In the Mobile mayoral race's culmination, a contender has a realistic strategy at hand
In the bustling city of Mobile, crime has become a top issue for voters ahead of the upcoming mayoral election. With the city recording its first record homicide rate in 2021, standing at 51 homicides, it's clear that the current approach to addressing crime has not been effective.
Two candidates, Barbara Drummond and Spiro Cheriogotis, are vying for the position. Drummond, a Democratic state representative, and Cheriogotis, a former judge and Republican donor, are both running to change the course of Mobile's crime statistics.
Drummond believes that addressing the underlying causes of crime is crucial to reducing crime rates. She plans to create a department to deal with issues facing young people, including workforce development and support for nonprofits like the Boys and Girls Club. Drummond has also pointed out that funding for such organisations has decreased significantly over the past 12 years.
On the other hand, Cheriogotis focuses on economic development, housing, and public transportation. However, as the campaign has progressed, his primary solution for addressing crime has become the use of artificial intelligence. Cheriogotis aims to be proactive in preventing issues before they reach the courtroom, potentially using AI to anticipate and prevent criminal behavior.
It's worth noting that Cheriogotis was not selected as Stimpson's successor by the deep pocket developers and builders in Mobile, raising questions about his commitment to addressing the city's real problems.
Sandy Stimpson, the current mayor of Mobile, is not running for re-election. During his 12-year tenure, Mobile has surpassed 40 homicides in six of those years and surpassed 50 twice. Previously, Mobile had surpassed 50 homicides only once in the 10 years prior to Stimpson's tenure, in 2017.
In her interview on the Alabama Politics This Week podcast, Drummond discussed her plans to address the underlying causes of crime and the decisions made over the past 12 years that have contributed to the major crime upticks. Drummond's campaign has also received the support of the Mobile Police's Homicide Unit.
As the election approaches, the crime and public safety problems in Mobile remain unresolved, and voters continue to express concern about these issues. The candidates' approaches to addressing crime will be a key factor in determining who will lead Mobile into the future.
