Loretta Spencer

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Loretta Spencer (as of 2008) holds the office of mayor of Huntsville, Alabama. Her first term began October 4, 1996.

Spencer is the first woman to have been elected mayor of Huntsville. If she successfully completes her third term, she will also be one of four mayors to serve 12 or more years as Huntsville mayor, tied with R.B. "Speck" Searcy as the third-longest serving mayor after Joe W. Davis and Alex W. McAllister.

Loretta P. Spencer was elected to her third term as Mayor of Huntsville on September 14, 2004 after two previous successful terms leading the City of Huntsville. She is the first woman to be elected, and twice re-elected to the position. Her long history of local public service has served her well in office.

Having lived in Huntsville since age 7, she has witnessed the growth of the city and has played a major part in its development through volunteer work. She has served on many different boards of directors and commissions that focus on city planning. As the first woman to serve on many of these boards, she found it was necessary to keep proving herself over and over. It was her persistence and intelligence that won her a well-respected reputation for her decision-making and leadership skills among Huntsville's business and government leaders.

Mayor Spencer was mentored by Joe Davis, the former Huntsville mayor during the late 1970s and 1980s. It was from Mayor Davis that Mayor Spencer learned the ins and outs of politics, but Mayor Spencer credits her extensive volunteer work for teaching her three major skills she needed to succeed as mayor: how to work as part of a team, how to accomplish a lot with a limited budget, and to always remember to thank people who have helped you no matter how small the task. Her involvement and genuine concern for her fellow Huntsvillians are her personal trademarks. Mayor Spencer's love for Huntsville is very evident in the beautification projects that have made the city so welcoming and vibrant. She was presented with a special recognition award in July 2001 from the Beautification Board for her personal efforts toward making Huntsville a more attractive place to live through community beautification efforts.

Many positive changes have taken place during her tenure as mayor including the addition of new retail, construction of new schools and growth of the city's energetic economy. The downtown area of Huntsville is experiencing a much-needed revitalization, seeing new businesses locating there with Mayor Spencer's encouragement. The city's long term goal of a downtown convention hotel has been realized as well as a newly renovated area of downtown near the Von Braun Center and Big International Spring Park.

Her understanding of Huntsville's potential is seen through her emphasis on economic growth and development. For example, Cummings Research Park has expanded to become the second largest research park in the United States. National news media have written about her success in recognizing the importance that the many different entities of Huntsville play in the economy: the military, the space industry, the computer- related industries, the emerging bio-tech industry and above all, the small businesses that expand into tomorrow's large corporations.

Celebrating its bicentennial in 2005, Huntsville continues its history as a leading city. The city is consistently selected by national publications as a premiere location for both business and quality of life. One of the most prestigious recognitions is being ranked in The Green Guide's Top 10 Green Cities in the nation in 2006 and in Forbes magazine's list of top cities for Business and Careers in 2007.

During Mayor Spencer's second term, she played a major part in bringing new industry to Huntsville with the additions of the Target Distribution Center and Toyota's V-8 engine plant to Huntsville's diverse range of local businesses. Her third term has already seen the opening of two new schools, the rebuilding of one high school and another on the drawing board. Through her implementation of TIF districts, $75 million has been provided for building schools and making capital improvements to Huntsville City Schools.

Mayor Spencer's civic endeavors have included service on various local boards and agencies, including the Huntsville-Madison County Senior Center; Junior League of Huntsville, United Way, Cummings Research Park; Huntsville Land Trust: City of Huntsville Planning Commission; Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce; Community Free Clinic; Huntsville-Madison County Botanical Garden; Crimestoppers; Boys & Girls Club; Community Army Relations Committee; First United Methodist Church Administrative Committee; Von Braun Center Board of Control; and the Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Mayor has also been honored with numerous awards including the Grace Award; Distinguished Service Medal from the Alabama National Guard; North Alabama Tourism Association Peak Award; Huntsville/Madison County Hospitality Association Pineapple Award; Alabama Bureau for Tourism and Travel Government Advocate Award; Women Honoring Women Award for Community Service; National Space Club Community Service Award; Huntsville Education Association Friend of Education Award; Virginia Hamill Simms Award for Contribution to the Arts; Boy's Club Medallion; Girl Scouts of North Alabama Scroll of Honor; Senior Center Path of Honor; Girls Inc. "She Knows Where She's Going" Award; United Cerebral Palsy Johnny Evans Humanitarian Award; Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority's Outstanding Teacher Award; Junior League of Huntsville "Sustainer of the Year Award, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity's Award of Merit; the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County's Distinguished Service Award; Great Alabama Council of Boy Scouts of America Eagle Service Award, Junior Achievement Northern Alabama Business Hall of Fame Business & Technology Advocate Award; Program Executive Office, Missiles & Space Outstanding Performance Award, 2008 Humanitarian Award from Epsilon Gamma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; and recognition from the UNCF Planning Committee for her demonstrated commitment and contributions to their mission.

A former teacher in the Huntsville City School System, Mayor Spencer received her B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Alabama. Her family, children and grandchildren play a major role in her life also. The support her family has given her in all her major activities, campaigns and now as mayor means more to her than anything else. Mayor Spencer is quick to acknowledge that without her family's support and help, being mayor would not be as meaningful -- or half as fun.

Information taken from: http://www.hsvcity.com/mayor_profile.php and is accurate as of April 29, 2008