New Robertsdale Mayor Ruthie Campbell served three terms on the city council before becoming mayor, so she was familiar with the city's challenges and had a basic understanding of how to manage it. Now that she's in that position, she said she is thankful to have inherited a well-oiled machine.
"I'm thankful for my three terms on council prior to this because it helps me to be able to learn quicker," Campbell said. "And everything that our former mayor, Charlie Murphy, let us be a part of with the Alabama League of Municipalities and with all of our representatives and all of our legislation, it just really gave me a foot in beforehand, and I'm grateful for all those opportunities and then to get to be here."
Campbell has implemented her plan and hopes to continue attracting new business and deploying more police patrols on the streets.
She said the city administration has already improved transparency and accessibility by live-streaming council meetings on YouTube. The city also added a second opportunity for citizens to participate in meetings.
"I want the citizens to know that the city is working for them and the city wants to be able to do whatever it is that we need to do," said Campbell.
Following the recent announcement of new Police Chief Daniel Steelman, Campbell said the goal is to reallocate officers to increase visibility.
The new mayor is also working to assemble a committee to recruit businesses and industry.
"That was something I ran on and something we are going forward with," she said. "We are putting together a committee so they can go out and look for prospects."
Campbell said she knows she will face challenges, but she plans to address them head-on as they are brought to her attention.
"Robertsdale is and always will be prayerfully a great little city to be a part of, to live in, to do business in," Campbell told 1819 News. "The people here are great."
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