Sandy Stimpson

Sandy Stimpson
108th Mayor of Mobile
Assumed office
November 4, 2013
Preceded by Sam Jones
Personal details
Born (1952-04-04) April 4, 1952
Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s)
Jean Miller (m. 1975)
Children 4
Alma mater University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa (BS)

William S. "Sandy" Stimpson (born April 4, 1952) is an American politician who serves as the current mayor of Mobile, Alabama. He was elected August 27, 2013, with 54% of the vote, defeating incumbent Mayor Sam Jones.[1] He ran on a platform of making Mobile the safest, most business and family-friendly city in America by 2020.[2] In 2017, he was reelected with 59% of the vote over Sam Jones.[3]

Early life and education

Born (April 4, 1952) and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Stimpson is a 1970 graduate of the University Military School, now known as UMS-Wright and received a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Alabama in 1975.[4]

Career

Upon graduating from the University of Alabama, Stimpson began a 37-year career with Gulf Lumber Company, his father's company, and its successor, Scotch & Gulf Lumber. He was Chief Financial Officer prior to leaving the company to run for office in 2012.[5]

"One Mobile"

Stimpson developed the concept of "One Mobile" on the campaign trail and has carried it into office. A non-profit organization "OneMobile.org" was created in April 2014.[6]

The concept of "One Mobile" is that everyone wants a seat at the table, everyone wants to have a voice, so that as you make your plans to go forward that they feel like they've been heard. People recognize that we can't capitalize on every single idea, but if they're part of the process they'll "buy-in." The way to succeed is to get "buy-in" – you set a high vision, high goals, and then you get buy-in and then you work as a team, and when you do that, you get One Mobile.[7]

In the news

In August 2013, the final month of the mayoral campaign, Stimpson announced that he would contribute $200,000 of his salary over four years to a bonus pool for employees who submit cost-saving or revenue-enhancing ideas implemented by the city. This was criticized by his opponent as a last-ditch effort to sway city employees' voting decision.[8] Stimpson came under criticism for appointing staff that live outside of the City of Mobile. Key staffers who resided across Mobile Bay in Baldwin County include his former Chief of Staff Colby Cooper, City Attorney Ricardo Woods and Communications Director George Talbot.[9]

Two months into his administration, Stimpson announced on December 30, 2013, that he was canceling the employee pay raise promised during the campaign by Sam Jones. The raise was scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2014.[10] Between 2014 and 2017, he has given employees several raises,[11] including permanent $5,000 per year raises to police and fire personnel.[12]

On May 30, 2014, Stimpson advocated for the appointment of his former opponent and predecessor Sam Jones to the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS) board. Stimpson's support staved off racial tension building in the community because the Mobile City Council had previously voted along racial lines initially defeating the appointment.[13] In his remarks to the public, he called for a "Community Conversation on Race" which occurred on August 18, 2014.[14]

In May 2015, the mayor's son, Sands Stimpson was arrested for impersonating a police officer. He was later indicted by a grand jury on the charge. He pled guilty to the charge in 2016.[15][16][17]

His Chief of Staff Colby Cooper abruptly resigned in late 2016 after community outrage relating to the removal of an infested cedar tree from a city park that was used as a Christmas tree during the December 2016 visit of then President-Elect Donald J. Trump to Mobile, Alabama.[18]

In 2017, Stimpson was selected by the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative - in its inaugural class of 40 mayors nationwide - seeking to connect prominent city leaders for discussions relating to the best city government practices "because of his leadership, creativity, and commitment to improving the lives of residents".[19]

Personal life

Stimpson is married to the former Jean Miller of Brewton, Alabama.[20] They have four grown children (Billy, Virginia, Sands, Nancy), nine grandchildren and reside in Mobile, Alabama.

References

  1. ↑ "Sandy Stimpson elected as Mayor of Mobile", wkrg.com, August 27, 2013
  2. ↑ "What’s next for mayor-elect Sandy Stimpson?", lagniappe.com, September 4, 2013
  3. ↑ http://wkrg.com/2017/08/22/live-mobile-municipal-election-results-for-mayor-city-council/ "Mayor Stimpson Wins Re-Election"
  4. ↑ "From Privilege to Servant", AL.com, October 20, 2014
  5. ↑ Official Biography, CityofMobile.org
  6. ↑ "OneMobile.org"
  7. ↑ "Exclusive Sandy Stimpson Interview", modmobilian.com, April 2013
  8. ↑ "From Privilege to Servant", AL.com, October 20, 2014
  9. ↑ "Stimpson Makes Top Public Safety Appointments - Addresses Staffers Living in Baldwin", lagniappe.com, October 25, 2013
  10. ↑ "Stimpson says city severely over budget; cancels raises promised by Jones", Lagniappe.com, December 30, 2013
  11. ↑ http://www.fox10tv.com/story/27815497/mayor-stimpson-announces-early-pay-raise-for-city-of-mobile-employees "Stimpson announces early pay raise for city of Mobile employees"
  12. ↑ http://www.fox10tv.com/story/32800382/5000-pay-raise-for-mobile-police-officers-proposed-in-next-years-city-budget "$5000 pay raise for Mobile Police Officers proposed in next year's city budget"
  13. ↑ "Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson calls on the City Council to appoint former Mayor Sam Jones to water board", AL.com, May 30, 2014
  14. ↑ "Hundreds Turnout for Race Forum", wkrg.com, August 18, 2014
  15. ↑ "Sands Stimpson in court to face impersonation charges", Fox10TV.com
  16. ↑ http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2016/10/sands_stimpson_pleads_guilty_t.html
  17. ↑ http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/05/mobile_alabama_mayor_sandy_sti.html
  18. ↑ http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2016/12/colby_cooper_of_mobile_mayor_s.html
  19. ↑ http://local15tv.com/news/local/mayor-stimpson-selected-for-bloomberg-harvard-city-leadership-initiative "Stimpson Selected for Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative"
  20. ↑ "Leader to Leader", Twelve23.org, April 4, 2013
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