Finley not running for mayor in 2012
Mayor Paul Finley will not run for re-election in 2012.
Finley announced his surprising news at a press conference at City Hall on Oct. 26. He cited both his immediate family and his extended family in Kentucky as primary reasons not to seek re-election.
“I’m announcing my decision one year out … for (interested candidates) to have time to prepare to run,” Finley said. “Someone else will step forward and keep doing what we’re doing.”
Commitments as mayor have reduced time that he can spend with his wife, Dr. Julie Finley, an assistant principal at Bob Jones High School, and their sons — Tyler, Tanner and Kyle.
“I’m on the outskirts of what we do as a family now,” Finley said. “I may see my son in a ballgame but not the practices. I may see him in a play but no rehearsals.”
In addition, time constraints have kept the Finleys from visiting their aging parents in Kentucky. Finley fought back tears in recounting times that he couldn’t go to Kentucky because of mayoral commitments.
He will promote an increase in the mayor’s salary, which is “the lowest of any department head in City Hall.” The mayor’s salary for 2011 is $80,644 and will increase to $83,064 in 2012.
When Finley told his sons about his plans, “my seventh-grader looked at me like I’m crazy. He said, ‘You’re doing so many things that are good for so many people.'” However, Finley believes his son eventually will appreciate the decision not to run.
In 2008, Finley’s mayoral campaign adopted a “fresh approach.” He claimed success in five planks of that platform:
- Roads
- Advocacy for Madison City Schools
- Working amicably with Huntsville, Limestone County and Redstone Arsenal
- Securing funding for city programs
- Performing with integrity, accountability and accessibility
Finley was elected with 53 percent of the vote against then mayor Sandy Kirkindall. “Since the election, I haven’t found anyone who didn’t vote for me,” Finley said with a smile.
