Decatur’s Cole, Kyle At Odds About City Manager Position
L to R: Carl Cole, Don Kyle (WHNT News 19)
DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) – A former Decatur mayor who is trying to get his job back says he’ll consolidate departments to save money.
Don Kyle held a news conference Monday morning outside of Decatur City Hall.
He says the idea of consolidating city departments is one thing that makes him very different from one opponent, attorney Carl Cole, who wants to create the position of city manager.
Cole argues in 2010, residents voted for a city manager and council form of government instead of the current mayor and council.
“It is simply a way to give us the city manager that we already voted on. It’s that’s simple,” said Cole. “We don’t have to hire anybody new at City Hall. We have to change a job title and we have to slash the mayor’s salary. I want to do those things.”
Kyle said it’s not that easy, and warned of red tape to cut through as well.
“I don’t see how you create a new position, unless you’ll work for free and save the city any money by doing so, even if you take half pay,” said Kyle.
Kyle says the move would have to be approved by the U.S. Department of Justice. The two are going up against current Mayor Don Stanford and Gayle Busbey.
Candidate Kevin Penn dropped out of the race last week. The election is August 28.
