Phenix City mayor’s race to be decided on Tuesday

As the Phenix City mayor’s race moves toward the finish line with Tuesday’s municipal election, the two men running for the office see a very different picture of their hometown.

Mayor Eddie Lowe sees growth and momentum. Challenger Jerry Barbaree sees stagnation and a lack of growth.

“We have momentum and we have Phenix City moving in the right direction,” Lowe said.

Barbaree returned to Phenix City after retiring in July 2012, just as an historic election was taking place. Lowe became the city’s first black mayor as a whole new council was swept into office. Lowe won a four-way race that included popular council member and Phenix City resident Max Wilkes without a runoff.

“I supported Eddie Lowe — we go back quite a few years,” Barbaree said. “At that time, I thought he would do a great job. And I don’t think he has.”

Barbaree praised Lowe for his efforts to establish a college scholarship fund for Phenix City students that has raised almost $200,000 in three years.

“Mayor Lowe does a good job with the fundraising type stuff and the scholarships he has given — that is great and I am all for that,” Barbaree said. “But what I see is Phenix City has become stagnant. There is no development, just one housing development going on right now. It’s nine homes up on Summerville Road. The reason for that is they have made it difficult for whatever reason for builders to build, engineers to engineer, and for developers to develop.”

Lowe takes exception to that assertion.

“We are having plans reviewed right now for three new subdivisions,” Lowe said. “Four new subdivisions are under construction. Six subdivisions have been approved and are awaiting construction. Let me say this: we have had a lot of residential developers to come to us and ask for extensions because of the economy. I am in banking; it takes more capital now.”

Barbaree also has taken exception at the way the five-member Phenix City council, led by Lowe, has handled appointments to the Board of Education.

The removal of Board of Education President Brad Baker and Vice President Kelvin Redd in a vote of council this year supported by Lowe is another point of contention with Barbaree.

“I just didn’t understand that,” Barbaree said. “I think this started when Woodrow Lowe was let go as football coach.”

Lowe defends the moves and said the issue is more complex than Barbaree is making it out to be on the campaign trail.

The issues did not start in 2014 when Lowe’s brother, Woodrow, was relieved of his head coaching duties at Central High School, Eddie Lowe said. It began a year earlier when the board voted to dismiss then-Superintendent Larry DiChiara.

“When that started taking place, the entire council — because of some of the nuances, when it came time for the people on that board to be reappointed — we were going to look at going a different route,” Lowe said. “All five of us said that at the time. Now some people changed their minds, which they have a right to.”

Since that point, Lowe has voted against the reappointment of Florence Bellamy, Barbara Mitchell, Baker and Redd.

“I have been consistent,” said Lowe, a former Board of Education president before being elected mayor. “Why do people want to know a reason now when we did not appoint the other people?”

Another campaign issue is the job status of City Manager Wallace Hunter, a former fire chief who took the city’s top administrative position in 2008. The current council terminated Hunter on a 3-2 vote on May 20, 2014. Two weeks later, council member Jim Cannon changed his position and voted to reinstate Hunter on another 3-2 vote. Lowe supported the city manager in both votes.

Part of the agreement for Hunter’s reinstatement was that he would retire when the current council leaves office this fall.

“My first order of business if I win this election is to go out, recruit and hire the best city manager we can find,” Barbaree said. “... I am looking for someone who has the educational background, who has done the job before and been successful, someone that is business friendly. This city is not business friendly. We don’t have jobs here, except for minimum-wage jobs.”

Barbaree said that Hunter should retire regardless of the outcome of the election.

“I got one vote and I would hope the council would hold them to that,” Barbaree said. “If I lose, I would still hope that the council, whoever it is, will hold them to that. That decision has been made.”

Lowe said he will not discuss the specifics of Hunter’s job status, only saying he is concerned about the current election.

Lowe has been campaigning on a list of accomplishments over the last four years:

▪ The city reserve fund has increased to 116 days, a 42 percent increase.

▪ The city’s debt has been reduced by 5.4 percent.

▪ New police precincts have been added on the north and south ends of the city.

▪ Since September 2012, 30 new retail and commercial businesses have opened in Phenix City, creating 320 additional jobs and more than $31 million in investment.

▪ Two new industries have located in Phenix City and seven have expanded, creating 302 additional jobs and more than $55 million in investment.

▪ Created the Positively Phenix City promotional campaign.

▪ Started the Mayor’s Ball charity event for college scholarships for local students, raising nearly $200,000 over three years and assisting more than 70 students.

▪ Has pushed through riverfront development projects, including a new downtown parking deck, Courtyard Marriott hotel and downtown Troy University campus.

“Troy University and the Marriott have been in the plans for years,” Barbaree said. “All this administration did was cut the ribbons. I don’t see a vision going forward. The riverfront is important, but just as important is our infrastructure, which is in ruins. They have paved the main streets, I guess because the election is coming up. But you go off those main streets and it is terrible. There are potholes and other issues.”

Barbaree admitted his task in defeating Lowe, a hometown hero and former football star at the University of Alabama under Paul “Bear” Bryant, is a tall one.

“He’s a star football player at Central, Alabama, pro football,” Barbaree said. “He’s got a big name and it’s tough. But we are not playing football. We are running a business. It is hard to overcome that, but I have a lot of friends in this town, too.”

Lowe uses a sports analogy when talking about the race.

“The only thing I’m doing is working hard,” Lowe said. “I love to compete, but I don’t think about anything other than doing what I need to be doing. ... You always have to play like you are behind. I was trained that way, and in my mind I am behind.”

This story was originally published August 20, 2016 at 5:34 PM with the headline "Phenix City mayor’s race to be decided on Tuesday."