The heated, controversial Orange Beach mayoral election ended in a victory for incumbent Tony Kennon, who won reelection with 60% of the vote.
Despite rumors of domestic violence and accusations of unethical conduct, which Kennon fervently denies, he pulled out another four-year term by focusing on the issues. Kennon said out of six elections, the 2025 municipal election was by far the worst he has ever experienced.
"I'm disappointed that the election devolved into such a sleazy, mudslinging affair," Kennon told 1819 News. "Our community deserves better than that. I tried very hard to run just on my record and accomplishments, not get into the sleaze. But I'm trying to get over it and do what I've done for the last four terms, and that's just run the city the way a business should be run."
Orange Beach will keep the same mayor, but the five-member council will undergo drastic changes in November. The only incumbents staying on the council are Place 3 councilman Jerry Johnson and Place 4 councilman Jeff Silvers. With a new council for the first time in years, Kennon said he is hopeful.
"I think any council can be a successful council if they're willing to compromise, if they're willing to use facts, logic, reason, numbers to make decisions," Kennon said. "If a council starts having their own personal agendas or emotions or other non-relevant ways of looking at things, then you have problems."
"I think and hope this council comes to the table and again, understands running a city like a business, making decisions as CEOs and board of directors would, I think we'll be fine," he said. "But I think I can get along with anybody if we're moving the same direction."
Kennon said if the direction is the same, he will not have any issues. However, he said he won't hold back if he feels he needs to speak up.
"I feel like somebody's got a personal agenda that's going to hurt our city, or if there's politics in play or somebody is seeking higher office and using our city as a stepping stone, then I'm going to say something about it," Kennon said. "And people can take it any way they wish. But that's my job as far as I'm concerned."
Now, Kennon said he has two immediate priorities for his next term.
"Number one is dealing with the moratorium and evaluating the growth or potential complete build out and what effects it would have on our city," Kennon said. "That is a priority."
"Number two is the priority of getting the bypass and another bridge taken care of so that we can eliminate, for the most part, the bottlenecks in our current traffic flow," he continued. "So, those two things are very, very important to me that we attack as soon as possible."
Kennon said he will serve as long as the citizens elect him, and he vowed to put Orange Beach first. After a difficult election, he said he was humbled and his family was thankful for the outpouring of kindness and support.
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