Alabama Mayors Share Ideas Ahead of Legislative Session

Mayors from four of Alabama’s five largest cities completed a two-day retreat today in Clarke County on Monday.

This was the latest in a series of meetings in which they share ideas and best practices from their respective administrations.

Joining Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddx was Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Mayor Sandy Stimpson of Mobile and Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange. Birmingham Mayor William Bell did not attend due to a scheduling conflict.

The summit focused on the issues of economic development, education and legislative proposals expected to be debated during the upcoming session of the Alabama State Legislature, which convenes Feb. 2 in Montgomery.

Mobile Mayor Stimpson who hosted the summit at his family’s hunting camp in rural Clarke County said,

These meetings always result in new ideas that benefit us and the people we serve. Not only do we enjoy each others company, the relationships we are establishing make for stronger communities and a stronger Alabama.

The mayors shared their legislative priorities for the upcoming session and discussed plans for an unprecedented visit by the group to the state Capitol next month.

Mayor Strange noted that this meetings took place because of collective concern for the future of the state of Alabama.

Mayor Battle said the upcoming session of the state Legislature will be critical to the state’s future.

There is a sense of urgency because of the serious challenges facing our state. The legislature will determine the roadmap to our future. If this session is not successful, Alabama will not be successful.

Mayor Maddox noted that the mayors collectively represent about half of the state’s total population.

We come from different places and we all have very different backgrounds, but we’re able to come together on behalf of our constituents There’s a lot our legislators to learn from that example. One thing we all know is that you can’t solve new problems with old solutions.