Huntsville Municipal Candidates, August 2020
Finding information on the municipal candidates can be a little tricky and difficult. Vote Huntsville is here to try and make the process easier by asking our local candidates to respond to our questionnaire to help you get to know them and their platforms better.
Below is the list of candidates running for office to be elected on August 25th, and we will be adding questions we asked the candidates in a questionnaire and their responses. Please note, not all candidates have responded to our organization but our volunteers are working tirelessly to bring you what information we can gather on every candidate running for office in the city of Huntsville, Alabama.
Mayoral Candidates
TOMMY BATTLE
Mayor incumbent
Tommy Battle did not respond to the candidate questionnaire but it is still important for us to share his platform with you. We have gathered info on his policies and platform to help inform Huntsville voters like yourself. The following information was pulled from his website.
“Tommy was elected Huntsville’s mayor in 2008. The values he grew up with shaped a campaign focused on fiscal responsibility, a streamlined government that supported free enterprise, economic development, and quality of life. He won re-election in 2012 and 2016. When it comes to budgets and management, Tommy knows mayors and city officials can’t kick the can down the road. Mayors have to roll-up their sleeves and get things done. He made promises in that 2008 campaign, and he’s kept them.”
JACKIE REED
Mayoral Candidate
She did not respond to the candidate questionnaire but we have gathered information on her policies and platform and have them listed below. The following information was pulled from her Facebook page and candidate forum live stream.
“For over 30 years, Jackie Reed has dedicated her time attending City Council and Governmental meetings monitoring budgets affecting all citizens. Since 1988, she has run for Mayor seven (8) times, and is registered to run in the next election in 2020. She has run for City Council six (6) times, and one (1) legislative position. A sense of pride comes to her from choosing the needs of others over her own. It has been rewarding for her helping others and has earned the respect and trust from city employees and citizens…”
MAURICE SHINGLETON
Mayoral Candidate
“The reason I am running for Mayor is because I do not believe we have a true representative of our community that strives to include all of our citizens. I want to become Mayor to be able to serve my community as a whole, not just individually.
Currently, we are experiencing the consequences of leadership not taking action. I want to bring a change where those in my community trust that all leadership will act upon the best interests for their districts just as they have sworn to do.”
ANDY WOLOSZYN
Mayoral Candidate
“I’ve been an activist and organizer since I was 18 years old. Politicians have always broken promises for our causes. Honestly, I never had faith in electoral politics.
That’s changed. We are seeing a surge in progressive candidates like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Abdullahi Omar. Voters are moving to the left and now is the time to fight for more than ourselves.”
DISTRICT 1 CANDIDATES
DEVYN KEITH
City Council District 1 Incumbent
“I am running for City Council again because I am from North Huntsville, I love my community, and I believe I have the passion, skills and drive to make a difference in my city.”
CHRIS BAKER
City Council District 1 Candidate
“My reason for running for city council is to serve the needs and interests of my community.”
JOSEPH WAYMAN
City Council District 1 Candidate
“After numerous attempts to contact the Current District 1 Councilman, (including attending Rock the vote, where I had Access to the school board, the mayor, the county commission, and two senatorial candidates.. but still could not contact Our councilman,) I decided to run. Access to representatives should be more than being offered a support button…”
DISTRICT 5 CANDIDATES
WILL CULVER
City Council District 5 Incumbent
Councilman Will Culver did not respond to our organization but we have done our best to research his platform and have organized it to help you know what your current representative supports. The following information was pulled from the candidate forum livestream. If he answers the questionnaire, we will post his answers.
TOM HOPF
City Council District 5 Candidate
“I am running for city council because I feel it is the only way to bring about the change I would like to see. While Huntsville has indeed become a great place to live and to raise a family, there is still tremendous opportunity to improve. Our city is composed of some of the brightest and most creative residents in the world, and I believe we should have a government that enables us to own a little bit more of ourselves. My ideas depend on personal responsibility to enable liberty over authoritarian type rule full of regulations and taxes to guide behavior.”
JOHN MEREDITH
City Council District 5 Candidate
“I feel our current councilman is not representing the district well and fostering the divide between north and west Huntsville in order to advance his political career. Most importantly, I want raise the quality of life in District 5 by facilitating educational parity among all socioeconomic classes in our community, police reform and prioritizing road projects within the district.”
SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES
MICHELLE WATKINS
School Board District 1 Incumbent
Michelle Watkins did not respond to our organization but we have done our best to research her platform and have organized it to help you know what your current representative supports. The following information was pulled from the candidate Facebook. If she answers the questionnaire, we will post her answers.
“As a former educator, I understand what our children need in order to attain educational excellence. I am ready to represent District 1!”
Michelle did an interview with Rocket City Mom in 2016. Here is the link if you would like to read through the interview.
DEIDRE WILLIS-GOPHER
School Board District 1 Candidate
Deidre Willis did not respond to the candidate questionnaire but it is still important for us to share her platform with you. We have gathered information on her platform and ideas. The following information was pulled from the candidate Facebook. If she answers the questionnaire, we will post her answers.
She did an interview with the League of Women Voters and you can find her answers on vote411.org
CARLOS MATHEWS
Scool Board District 5 Candidate
Carlos Matthews did not respond to the candidate questionnaire but it is still important for us to share his platform with you. We have gathered information on his platform and ideas. The following information was pulled from the candidate Facebook. If he answers the questionnaire, we will post his answers.
Carlos Mathews is the only candidate running for the District 5 School Board seat.
Carlos did an interview with Rocket City Mom in 2016. Here is the link if you would like to read through the interview.