Sandy Stimpson

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 public safety and economic development.[2][3][4][5] In 2017, he was reelected with 59% of the vote over Sam Jones.[6]

Sandy Stimpson
108th Mayor of Mobile
Assumed office
November 4, 2013
Preceded bySam Jones
Personal details
Born (1952-04-04) April 4, 1952
Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)
Jean Miller
​
(m. 1975)​
Children4
Alma materUniversity of Alabama (BS)

Personal life

Stimpson is a 1970 graduate of University Military School, now known as UMS-Wright. He received a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Alabama in 1975, where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity.[7][8]

In 2017, Stimpson was found to be a paying member of the Comic Cowboys Mardi Gras group, an all-white group which parades with posters including derogatory remarks toward black leaders and communities in the Mobile area. Stimpson later resigned from the group after his membership was publicly revealed.[9][10][11]

Stimpson is married to the former Jean Miller of Brewton, Alabama.[12] They have four grown children, nine grandchildren and reside in Mobile, Alabama.

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.[13]

"One Mobile"
Campaign event

Stimpson developed the concept of "One Mobile" during his first election campaign. A non-profit organization "OneMobile.org" was created in April 2014. It has since become defunct.[14]

Mayor of Mobile

Stimpson ran on a platform focused on public safety and economic development. Current data place crime decreased 46% FROM 2017 to 2018.[15] Mobile ranked 3rd in the country in fDi Magazine's In 2017, Mobile ranked number 3 in the country in fDi Magazine's Top American Cities of the Future for FDI Strategy in the small cities category.[16] In 2017, Stimpson was selected by the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative to an event seeking to connect prominent city leaders for discussions relating to the best city government practices.[17]

In December 2018, Stimpson, along with other city officials, were criticized for spending $108,000 on three Christmas trees. The city's special events budget states that any purchase costing more than $7,500 constitutes notification of the council. The city purchased three trees totaling $108,000. According to city officials, the trees have a 10- to 12-year life span so they are a long term investment not falling under the special events budget.[18]

In December 2018, Stimpson filed a lawsuit against the Mobile City Council alleging violations of the Zoghby Act. The council claimed that the mayor had spent millions of dollars on PR consultants and staffers, fearing Stimpson was using the city treasury as an extension of his own personal image campaign. The council lowered the mayor's PR budget to a single PR employee, consistent with previous mayoral budgets, and hired former mayoral spokesperson Marion Steinfels as their own consultant. The mayor fired Steinfels in retaliation, and the council rehired her. Stimpson subsequently filed a lawsuit against the council. After review, the court sided with the council and denied Stimpson's petition.[19][20][21]

COVID-19

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Sandy Stimpson very briefly released statements on the impacts pertaining to Mobile as a city. [22]

References
  1. "Sandy Stimpson elected as Mayor of Mobile", wkrg.com, August 27, 2013
  2. "Mayor continues bold pledge: Mobile will be 'safest city in America by 2020.' Is it doable?". AL.com. August 17, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  3. Knowles, Alexa (April 3, 2018). "Will Mobile be the safest city in America by 2020?". fox10tv.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  4. "2017 crime stats shine light on Mobile's goal to becoming safest city in America". fox10tv.com. January 4, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  5. "What’s next for mayor-elect Sandy Stimpson?", lagniappe.com, September 4, 2013
  6. "Mayor Stimpson Wins Re-Election"
  7. “Sighs of Psi”, Uadke.org, October, 2013
  8. Sawyer, Jessica (October 20, 2013). "From privilege to servant: Sandy Stimpson eager to bring lifetime of experience to new role as Mobile mayor". al.com. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  9. Emily Forrester (March 7, 2017). "Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson Was A Paying Member Of The Controversial Comic Cowboys". Wkrg.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  10. "Ire grows around racial satire in Mobile Mardi Gras parade". AL.com. March 3, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  11. Williams, Jasmine. "Mobile Mayor admits involvement with controversial Comic Cowboys". Weartv.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  12. "Leader to Leader", Twelve23.org, April 4, 2013
  13. Official Biography, CityofMobile.org
  14. "OneMobile.org"
  15. "Mobile homicides down 46 percent in 2018". AL.com. February 1, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  16. https://mobilechamber.com/mobile-named-among-american-cities-of-the-future/
  17. "Stimpson Selected for Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative"
  18. Fierro, Nicole. "NBC 15 INVESTIGATES: Six figure price tag for Mobile Christmas trees". Mynbc15.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  19. "Mobile City Council Vice President signs contract to rehire spokesperson fired by Mayor". fox10tv.com. December 5, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  20. Byron Day (December 6, 2018). "Mayor Sandy Stimpson files lawsuit against Mobile City Council". fox10tv.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  21. "Could showdown at Mobile City Council cost taxpayers money?". fox10tv.com. November 13, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  22. "City of Mobile: COVID-19 Updates". June 6, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
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