Mayor Mickey Haddock to seek re-election

Florence Mayor Mickey Haddock to seek re-election

FLORENCE— Today, Mayor Mickey Haddock announced his intent to run for re-election as the Mayor of Florence. Mayor Haddock was first elected in 2012 at which time he stepped down as the Lauderdale County License Commissioner, a position he held for more than 20 years.

“It has been an honor to continue serving the citizens of Florence as Mayor,” said Haddock. “I look forward to discussing some the City’s improvements and accomplishments under my leadership and sharing my plans for the city’s future as we approach the filing deadline.”

With Mayor Haddock’s support, enthusiasm and oversight, the citizens of Florence have enjoyed both lifestyle improvements and careful administration and stewardship of the city’s resources, which include:

• Construction of the New Hermitage Drive Bridge, completed in 2014 (this seven-year project was initiated under Mayor Bobby Irons’ leadership, and Mayor Haddock was able to bring it to fruition.)
• An additional Pod, added to the Coffee-O’Neal Sportsplex.
• Work with the City Council to secure $19 million to fund much-needed Capital Projects—several of which are already in the construction phase.
• Partnership with UNA on its “Strategic Doing” Project
• Strong financial management—operating a $52 million General Fund Budget and a $160 million Utility Budget in the black for the past three years.
• Three of the City’s large drainage issues, resolved at a cost of approximately $2 million.
• Work with Lauderdale County to secure $20 million from ATRIP funding from the Alabama Department of Transportation; funds were allocated to crucial infrastructure improvements in Florence and Lauderdale County.
• Work with SEDA to foster impressive economic development, including successfully recruiting Navistar, FreightCar America, TASUS, CBC INGS, Performance Scrubs, MS Metals, Elite Medical, and Custom Synthetic Fibers, and expansion projects for Walgreens Customer Care Center, North American Lighting, Firestone Building Products, Tarkett Alabama, and Constellium.
• The issuance of 375 business licenses since November 2012 to commercial, retail, and manufacturing businesses that provided jobs, taxes and community services.

“I have aggressively promoted Florence and used all the tools at my disposal to bring meaningful employment to this area,” said Haddock. “That was first and foremost on my list and I hope to continue this momentum in my second term. I will continue to work to make this city as great as it can be by continuing to foster a strong sense of community, a city government that is open and transparent and communicating regularly with our residents. As we look toward the next four years I am confident we will build on those accomplished goals, even as we continue to embrace technological changes, and of course, assist RegionalCare as they complete their venture of a new hospital.”

Mayor Haddock is a lifelong resident of Lauderdale County and a current resident Florence. A product of the public schools, he graduated from Central High School. He has served in the National Guard (34 years), worked with the Florence Fire Department, served on many non-profit organizations, and served as License Commissioner of Lauderdale County, prior to being elected Mayor of Florence. He is married to Linda Salyer Haddock and they have two grown sons, Health Haddock, married to Beth Hatchett Haddock, and Chris Haddock, married to Suzi Haddock, and three grandchildren.

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