Madison City Administrator Steve Smith set to announce candidacy for Mayor
MADISON, Ala. (WHNT) — Madison City Administrator Steve Smith will announce his candidacy to run for the Mayor of Madison on Tuesday.
Smith will make the announcement in front of Madison City Hall located at 100 Hughes Road at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
'As Madison's City Administrator, I have worked alongside Mayor Paul Finley to guide Madison to new heights. As your mayor, I will continue to bring steady leadership to keep Madison moving forward,' said Smith.
'As Mayor, I will be focused on solving the issues that matter most to our residents. Thatmeans relieving traffic congestion by securing funding for better roads, supporting ourpolice and fire departments to keep our neighborhoods safe, and protecting the revenueour schools rely on. I will put a stop to special interest groups exerting undue influence overMadison—such as the group responsible for costing the city over $20,000 on a failedelection to hire a City Manager. Serving the people of Madison will be my only priority.'
Smith is a 31-year Madison resident, current Madison City Administrator under Mayor PaulFinley, and a former two-term City Councilman where he served a Finance Chair and CityCouncil President. Steve was a small business owner, and a communityvolunteer for over 25 years, Smith has served on numerous committees, boards, and PTAgroups as well.
Mayor Paul Finley is not running for re-election. Election Day is set for Tuesday, August 26.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Opinion: Rolling back pro-density zoning restricts housing choice
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an hour ago
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Who is running in the Rochester City Council primary? Here's what they value.
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I'm an artist, mom, small business owner and community organizer who's spent years bringing people together to solve problems creatively and collectively. I played a key role in organizing against the privatization of downtown, helping stop the proposed BID (for now) and keeping our public spaces in public hands. As a legislative aide for the East District, I've worked behind the scenes researching, supporting policy development and helping residents with everything from housing issues to navigating basic city services. I believe leadership means listening to the people who live here and making decisions that reflect their needs, not just the bottom line. I bring creativity, compassion and a strong grasp of how local government works. I recognize the value of our community beyond dollars and cents and I'm committed to making life better for everyday Rochesterians by putting people at the center of every decision. What would be your primary area of emphasis in office? My primary focus will be building community resilience by preparing Rochester for the challenges we face now and those on the horizon. That includes investing in affordable housing, local food systems, public infrastructure, and the care economy. These are the foundations that support working families and help neighborhoods thrive. I will also prioritize making local government more transparent and accessible. That means including residents early in the decision-making process, not as an afterthought. Whether it's pushing for public power, protecting tenants or ensuring city services reach those who need them most, I will work to make sure Rochester serves the people who live here. What's a change in direction you would work toward in office? I want to shift decision-making away from top-down planning and toward community-led solutions. Too often, policies are shaped by developers or outside consultants instead of the people who actually live here. I would work to create real, ongoing opportunities for residents to shape city policy, especially those who are most impacted. When we trust our communities and invest in their leadership, we make better, more lasting decisions. What makes you a qualified candidate? I've worked for Monroe County for 30 years, I am the past president of the 19th Ward Community Association, and I have been involved in a variety of community initiatives like the Rochester Food Policy Council and the Pharmacy Access Coalition. I currently serve as Chief Community Engagement Officer, touching every corner of this city and county. I've built relationships and collaborated with many community-based organizations-I understand the challenges our city faces. With all I've learned in these roles and the insight I have in the community, I believe that I am the most qualified candidate for City Council to be able to bridge the gap between city and county to work together on making positive changes for the community. What would be your primary area of emphasis in office? My primary focus area will be access to resources and public safety. I want to expand our outreach to underserved communities and bring county and city resources to the community in the forms of events, workshops and public forums (HUBS). The city and county have different strengths and collaboration between these two municipalities is how we can help as many people as possible. I also want to expand on mentorship and youth employment programs, focus on health and food access in neighborhoods and address the systemic issues around education. 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Shortage of safe and affordable housing. The city is taking some steps to address this through improving the zoning code, which will help create more housing options in broader parts of the city. The affordability will continue to be a challenge if not addressed correctly. However, the city needs to create an intentional and comprehensive housing plan. We need to create a plan that can help bring someone from homelessness to home ownership. I believe that supporting community-controlled models/community land trusts is a way of creating sustainable, affordable housing. What makes you a qualified candidate? I am a qualified candidate because I bring lived experience, proven results and a deep commitment to equity. As a Program Manager for New York State's SNUG program, I achieved a homicide-free year in one of Rochester's most violent neighborhoods through grassroots partnerships and innovative prevention strategies. 