Schmitz wins mayor’s seat
Danny Tindell /
Mike Schmitz celebrates with family and supporters while watching election returns Tuesday evening.
Schmitz said his overwhelming victory, combined with the re-election of two incumbent commissioners and another the leading vote getter in a crowded field, indicates Dothan residents embraced their message of consensus-building. “The voters got to decide the direction of this city tonight,” Schmitz said Tuesday during a sometimes-raucous celebration at Schmitz’s Toyota dealership. Schmitz breezed into the mayor’s seat Tuesday, capturing more than 86 percent of the vote and easily winning every polling place in the city’s six districts, campaigning on a platform of consensus-building, industry recruitment and attention to supporting education. The 2009 results are contrary to 2007, when an electorate still fuming over a one-cent sales tax increase booted two incumbent commissioners. Schmitz, who will officially take office Oct. 1, said he plans to concentrate on the financial health of the city during his first days in office. He said he also plans to deliver a strong message to the school board that the city will make supporting education a priority. Seagle made tax cuts the center of his campaign, vowing to remove the city sales tax on groceries. While Schmitz emphasized teamwork, Seagle said he placed great value on independent thought, often stressing dissent as an important part of any democracy. “I have congratulated Mike. I ran my campaign purposely different. I have no problem at all that the people saw what Mike was presenting and went with that,” Seagle said. “I appreciate that he and I ran a clean campaign. We both agreed that he would be what he was for and I would be what I was for.” He will continue to represent District 6 on the Dothan City Commission. “The number one principle of public service is to continue to be who you are. And I will continue to be who I am. I can't do otherwise,” Seagle said. “I hope people realize you may agree with me or disagree with me, but I think you have to give me that I stick to my principles.” Tuesday’s margin of victory was historic, far outpacing victory margins in past elections. In fact, Schmitz’s 11,364 votes were more than all votes cast in the 2005 Dothan mayoral election, won by Pat Thomas with 53 percent of the vote. Former Mayor Chester Sowell gained 7,903 votes in 2001, winning his second term.
Dothan City Elections: Coverage of the mayor, city commission and school board races. Get election results, news stories and more. · Election coverage
| Keith Seagle | WINNER Mike Schmitz |
|
| District 1 | ||
| Walton Park | 115 | 703 |
| Eastside Fire Station | 62 | 451 |
| District 2 | ||
| Civic Center | 34 | 377 |
| Wiregrass Recreation | 95 | 336 |
| District 3 | ||
| Houston County Farm Center | 249 | 1,171 |
| National Guard Armory | 151 | 599 |
| District 4 | ||
| Lakewood | 114 | 743 |
| Doug Tew | 238 | 1265 |
| District 5 | ||
| Westgate Recreation | 256 | 2,177 |
| InnPlace Hotel | 110 | 861 |
| District 6 | ||
| Vaughn-Blumberg Center | 45 | 252 |
| Northside Mall | 296 | 2,041 |
| Absentee | 31 | 388 |
| Totals | 1,796 | 11,364 |
Reader Reactions
What don’t you understand about what I wrote, mashley?
Another person brought up the topic of the presidential election in this thread regarding the mayoral race. You had some comments to what they said and I responded to those.
Just because you aren’t able to grasp the full meaning of what I’m saying doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with my brain. Some folks, when they don’t “get” something just start hurling insults, which may be the case here.
You are correct bobby. A fine country indeed, sir./////// *mickster* There is a bad connection between your eyes, ears and mouth to your brain ///////// maybe now keith seagle will just shut-up and go away. kenneth as well.
In this presidential election it seems like everyone was blinded by all the free welfare cheeze we were all going to get, all the mortgages that were going to magically get paid off, all that free health care.
Giving people crummy housing, poor health care and sub-standard education and telling them they are “entitled” to it is really just keeping them down and in their place. It’s just a more subtle way of doing it.
And since those who don’t pay any taxes don’t really give a hoot how high those taxes go—well, tax away!
When it comes to elections the more one can learn about the candidates the better. That didn’t happen in the presidential election. Too much chomping at the bit for all that free stuff.
Fortunately, in our Mayoral election here in Dothan there were many less sheep believing the promises that would have been difficult to carry out.
Congratulations to Mr. Schmitz. I’m glad you won.
Mashly, everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. Even YOU.
Isn’t this a GREAT country ?!?!
“Bobby J”
**bobby j** / so you’re saying Obama represents simplistic thought and mccain/palin represented critical, intelligent reasoning ? really ?? Ba-Hahahahahahhaha !!! Geez man. Thank-goodness the smart people voted in record numbers.
I know for a fact that Mike is health conscious, so I hope he encourages the people of Dothan to get healthy and stay healthy. This can be accomplished by purchasing more locally grown fruits and vegetables, instead of eating so much junk and processed food, AND it would also benefit the local economy.
“Bobby J” Rothstein
I hope he is dog friendly.
Judging from the outcome of the last presidential election, unfortunately, simplistic thinking along those lines apparently still appeal to the general population in the U.S.
Mr. Seagle failed to understand that voters in the South have moved beyond simply falling for the old saw “I will cut your taxes”. Such simplistic and ideological thinking is no longer viable in our complex times.
My sincerest congratulations to Mike Schmitz and family for his landslide victory. Dothan will undoubtedly become one of the nicest cities in the country to live.
“Bobby J” Rothstein
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