I was liking what I heard about Cole until I read this article. So if he's in favor of changing the Mayor's role to basically a ceremonial one, is he saying that's all he will do if elected? If we go to a manager/council form of government, I believe even half of that salary is way too much.

AN IDIOT and his 3 Challengers Spoke at City Hall tonite!

VOTE OUT THE IDIOT!!! And Roger, too (he's a weener).

Geez, with Tiff covering this election, it'll tast like cotton candy and no real news will be heard all day...

I never heard the word ceremonial. I did hear the word part time.

Stanford is not an idiot. I went in voting for him and came out voting for him. But if don Stanford can't win and I know he's got an uphill battle, then Cole is the best choice. He made Kyle look silly a couple of times.

Just another Mayberry!!!!!!!!!!!!

The other important thing is Don Stanford staying means Wally Terry staying. You know Gail and Kyle will get rid of Terry. They think they know it all.

Kyle and Gail are smarter than to get rid of Wally Terry. Any of the candidates can see that he has been a HUGE help to this city.

Wally Terry couldn't handle his job at the RBC bank. What make syou think he's good for Decatur?

Cole is the obvious choice at this point. The others are all old hat and old hat are not what this city needs to meet the future. We cannot continue down the path that the Don's put us on. Cole sees the value of the city manager forum of government and he is not afraid move on it.

Thats a blatant lie about Wally Terry Orville. RBC bought first American and did away with all the executives locally. You Kyle supporters that keep trashing Wally have no idea what you're talking about. I can't believe you that are willing to lie about a good man.

Cole is the clear winner. he did not say as Mayor it would be ceremonial ( I was there). As fasr as the city manager, Mr. Cole knows law and Don Kyle and Gal Busby does not. The citizens that voted to change the current system and got screwed over. Mr Cole is tellng us how it can be done without redistricting.

Don Stanford is still the #1 idiot at the podium and he's only banking on his record? What record? He had to hire an asisstant Mayor that cost this city another 100k a year.

If Jesus Christ was mayor he couldn't please everyone,I hope the new mayor elect remembers that too !

Other William, we need to figure out a way to distinguish ourselves from each other. But you are right about not being able to please everyone.

This forum should not be about Mr. Wally Terry. It is about the Mayoral candidates. Just for information, I have known Mr. Terry for several years. He is a good man and Godly in his actions with others. He is truly one of Decatur's greatest assets. He was an outstanding banker and is doing a superb job for the City of Decatur. He is

Finishing my post...

This forum is not about Mr. Wally Terry. It is about the Mayoral Candidates. However, since he was brought up I want to share my views. I have known Mr. Terry for a number of years. He is a good, Godly, family man. He is a man of integrity

and wisdom. He has done a tremendous job in his position with the City. We need more good men like Wally Terry.

AMEN. And you know Stanford will keep him and Cole made it clear last night that he would keep him and possibly increase his role.

So this is the way the Election will fold out.

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It's gonna go down to Stanford, Kyle and/or Cole in the runoff.

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Busby will pick up her "buddies" votes for about 10%.. Kevin Penn, if he stayed in, maybe 1-2% of the vote.

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The rest, Cole, Stanford, and Kyle will get 20-30% each. But not enough for a majority win (50%).

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So the runoff will come.

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Scenario 1:

Stanford verses Cole: Cole will win. all of Busby's 10% voters will vote for Cole in a "vote against Stanford" and Kyle's voters didn't like Stanford either. Stanford will pick up no more votes than he did the primary election.

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Scenario 2:

Stanford verses Kyle: Kyle will win. The votes will be distributed exactly as in Scenario #1, with Stanford not picking up any more votes.

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Scenario 3:

Kyle verses Cole: this will be a tough one. But I think that Kyle will win, but barely. It's really possible that Cole could win also. Stanford's and Busbey's voters will be split on this. But I think Kyle will come out ahead in name recognition and the fact that some people don't like the idea of having a part time mayor. (especially one making $50k a year for "ceremonial purposes").

