Mike Schmitz announces bid for mayoral seat

Surrounded by family, friends, supporters and well-wishers, Dothan businessman Mike Schmitz answered a question that has been making its rounds through Dothan’s political circles for several months. Yes, he will be a candidate for the office of mayor of Dothan.

“I am officially announcing that I am a candidate for the office of mayor for the great city of Dothan,” Schmitz said during last Thursday’s kickoff function held at the headquarters of Mike Schmitz Automotive Group.

Schmitz, who was adopted at a young age by Eddie and Maxine Schmitz, says he learned some valuable lessons from his parents. And he believes he can put those lessons to work to help Dothan move forward.

“My parents were children of the Depression,” Schmitz said. “Dad served in World War II. My uncles and cousins were cheese makers (in his native Wisconsin). To earn money, you had to work for it.”

Schmitz briefly touched on some of the lessons he learned.

“Number one, I was taught you spend less than you make,” Schmitz said. “You save for a rainy day. You must be very careful of debt. I believe you must work hard every day, have a great attitude and be grateful for your paycheck.

“As your mayor, I will work to spend less than we take in. I will be very careful of debt. I will work hard with a positive attitude. I have a great love for Dothan.”

That love, says Schmitz, will help him bridge some of the barriers that have made their way into the fundamental life of Dothan citizens.

“We have a tendency to draw imaginary lines that separate us from each other,” Schmitz said. “The world has changed. We can’t do that anymore. Divided we will fail. Together, we can do better.”
In particular, Schmitz says the city must do a better job of educating its youth to prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow.

Schmitz cited the resolve of his close friend, Velma Tribue, chair of the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, as an example of how important education is to a community.

“Velma Tribue wanted education to be the number one priority (for the community),” Schmitz said. “It takes a great education system to recruit business. She also did it because it was the right thing to do.”

With a drop-out rate ranging between 30 and 40 percent, Schmitz says something must be done.

“That’s not acceptable for Dothan,” said Schmitz, who has spent more than 30 years in the automotive sales industry. “We can’t wait 10 years to address this. We must do so in the next four years.”

Schmitz, who was named Alabama’s Time magazine Quality Dealer for 2008, is a former chairman of the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce and chaired the Regionalism Task Force for ENVISION. He’s an advocate for underprivileged children and serves on the board of the directors of the Wiregrass Children’s Home. He has also served as campaign chair of the Wiregrass Area United Way.

“If you believe my 30 years in business and my community service are important, I ask for your support,” Schmitz said. “Divided, we will fail. Together, we will do better.
“Divided, I will fail. Together, I will get elected.”

For more information about Mike Schmitz and his mayoral campaign, visit Mike4Dothan.com.

Dothan’s municipal election will be held July 14. The commission seats for districts one, three and five will also be on the ballot.