MOBILE — The West Mobile Republican Women's Club held the first forum of candidates for the open seat of mayor of Mobile in February. Three candidates participated.
On April 9, another installment of Mayoral candidate presentations was made to the same group and the public.
Former police chief Paul Prine and former District Judge Sprio Cheriogotis gave their views on what the next mayor of Mobile should be and do.
Paul Prine
Paul Prine was the police chief of Mobile when he was essentially fired by the Mayor Sandy Stimpson administration. A public outcry arose, and he filed a civil suit, which is pending now.
Prine has served 30 years in law enforcement, 27 of those with the Mobile Police Department. The Vigor High School graduate and his wife, Kay, have three children.
Prine was shot in the line of duty in 2001 but recovered after surgery and rehabilitation. He made a point that he has served the city for 23 more years since he was shot.
He said that Mobile made significant improvements in crime while he was chief, including the best year since 1988.
Prine focuses on three broad areas – crime-fighting, workforce development and economic development.
He says a Prine administration will be business-friendly, address quick turnarounds with licensing and permitting, develop the waterfront, mitigate homelessness, make public transportation more efficient, promote tourism and build affordable housing.
He gave the example of a businessperson who had to wait 2 ½ years to get a permit to redesign an existing establishment.
He says that Mobile does not receive its fair share of state funds from Montgomery because the officials do not work together to get that done. He said he has the leadership to bring the officials together. He would seek more funding for the homeless, veterans and the mentally ill.
He inserts his name often in his speeches to ensure that people remember him: "A Prine administration will…" "The Prine approach will be …" He even has a podcast, "Prine Time."
Spiro Cheriogotis
Spiro Cheriogotis was elected District Judge for Mobile County seven years ago. He was legally required to resign from his judgeship to run for mayor, and he did so. He gave a personal explanation of the thought process that went through that life-changing decision.
He is married to the former Lucy Greer of the well-known Greer's grocery store family. They have children ages 9, 7 and 5.
He said that Mobile does not have a crime problem but a youth gun violence problem. He said he saw that on a daily basis in his former courtroom.
Because his last name is unusual, hard to spell, and hard to pronounce, he makes use of his first name. Simple. SPIRO.
His handout at the GOP women's meeting used the tagline, "Vote SPIRO Mayor." The handout said SPIRO four times and never said Cheriogoits. His website is SPIROFORMAYOR.COM.
Spiro said Mobile's 10% sales tax is on par with similar cities. He called the sales tax "voluntary." He said the city does not get its fair share of SSUT tax for online sales.
Three candidates presented at the February forum. Former public safety director and police chief Lawrence Battiste, County Commissioner Connie Hudson and former County Commissioner Stephen Nodine gave their visions for Mobile and answered written questions.
The West Mobile Republican Women's Club hosts the forums at the Woodridge Baptist Church on Schillinger Road.
The Mobile municipal election for mayor and city council seats is on August 26. Candidates must qualify by June 10 to run. Incumbent Mayor Sandy Stimpson is not running again. A new mayor will be inaugurated in November.
Other candidates for Mobile mayor have not spoken to the GOP West Mobile GOP Women's group: State Rep. Barbara Drummond and former city councilman Jermaine Burrell.
Watch video of the April forum here.
Jim' Zig' Zeigler writes about Alabama's people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
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