What people are saying.

Fairhope was founded on vision and was given “a fair hope” to succeed. That unique bohemian mindset was creative, open-minded and determined to prosper. The idealism persisted for a while and saw the creation of the Marietta Johnson School of Organic Education. One woman’s seemingly revolutionary philosophy of teaching, one that viewed each pupil as a unique, growing organic organism that required nurturing of mind, body and spirit- an organic simplicity that is to this day (sadly) cutting-edge.

Around forty years ago, with its founding principles all but dumped in the gullies and flushed into a sickened Mobile Bay and a future bonanza of dollar signs gleaming in their eyes, a new Fairhope fraternity was created.

The good ole boys club operated with impunity for decades beneath the ominous clouds of the Nix and Kant regime. While flowers sprung up on every corner, trees were illuminated, and the flags of our fathers and grandfathers were so proudly and rightfully hung neatly in a row, the frat-underbelly was growing obese.

As Fairhope began its unbridled and reckless expansion leading up to the 2008 recession, the bitter taste in my mouth only intensified- lending to a growing laundry list of reasons to relocate. A rapidly warming planet was spawning an unprecedented litter of storms- many of which were not even tropical in nature, and Fairhope’s antiquated sewer system had been neglected (at the expense of the citizens and the benefit of a few that were rigging the system) for far too long and it was becoming obvious that the town sewerage was grossly inadequate to handle the onslaught of newcomers. While those flowers still grew and parades ran down the streets, the tide of corruption- along with the literal tide and sewage- just kept on rising.

Dishearteningly, the term progressive now seems to define a candidate who tells the truth to their constituents, even when that truth ain’t pretty and most especially when that truth disrupts a well-oiled, self-serving machine. Sunlight has always been the best disinfectant, yet under Fairhope’s prior “leadership”; to the uncritical, uninformed eye the weather was always overcast.

At this critical juncture in our very existence as a functioning, civilized society- let alone a democracy- when far too many are being led by the noses by lies, it is imperative that we elect real, intelligent, honest, kind, realistic, rational, prudent, caring, civil, determined and steadfast leaders that are accountable not only to their constituents, but to a higher code of dignified ethics in their administrative and personal lives.

Mayor Karin Wilson is just such a leader. When she made the very hard-thought out decision (for the right reasons) to run for mayor against an overwhelmingly entrenched incumbent... boy did she rock the boat!

When she won, her battle had only begun. Transparency seemed a dirty word amongst the traditional Fairhope machinery and they slung enough mud to fill up the bay. While she strove to lead responsibly, for all Fairhopians, the boys club kept raking the muck. But she persisted. She persisted against the type of rude insensitivity and obstructionism that would have led many a man to resign and fade into the political shadows. But she still persisted. She kept party out of her politics and remained a steady pragmatist. Karin is a true Fairhoper who has kept her promises. She represents the most wise and clearest choice to continue the hard work necessary to keep the original vision of Fairhope alive, thriving and most importantly: crystal-clear.

Godspeed Sister-Mayor.

— Josh Wolff