For a town with a population of 1,011, there's a crowded field seeking the position of mayor of Littleville in the August 23 municipal election.
Incumbent Gene Strait is seeking a full term. Strait, a long-time city councilman, was appointed to complete the term of mayor Kenneth Copeland last year after Copeland stepped down due to health issues.Strait is challenged by Scott Howard, Phillip Pace and Eddie “Blue” Wilson.
Three of Littleville's city council races are unopposed, including David McAnally in Place One, Harold Malone in Place Three and Diana Young in Place Four. Ronald Berry and Rodney McAnally, Jr., are running for Place Two, and Jared Ergle and Donald Pennington are seeking the Place Five seat.
The mayoral candidates all share similar goals to see their town return to prosperity. But they have contrasting views on how to get there and what priorities should be featured in a limited budget.
The Free Press talked with the four candidates to learn their visions, goals and concerns about their hometown. Voters across Alabama will elect municipal leaders on Tuesday, August 23.
•GENE STRAIT: Strait served on the Littleville City Council for more than 20 years before stepping in to complete the mayor's term last fall. A disabled Vietnam veteran, Strait's professional experience saw him work for Jim Bishop Automotive and Weyerhauser. He grew up in Cloverdale, and Strait's brother Don serves as mayor of St. Florian. Strait moved to Littleville and operated a wicker store with his first wife, who passed away several years ago. Strait has remarried, and he and his wife Betty live on Highway 43.
Strait is candid with his assessment of Littleville. When Russellville allowed alcohol sales starting in 2010, the town's coffers shrunk as Franklin County residents no longer had to drive north to purchase beer, wine or liquor. That lost tax revenue averaged around $300,000 per year.
“We have a lot of bad roads here. Another thing, we have old water lines in Littleville with a number of water leaks,” Strait said. “This town is not rich. We have to watch what we do. We only have two people doing our maintenance, garbage and meter reading, so we're stretched thin. Sometimes people think we're not trying, but we have to focus on the most serious projects."
Strait said he personally follows up on every complaint or inquiry he's told about in a timely manner.
“I do address every one of them. I'll give an answer one way or the other as to what we can do and when we can try and get it done,” Strait said. “We'll be there as quick as we can get to it. I want the people of Littleville to be trustful of their city leaders. I want Littleville to be more than a 65-mile-per-hour wide spot in the road.
“I want our citizens to know we do try, but I ask that they bear with us. Things are going to change and improve. The equipment we have is old, and we've have one in the shop today and another tomorrow. But this is still one of the best little towns in the country, and I want to continue to be part of its leadership. I won't run down other people, and I'm always going to try and do things right."
•SCOTT HOWARD: Howard and his wife Kelly have two girls and one grandchild. He's a retired construction worker who owns and operates Kelly's Kitchen restaurant in Russellville and runs a catering business in Littleville.
Howard was appointed to complete a vacancy on the Littleville council in 2010 after the passing of Tim Pirtle. He's been a Littleville resident for 15 years.
“I just care about this town and think we need to try and do some things different,” Howard said. “We need to work to get grants, start getting our water and sewer system fixed, and get this town cleaned up to attract more business and industry to town.”
Howard also plans to focus on taking care of the town's senior citizens and working to provide more opportunities for young people.
“They are our future," Howard said. "Right now there's nothing here for them, and when they get older they're leaving."
While Howard acknowledges the decline in tax revenue on alcohol sales has hurt the city, he refuses to use it as an excuse.
“It's easy to cast blame, but you've got to get out and work for things and try to make the situation better," Howard said. "I've always been one to try different ideas to see if they work and help make your situation better."
Howard said his motivation to serve as mayor comes from a desire to see his community move forward, and he doesn't want to receive a salary if elected.
“If you're going to be mayor, you ought to work for the people and not want to get paid for it," Howard said. "This is a nice community with real good people. If we can get it cleaned up, build on these empty lots and get the town growing with some additional revenue, we can make Littleville a place people want to come to and make a new start."
•PHILLIP PACE: Pace and his wife Simona have five children between them. He's the grandfather of six grandsons and two granddaughters. Pace has run a small business in Littleville, Phillip Pace Body Shop, for 32 years.
He also has experience in politics, having been elected to the town council when he was 19. Pace served for more than 20 years and was over the Littleville Water Works for 20 years. He's 53 years old.
“I've always been involved in this community," Pace said. "I was a councilman for many years, and I want to serve as mayor to see through a lot of things that we need to change."
Pace said Littleville needs to move toward businesses that are not reliant on alcohol sales. An example of this is the Dollar General, which “has helped us a whole lot,” Pace said.
Pace said the four-lane highway and convenient rail access are a plus for Littleville when it comes to economic recruiting.
Pace is concerned about the decline in funding for the Littleville Senior Center, and he's promising to address that if elected.
“They're not delivering lunches like they used to," Pace said. "They're asking for people to donate their time and gas to deliver homebound meals to seniors. I'd like to work right away on why that took place and see what we can do to get it back going. That building gets a lot of use and is an important part of our community.”
When it comes to enforcement of municipal codes on maintaining buildings and lots, Pace said the town will have more success the less confrontational city authorities are.
“It's better to work with people than to try and force them to do something," Pace said. "If you want to ruffle feathers, that's the best way to do it. It's better to talk to someone than to send someone to arrest them."
•EDDIE “BLUE” WILSON: Wilson was raised in Franklin County and is a 1983 graduate of Belgreen High School. He served six years in the United States Marines before embarking on a 15-year career in law enforcement.
He and his wife Vanessa have owned several businesses through the years, including their current venture, the New Highway 77 Auction. Vanessa is employed as an account manager at Leisure Creations.
This is Wilson's first run at political office.
With his background in law enforcement, Wilson said improvements in the Littleville Police Department would be a primary goal of his tenure as mayor.
“My main focus will be to get our police department back up to full force with complete protection for our community 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Wilson said.
He has heard Littleville resident's concerns about their police department and the need for round-the-clock availability.
“Lots of people are concerned with the police department," Wilson said. "They don't like waiting for the county to respond when they need assistance."
Wilson also plans to work to increase the base of business and industry in Littleville.
“I want to search for grants to help bring in new businesses into our area,” Wilson said.
