In Brief:
- Mobile, Ala., Mayor Sandy Stimpson is retiring after 12 years in office.
- He’s overseen improvements to the city’s credit ratings and an annexation of neighboring areas.
- The city recently celebrated the return of Amtrak passenger service to New Orleans and a deepening of a channel serving the Port of Mobile.
Sandy Stimpson worked in the south Alabama lumber industry for nearly four decades, including as an executive and chief financial officer, before becoming mayor of his hometown of Mobile at the age of 61. Twelve years later — after deciding against running for a fourth term — he’s handing off the baton to Spiro Cheriogotis, a former judge and fellow Republican.
Over the course of his three terms, Stimpson has focused on stabilizing Mobile’s finances, resulting in upgrades to the city’s credit ratings, while investing in quality-of-life improvements and helping to bring in major infrastructure and economic development investments. There have been setbacks and controversies, including a periodic power struggle with the City Council. Some top officials in the area, including a former police chief and a former head of the local housing authority, publicly criticized Stimpson’s administration after leaving their jobs.
But as Stimpson leaves office, Mobile has a lot to celebrate. In just the last few weeks, the city has welcomed the return of Amtrak passenger rail service to New Orleans which was lost after Hurricane Katrina; completed the deepening of a channel serving the fast-growing Port of Mobile; and celebrated a decision by Airbus to double its commercial airplane manufacturing operation in the city. It’s also building a new arena to replace the old Mobile Civic Center and working to open a new airport terminal for commercial flights closer to downtown…