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Too often, our city has relied on crisis response rather than investing in the root causes of violence. I would champion a comprehensive approach that centers credible messengers—community leaders with lived experience—who mediate conflicts, build trust and connect individuals to essential supports. At the same time, I would work to expand safe, affordable housing options so families have the stability they need to build healthy lives. Finally, I would prioritize accessible, trauma-informed mental health services that meet people where they are, without stigma or barriers. This holistic approach recognizes that violence prevention, housing, and mental health are interconnected—and that real safety means investing in our communities before crises happen. What makes you a qualified candidate? I'm a lifelong Rochester resident, licensed clinical social worker and Executive Director of Connected Communities, where I've led efforts that brought over $75 million in housing and economic investment to city neighborhoods. I've spent my career tackling poverty, advocating for equitable policies and empowering residents to lead change from within. I understand how city systems work—and where they fall short for families. I bring both lived experience and proven leadership, having grown from a teen mom to a CEO and now a City Council candidate. I'm ready to bring my deep community ties, policy knowledge and results-driven approach to City Hall to ensure every Rochester resident has the opportunity to thrive. What would be your primary area of emphasis in office? My primary focus will be economic justice and neighborhood investment—ensuring that every Rochester resident, regardless of zip code, has access to good jobs, stable housing and strong community infrastructure. I will champion policies that support small businesses, increase access to affordable housing, and invest in youth and workforce development. As a licensed social worker and nonprofit leader, I know that poverty is policy-driven—and I'm committed to shifting how resources are distributed, especially in historically underinvested neighborhoods. I'll also prioritize community voice in decision-making, working alongside residents to co-create solutions that are both practical and equitable. What's a change in direction you would work toward in office? I would work toward a shift to person-centered policymaking—an approach that puts people, not just systems or numbers, at the heart of city decisions. Too often, policies are created without understanding how they impact everyday lives, especially for those navigating poverty, housing insecurity or systemic barriers. As a licensed clinical social worker, I've spent my career listening to and advocating for those most impacted by policy gaps. In office, I'll push for community-informed solutions that prioritize dignity, access and equity—whether it's in housing, public safety or economic development. Government should work with people, not just for them. What makes you a qualified candidate? I am a third generation Christmas tree farmer with a triple bachelor's degree from the University of Buffalo and have been advocating for community needs for fifteen years. As a founding board member of 490 Farmers and a leader in the urban agriculture community I have grown and donated more than 10,000lbs of fresh, organic produce to local pantries and have supported over 40 gardens across every neighborhood of the city. For the last several years, while working as a Legislative Aide for Councilmember Martin, I helped to advocate for progressive legislation and a budget that aligns with our city's needs, until October '24 when I accepted a position at the PAB. I believe that my community focused work ethic, combined with my technical knowledge and experience make me uniquely qualified to represent our community as a City Councilmember. What would be your primary area of emphasis in office? My primary focus is creating strong local food systems and a green city that ensures not a single person goes hungry in the city of Rochester. We currently have an eight ZIP code area where a third of the people are struggling to put food on their table. This is especially unacceptable since our region grows 45% of the fruits and vegetables for the entire state of NY. By working with local growers and distributors, returning local grocers to our neighborhoods and building urban farms throughout Rochester's 3,000 vacant lots we can solve hunger in our community. I believe my experience as a farmer, as a food security program manager and as a leader in the urban agriculture community will allow me to address this basic need in our city. What's a change in direction you would work toward in office? Rochester's budget this year (not including RCSD) is $680 million. Despite being in the midst of a housing crisis and seeing homelessness double in the last few years, we are spending less than $1 million on housing. Despite having some of the highest child poverty in the country, we are cutting funding to Youth Services, Community Library services and Rec Centers. If elected to City Council, I will ensure that we invest in our young people by giving families safe spaces to exist and that our housing crisis is addressed with the resources and urgency it deserves. Lastly, I am committed to funding a feasibility study that explores our options for a public utility. RG&E has been forcing our community to choose between keeping their lights on or keeping a roof over their head, and I believe it's time for City Council to take action. — Kerria Weaver works as the Government and You reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle, with a focus on how government actions affect communities and neighborhoods in Rochester and in Monroe County. Get in touch at kweaver@ This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester City Council primary 2025: What the candidates stand for
Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
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Mayor Brandon Johnson faces city grocery tax pushback as state levy expires
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