When you hear them describe their town, the contrast between the two candidates for mayor of Phil Campbell is apparent.
Mayor Steve Bell, seeking a second term, cites progress and growing infrastructure in his community, while challenger Vic Hawkins believes the town's growth has stagnated since the devastating EF-5 tornado that ravaged the community on April 27, 2011.
Voters will decide between these two conflicting views in the upcoming municipal election on Tuesday, August 23.
“Many people refer to Phil Campbell in terms of 'before tornado' or 'after tornado,'” Bell said. “We've made a lot of progress. The update I gave at the five-year anniversary ceremony showed $14.4 million dollars received and spent on our city.A lot of that is hidden in sewer infrastructure, repaving all the streets and things that may not be seen.
"We also have a new industrial park, the water tower is up, the sewer system is run all the way out there along with the water system. And the access road is built. We have a business in there that as of last week was working 43 jobs."
Bell said he's excited about last week's announcement of a new Mexican restaurant coming to the building directly in front of City Hall. The restaurant will be operated by the owners of Russellville's El Patron Restaurant.
Additionally, he hopes to make a formal announcement soon on a major expansion into the Phil Campbell Industrial Park that will create at least 50 jobs. Bell received notice last week that Charter Cable will rebuild infrastructure to provide Phil Campbell residents with cable and Internet service.
Bell and his wife Debra have two daughters and two grandchildren. He is employed as operations manager at Northwest Hardwoods. Bell served on the Phil Campbell City Council in the 1990s, in addition to his current term as mayor.
Other signs of growth and recovery cited by Bell include the recent approval of funding for a new concessions area/restroom at the Phil Campbell Splash Pad. He's proud of the 24-unit Village at Oliver Place townhouse facility as well as the rebuilding of all public housing lost in the tornado.
Hawkins, who moved back to Phil Campbell a year ago from South Carolina, sees a different picture when he looks at his hometown.
“My wife [Carol] and I moved back home to stay this time," Hawkins said. "I told my wife I want to run for mayor before our town completely dies."
Hawkins, 54, has worked in the construction business and served as superintendent of a nuclear training facility in Charleston, SC. He spent several years on the road as a mechanical contractor working in the fast food construction industry.He and Carol have one daughter, Angela Parker, and two grandchildren.
Hawkins is the son of Kenneth Hawkins and Jessie Daugherty. His father once operated a pool hall in Phil Campbell. His uncle Ernie “Tater” Thompson owned two downtown businesses.
“I think people still have pride in Phil Campbell, but we're suffering from economic losses from mismanagement of city government,” Hawkins said. “If managed properly, you can make a successful effort to bring in business. We can make our local economy grow, and that makes our town grow. If you just sit there and say we don't want to do this or that now, you never get things done."
Hawkins questioned why the town's industrial park is not located in the city limits. He said too much of Phil Campbell's resources are spent outside of the town limits.
“It's not right to have an industrial park on land outside of the city," he said. "They need to incorporate it. And anywhere you expect the police to patrol and have jurisdiction should be in the city limits of Phil Campbell. It's not right to send them miles out of town to do their job.
"If people expect city benefits, they need to pay city taxes.”
Hawkins pledges to work to attract industry to his hometown, because without new industry the city remains in a constant financial struggle.
“We're about to lose this plant [Shelter Products, LLC], and I don't know why. But I'm going to find out,” Hawkins said. “Sometimes you have to work a little with companies to keep business in town, because no business in your town means no revenue.
“My vision is to broaden the city out, make it a better, safer community and expand the tax revenue coming into Phil Campbell."
This is Hawkins' first bid at elected office, but he did serve in an appointed position of county councilman in South Carolina, he said.
Hawkins pledges to rebuild what he believes to be severed ties between town leaders and Phil Campbell residents.
“There's just not enough community involvement," he said. "The last time I went to a town hall meeting, it was myself and my wife, the guy who cuts grass for the city and the councilman who quit, along with the mayor and council.
“People aren't getting involved, or those who try to get involved get ignored. Our current leaders are out of touch with the residents of the community. I want to bring us back enough economically to allow the town to sustain itself where people want to live here, and I believe that can be done with the right management. We need to create the right position with a low enough tax bracket where it makes sense for the company and city to work together. You can't do it if you don't try."
Hawkins, who lived through Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast, said the town's regrowth since April 27, 2011 has been sluggish.
“We've got weeds higher than houses in town," he said. "For people who've lived here more or less all their lives, all they see is still a disaster area not cleaned up since the tornado came through. A few things have been done, but there are slabs and half of a house sitting there from five years ago. There's no reason for a community to look like this. It doesn't look good for the town and gives the impression that nobody cares."
Bell disagrees and continues to see progress in Phil Campbell.
“The Fatty Shack is doing really well, and they seem to have turned that business around," Bell said. "No other businesses have left, and we've acquired some new ones. We have someone interested in the Shelter Products location as soon as they move out. I think there was a lot of miscommunication about that entire situation.
“My goal is to continue to make our community better, to continue to do things that improve the quality of life in Phil Campbell for our residents. And we're doing all we can. But everything is tied to money. There are still a lot of things in the works that haven't come to fruition, and that's exciting for our community."
