re: Tommy Battle Comes Out Swinging: AL Gov Race

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Is he that good or just in that good of a position?

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The last 8 years have actually not been the "greatest" for what is the biggest industry for Huntsville: contract positions. Yes, they still come, but Obama turned NASA into basically the FAA for space and the privatization of the military had slowed - yet Huntsville continued to grow. He also came in and cut some fat from the city when they were struggling financially after the 2008 collapse, turning it around.

My dad worked for the city for 30 years before retiring and said that the Mayoralship was Battle's until he chose to leave, and has nothing but positive things to say about him. Not only did he bring military jobs in, under his reign he has seen Huntsville "modernize" faster (in my opinion) than Birmingham or Mobile and made the super tough decision to let the Huntsville Stars go (the minor league baseball team) - because there wasn't a need for it (even though the "public" opinion would have been to keep the money waster) In a lot of ways I wish I lived in Huntsville still instead of Jefferson County, but you know, jobs and all that jazz.

So yeah, to answer your question - too a point he could have just sat and it would have been ok, Loretta Spencer (the Mayor before him) did it for many years, but he has gone over and beyond and done a really good job.