Mayor Paul Finley bids farewell, reflects on accomplishments at 2025 Madison Update

MADISON – Madison Mayor Paul Finley will be leaving the office of mayor this Nov. after sitting out the Aug. 26 election. Finley addressed the business community at the Madison Update hosted by the Huntsville- Madison County Chamber of Commerce and Madison Chamber on Sept. 10. He mostly reflected on the accomplishments of his last term.

Among those accomplishments were 25 different capital improvement projects worth $74 million.

In his third and latest term, Finley oversaw or kickstarted the building of Fire Station 4, Public Safety Annex with a police substation, public safety training facility, additional sidewalk on Gillespie and Wall Triana, the Brownsferry/ Burgreen roundabout, Russell Branch Elementary School, Segers/Maecille roundabout, the I-565 interchange at Town Madison, Community Center, Sunshine Oaks park, and the one-story MiLB compliant clubhouse and expansion of the field at Toyota Field.

Additionally, over 20 road projects totaling $385 million are currently underway, including I-565 widening to six lanes and Slaughter Road improvements.

“From the beginning, our goal has been to use public resources responsibly to enhance quality of life in Madison, while working closely with our regional partners,” said Finley.

District 5 councilwoman Ranae Bartlett will succeed Finley on Nov. 3. She will be joined by an almost entirely new city council. Six out of the seven representatives are first time councilmembers. Five of the new members are graduates of the Civic Awareness Academy, a behind-thescenes, educational program of city operations.

But Madison’s elected officials are not the only personnel that is changing. Finley also announced that longtime Administrative Assistant to the Mayor Kim Lindsay will be retiring after serving eight different mayors.

Finley said he and city staff are currently preparing for a smooth transition to the next administration.