Seagle calls opponent chamber candidate

Mayoral candidate Keith Seagle took a jab at his opponent recently, saying that Mike Schmitz is the “businessman du jour” offered up as the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce’s next mayor.

“The chamber of commerce chooses the businessman du jour to be the next mayor,” Seagle told the Dothan Eagle editorial board.

Many past mayors with chamber affiliations, including those serving as chairman of the board, have raised taxes, Seagle said. And as Democrats tend to follow
Republicans to elected office, Seagle said chamber-affiliated candidates are often followed by non-chamber candidates.

As an example, Seagle named Jimmy Grant, chairman of the chamber in 1971-72, elected mayor in 1973 and in 1977. Grant, who raised taxes during his term, was succeeded to the mayor’s office by Kenneth Everett, who did not raise taxes, Seagle said.

“There there was Alfred Saliba, a former chamber chairman, who raised taxes in 1992,” Seagle said. “He was followed by Chester Sowell who was not so closely tied to the chamber and did not raise taxes. Mayor Pat Thomas, who is chamber affiliated, raised taxes.”

And now there is Schmitz, the businessman of the day, Seagle says, who served as chairman of the chamber during 2003-04.

But Seagle’s portrayal of chamber members as being the only tax-happy leaders, is not completely accurate.

Everett didn’t raise sales taxes, but his administration did impose a lodging tax and raised sewer and water rates, Everett told the editorial board Thursday.

Everett also said he is probably one of the longest continuous members of the chamber.

Seagle didn’t mention Larry Register, who was elected mayor in 1985 after Everett left office. Register is a long-time member of the chamber and did not increase the sales tax.

Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce President Matt Parker responded to Seagle’s statement by saying the chamber “does not endorse a candidate, nor do we choose somebody to run for office.”

“The chamber is a business advocacy organization that is membership driven and represents diversity,” he said. “It provides an opportunity for people to get involved in the community ... enabling members to problem-solve and take on issues, make things happen and grow this region.”

Schmitz, a local car dealer, cites his business experience and success as one of the factors qualifying him for the office of mayor. Schmitz is also former chairman of Dothan by Design, the economic recruiting arm of the chamber.

“The chamber represents a thousand business people and employs the majority of people in the city,” he told the editorial board. “My good relationship with the chamber is a good thing. When I got involved with the chamber, I realized there is a lot of hard work put in by a lot of folks.”

Grant said when his administration raised sales taxes by one cent in the 1970s, there was little to no opposition.

“When I was mayor, the city had not built a new school or park or had a new industry in 20 years. The commission suggested a 1-cent sales tax to help the school system. Young Junior High School was going to have double sessions because there were so many students. Dothan High School was about to explode. We built Northview, Beverlye and Honeysuckle. And nobody said anything about it. Everybody knew it had to be done.”

Grant said he doesn’t understand the implication that there is something wrong with chamber leaders being mayors. He said most mayors over the last 40 years have been business owners and chamber members.

“If you don’t have business experience, you will go into the mayor’s office and be lacking. It is a big business and the people involved in business know what to do,” Grant said. “That is very, very, very important.”

The election is July 14.