In 1974, I was elected Mayor of Youth in Government at Dothan High School.  I shadowed Mayor Jimmy Grant for one day, and I was interested.  I observed my father in public service, and I was hooked. 

Thank you, citizens of Dothan, for the confidence you have placed in me.  I will work to show you the confidence was well-placed.  I will also work diligently to bring quality jobs to Dothan.  Better jobs and enhanced quality of life will keep our children and grandchildren at home in Dothan.

My four-part agenda for securing these jobs include downtown revitalization, transportation issues, education and long-term water supply.

Of the 38 largest cities in Alabama, 36 have restored downtowns.  We will take steps that will remove business barriers, provide infrastructure, and foster partnerships to make downtown Dothan a destination again.

We will pursue transportation issues, including Ross Clark Circle improvements, the progress of the I-10 Connector, and the right-of-way maintenance of major highways within our city limits.

We know that education is a huge driver in economic development and that our partnership with our school board is critical.  We stand ready to help them prepare our work force.

We are continuing to work on our long-term water requirements where we have partnered with 18 cities and counties in southeast Alabama.

There are many other issues such as public safety demands, senior needs, leisure service needs, infrastructure needs, and many others that our management team will address along the way with your help.  Our team will work through this maze with a powerful tool:  effective planning.

We have an extensive planning process that will begin soon to identify community needs.  That process involves hundreds of citizens.  Your input is critical.  The next few years are not as much about me, as it is about you…each of you.  With goals identified, we will plan a road map to achieve those goals.  We will tell you the costs, and the financing plans.  With your approval to proceed, we will check our progress with annual surveys.  We look to successful communities for these management ideas the way they used to look to Dothan for ideas.  Our City will become successful once again!

We have interdependence with surrounding communities.  They are our partners.  Their citizens work here and shop here.  A new industry in any local community helps all the other communities.  We will work with area civic leaders to elevate southeast Alabama’s economic growth with Dothan as the hub.  Dothan will be going places!   

So you can know:

1)     We will be a Commission that will be a team, a true team, a management team

2)     We will become business-friendly

3)     We will revitalize downtown Dothan

DOTHAN HAS A NEW ATTITUDE!  I challenge each of you to get a little attitude about Dothan.  A new attitude!  It will be contagious!