Endorsement: Kevin Dorsey for Dothan District 1

In Dothan’s District 1, voters have a wide field from which to choose their next representative on the city commission. Many are faces they’ve seen before.

There’s George Williams, who was defeated eight years ago after holding the seat for a decade.

There’s James Reading, who unseated Williams and was inched out four years later by a 5-vote margin.

There’s the incumbent, Larry Matthews, who sent Reading packing.

There’s Earnest Rhodes, a candidate about whom little is known.

Then there’s Kevin Dorsey, who we believe would be District 1 voters’ best bet for the next four years.

In an interview with the Dothan Eagle editorial board, Dorsey showed a level of enthusiasm we have rarely seen in a candidate. He believes that living in “the core of the district” gives him a better perspective on the challenges facing District 1 residents. He hopes to give a voice to the people of District 1, who he feels have been left behind as the city has grown. As a commissioner, he says, he’ll work to see that money is spent on infrastructure within the district, a vital pursuit that he believes will lead to development.

Dorsey’s vision is a welcome change from the leadership District 1 has seen since its creation in 1991.

A suit filed by Williams led to the formation of a six-district government, replacing a four-ward system, and Williams was elected as the first commissioner. From our perspective, Williams was more concerned with the perks of the job than with the job itself. He was impossible to reach unless he wanted to be reached, he was chronically late to commission meetings and used his city-issued credit card to take out cash advances for personal needs. Williams set an appointment to meet with the Dothan Eagle editorial board, then didn’t show up. Given his track record as an elected official, his absence was no surprise.

Reading is a charmingly affable man who was far more engaged with his elected post than his predecessor. He targeted the open ditches in the district and succeeded in guiding several public works projects into the district to upgrade those areas. However, he drew controversy, notably by holding up funding for an industrial recruitment initiative, demanding to see the books.

Incumbent Larry Matthews’ greatest value as a commissioner has been as a man of reason. Matthews listens to the issues that cross the commission’s plate and votes for what he believes is best for the city as a whole. However, District 1 has not seen much needed improvements during Matthews’ tenure, and his ideas to use federal community development funds to give $5,000 grants to first-time homebuyers, while noble, aren’t the best use for funds meant to improve the quality of life for all residents of low-income areas.

Earnest C. Rhodes did not meet with the editorial board to discuss his platform, has not participated in any public forums and has not taken advantage of any opportunities to be interviewed by Eagle reporters.

Despite a wide field, the voters of District 1 have only one candidate with the promise of improving their community.

That candidate is Kevin Dorsey, who gets the Eagle’s endorsement for District 1.