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One other prediction, District 1's choice for Mayor will be Gail Busby. Why. because folks there vote for who Billy tells them to and Billy wants Gail to win. they did it in the past two elections. The Decatur Daily even ran articles on how Billy was in the past supporting Standford in order to "out" Kyle. Kyle won every district but District 1, which was overwhelmingly won by Stanford. it was enough for Kyle to loose and Stanford to win. In this three way race, and Gail not being a lead horse, I don't think that influence will help Gail this year.

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But it should be a reminder of the "power" that Billy has to affect city elections.

Kyle was a part time DONothing mayor that made a hundred thousand a year. I'm afraid you are right though about Stanford not being able to win in a runoff against either one of them. I don't know where this whole ceremonial thing came from because nobody said that last night. I was listening close. I really wish Stanford had said Wally would be a great manager and I think Carl is right and we don't need to pay two people to do the same thing so I'm going to cut my own salary. He'd win easy I think then. He could roll the salary back even more than half. Cole's people said once the city manager is in place he would roll it back more, but he felt like half was about right until the city manager happened. I asked what he would do if he couldn't get the city manager and the man who I think was his father said Decatur will get a full time mayor for half the pay. Cole didn't strike me as someone that's not going to work. I don't know how the people supporting Gail will vote but I think people like me know better than to support Kyle if that is how the runoff happens.

When Kyle was talking about all he wanted to do all I kept thinking was "you didn't do any of that last time. Why not?"

Why would Cole want to do a full time mayor gig? he makes a LOT more money as an attorney.

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Whether you like Kyle or not, his last time he inherited a mess from the Fowler Administration and from Pat Woller's screwed up run city council. He had to deal with problems from that for the first year or two fixing things. They also left him no budget to work with.

The real question is, if it's Stanford verses Kyle in the run off, who will Billy tell District 1 to vote for?

Tracy, Kyle does oppose a City Manager. He wants the $100K+/year job as Mayor. As far as the Daily's slant, very few of them, especially, Tiff, have a clue what is going on. They were just happy to prop Standford up by not reporting all of his stupidity.

As far as Standford having a chance to win or be in a runoff - HA HA HA HA HA! LOL LO(really,really)L!! We need a Mayor with an IQ above 90!

It's Kyle, Cole, or Busbey - ANYBODY but Standford.

Billy Jackson will support Gail in the first election. In the run off Jackson will support Cole over Kyle with Cole the winner.;

Kyle failed to close the deal on the development at I-565. Kyle failed to take $85,000 for the utilities storage barn on first avenue. Stanford had the building destroyed as it was an eye sore and will be used as a parking lot for the new Art Center.

Stanford and Kyle performances as Mayors were terrible. Why elect retreads?

Thanks

Thanks for your comments Tracy. Given all the other faults and omissions in her article,Tiffeny also apparently doesn't know the difference between the words "statue" and "statute"! Or maybe she just has a lousy copy editor!

I'm surprised Tracy Tubbs is supporting a Democrat like Don Kyle. He should be with Stanford. Stanford is the only Republican in the race.

Please explain how you think political party affiliation matters in a local election.

I agree with that S. Anyone that things repub or demo matters in a council or mayors race is a loser. Best man or woman for the job.

We Need a Mayor like city of Priceville, Madison or Hunstville,

Decatur has lowest new single family residential Home built for last 10 years when compare with Priceville, Athens, Hartselle & even Triinty .

City Mayor & Council members have refinanced most of the debt at lower interest rate then have wasted money insted of reducing total debt.

People of Decatur City must demand written pledge from all candidate that they will reduce sales tax by half percent. They raised 1 percent sales tax with promise that they will exempt Grocery from all city sales tax with the knowledge that that was allowed under State Law so they must repeal additional sales tax levied 10 years back.

Anybody lives outside Decatur's city limits needs to go comment on something else. You have no dog in this fight.