans to see construction of a senior center along with a new municipal complex in Spanish Fort.

Sawyer also hopes to see additional recreational facilities for children, “slow to no growth” on the Causeway, steps toward having a full-time fire department and faster solutions to street and drainage problems and traffic control.

Sawyer said he is most proud of creating a strong, enforceable growth development and zoning policies as the city evolves from its infancy to full maturity. He also cited achievements such as retail success and addition of the new Spanish Fort Town Center.

“This will be the ‘crown jewel’ in the city’s retail sales partnerships and will more than double our current revenue dollars,” Sawyer said.

“I am very pleased that the council accomplished most of our goals during my term in office,” he said. “And once new revenue begins to come in from our Bass Pro development we will have the finances to do more for our citizens.”

He works in telecommunications and is a graduate of the University of South Alabama. He and his wife Deanna share four children: Daniel, Jeremy, Micah and Anna.

District 5

•Mary Brabner — a Spanish Fort resident of 16 years, recently elected to the council, unopposed — hopes to see a city complex, widening of U.S. Highway 31 with a sidewalk, streetlights and landscaping.

“We have a large population that would like senior activities closer to home,” she said. “We are a growing city and need to have a larger facility to house all of our departments.”

Brabner said she is proud the city has accumulated one year’s operating budget in reserves, the building of Spirit Park, which has facilities for all ages, and the annexation of land for the Highlands, the largest mixed-use development in Baldwin County.

She believes the biggest challenge the city faces is managed growth.

“We also need to expand our tax base away from retail sales and towards more traditional businesses,” she said. “If the economy hits a recession we will have to readjust our budget because our sales tax revenue will see a decrease, whereas with more traditional business we may not see as much decrease.”

Brabner is a graduate of the University of Alabama. She and her husband, Steve, share two children: Cole and Lane.