Residents of Homewood will go to the polls next Tuesday to decide on a new form of government. A unanimous decision last month by the Homewood City Council set a special election for voters to consider moving to a Council-Manager form of government rather than the current Council-Mayor form.
The referendum also proposes to reduce the number of wards from 5 to 4 and the number of city Councilors from 10 to 4.
In recent weeks, “Vote Yes” and “Vote No” signs have popped up across the area, and groups local to Homewood have been publicly debating a governance change at work in only 15 municipalities across Alabama, including Auburn, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Pelham, Talladega and others.
Last year, Madison, a town of almost double Homewood’s population, brought a similar proposal to a vote of its residents. Like Homewood’s referendum, Madison proposed to transition to a Council-Manager form of government in which the city would hire a full-time city manager and the mayor would become a voting member of the city council. That proposal was overwhelmingly defeated, with 75% voting “No” to the change.
In Madison, many residents believed that a perceived reduction in representation was a significant factor.
In Homewood, the group “Better Homewood” has adopted the slogan “Protect Our Voice” to caution voters that while major decisions today require six votes to pass — a new four-ward government would only require three votes. The group also argues that hiring a full-time city manager doesn’t have to come at the expense of less representation and does not require a referendum.
Stuart Franco, a member of Better Homewood, said residents are concerned about the consolidation of power under the proposed form of government.
“Citizens are feeling a lack of confidence in the leadership of the City following a number of recent issues. Just in August, the recently-retired Homewood City finance director pleaded guilty in a $950,000 embezzlement case,” Franco said.
RELATED: Homewood’s financial records being examined by the state
Jeff Downes is campaigning for the change from his role as the City Manager of an adjoining municipality, Vestavia Hills. The “Vote Yes” group republished a video of Downes advocating for the benefits of a Council-Manager form of government.
“I find that the manager-council form of government operates more like a business. It functions with less political challenge and more business rationality,” Downes said. “As far as the ability for a resident to reach out and seek action on any number of issues they may be facing on a day-to-day basis, we serve people very expeditiously. We react as we can, emphasizing the fact that we’re following, as a staff, the priorities of our elected body.”
Stuart Franco of Better Homewood said visibility and momentum is building around the rejection of less representation.
“We have put out around 200 No signs across the city since Labor Day. Citizens are clearly feeling a lack of confidence in the leadership of the City following a number of recent issues,” Franco said.
“We want them to know that they can already have the professional management that is needed without drastically reducing our representation. Given the embezzlement, the ongoing state investigation, and other issues, Homewood needs more oversight from the people, not less.”
Polls will be open for registered voters living within Homewood city limits on Tuesday, September 24 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270
