Shoemaker gives credit to the voters

TUSCUMBIA - Tuscumbia residents have delivered Mayor Bill Shoemaker a vote of confidence.

Shoemaker took 57.6 percent of the votes in Tuesday's runoff to earn re-election to his second term in the city's highest seat.

Shoemaker overcame challenger Wayne Burns, who forced the runoff after a four-man mayoral race in August.

"It's really a pleasure to read the final totals and know I have the support of a lot of this town," Shoemaker said, moments after seeing the figures that showed him winning by 293 votes.

Before making that statement, though, he turned to a crowd of supporters at Frank's Italian Restaurant that had just let out a boisterous cheer after hearing the results.

"I'm here to tell you that the people who are in this room, and a lot of people who are not here, won this thing," he told the group.

Shoemaker had received 46.6 percent of the votes to Burns' 34.4 percent in the Aug. 26 election.

Tuesday's runoff saw 1,931 voters cast a ballot. That is 125 more voters than participated in August.

Shoemaker said he had many additional people work for him in the runoff, and added that made a big difference.

"A lot came to me and asked, 'What do you want me to do to help you out?' " Shoemaker said.

The city elections seemed to indicate a vote of support for the current administration. The three city council incumbents who ran for re-election - District 2 Councilman George Johnson Jr., District 4 Councilman Richard Coates and District 5 Councilman Bobby Mitchell - won. District 3 incumbent Martha Smith was unopposed.

District 1 Councilman Steve Finch did not seek re-election. Randall Davis has secured that seat, having run unopposed.

The new administration takes over in the first week of November.

The current administration has seemingly worked well together during the past four years, on the heels of a previous administration that frequently made headlines by arguing.

"A lot of people in Tuscumbia wanted to see more of the kind of administration we have exhibited these past four years," Shoemaker said.

Both mayoral candidates spoke highly of his opponent Tuesday night, on the heels of a clean campaign.

"Mr. Burns and I have a lot of the same ideas," Shoemaker said, pointing out examples such as the need to stress growth along U.S. 72 and bring retail business downtown. "We've been friends for a long time and will continue to be."

Burns often spoke of the need to have something for youth, and stressed a desire to have the community work together on projects. He plans to continue to

push those ideas.

"I feel no animosity toward anybody, regardless of which way they voted," Burns said. "I love this city, and I'll be buried here one day.

"Some of the things I said about having something for the kids and focusing on community action, I hope to get to work with Mayor Shoemaker on those efforts."

He vowed to work with Shoemaker, echoing a promise he made a night earlier when he said during Monday's council meeting that he would work with the mayor if Shoemaker were re-elected.

Burns, the city's former police chief who is known for quick one-liners, joked Tuesday night that the positive side of losing is, "I don't have to put a watch on my wrist again, after all."

The city's five precincts voted pretty much the same way they did on Aug. 26, with Shoemaker winning every box except the Willie Green Center.

Shoemaker did close the gap at Willie Green, however, gaining 102 votes to Burns' 148. In the Aug. 26 election, Burns won 134-77.

The mayor said the next four years carry a lot of challenges, and the nation's economic woes could add to that, if things don't stabilize.

He said some goals for the next four years include building a solid retail base downtown and continuing growth along U.S. 72. Shoemaker said he hopes the city's tax base increases so the city can boost employees' salaries and pave more streets.

Bernie Delinski can be reached at 740-5739 or bernie.delinski@TimesDaily.com.