Meet the Runoff Mayoral Candidate: Spiro Cheriogotis
The Mobile Chamber’s 2025 Mayoral Runoff Election Guide is a nonpartisan resource designed to help voters prepare for the upcoming September 23 mayoral runoff election. This guide focuses on the mayoral race that will shape the future of Mobile.
These local leaders play a critical role in shaping policies that affect economic growth, infrastructure, public safety and quality of life. The Chamber’s goal is to ensure voters are informed about candidates committed to supporting job creation, workforce development and a strong, pro-business climate.
The Mobile Chamber does not endorse any specific candidate but is dedicated to equipping our community with valuable resources to stay well informed about the candidates on the ballot. We earnestly encourage you to exercise your right to vote. Your participation is crucial in shaping the future of our community and ensuring a vibrant and representative democracy.
Meet the Runoff Mayoral Candidates:
Spiro Cheriogotis | Barbara Drummond
The responses from the mayoral candidate are printed in their entirety and have not been edited.
Candidate’s Full Name
Campaign Website/Social Media:
Current Occupation:
Lawyer
Previous Public Offices Held (if any):
Why are you running for Mayor of Mobile? What are your top three priorities if elected?
Thanks to the efforts of Mayor Stimpson and many other business & community leaders, we are finally seeing generational projects come to life. I am committed to seeing these projects through. However, there is still a lot of work to be done. Mobile isn’t just where I live—it’s home. It’s where Lucy and I are raising our four children.
My top three priorities are reducing crime and improving public safety, advancing public education and workforce development, and improving quality of life through parks, entertainment, reliable public transit and neighborhood amenities.
As a husband and father, I want my children to grow up in a city they are proud to be from and a place where they choose to stay and build their futures. I’m running for Mayor for our neighborhoods, our schools, our small businesses, and our future.
What is your long-term vision for Mobile’s economic growth and how will you work with the Chamber and private sector to achieve it?
How will you support economic development initiatives that attract and retain businesses in Mobile?
What is your strategy for supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship, particularly those owned by women, veterans, and minorities?
How do you propose to streamline or improve permitting, licensing, and other city processes that affect business operations?
What role should the Mayor’s office play in working with major industry sectors such as aerospace, maritime, manufacturing, logistics, and technology?
How will your administration support workforce development and ensure Mobile’s talent pipeline meets the needs of employers?
We expect more than 6,000 new jobs to come online in the next five years. However, all of the job numbers we announce are just statistics to many unless we connect those jobs to our citizens. We must take steps to ensure that citizens in every neighborhood within the city can benefit from the job growth we are experiencing. That means removing barriers that hold our citizens back, such as reliable transportation, workforce development and training programs, and affordable housing within city limits.
How do you plan to collaborate with K-12 education, community colleges and universities to align education with business needs?
One of the most significant factors deterring people from moving to the City of Mobile is the perception of its schools. As mayor, I am committed to doing everything in my power to change the narrative on public education in Mobile. From a practical standpoint, we recognize the need to intervene early. Too many children in the City of Mobile lack the financial ability to receive preschool education. The State of Alabama has a robust public Pre-K program that is available at no cost to all children. Currently, there are very few options east of I-65 that qualify to receive state funds. All children in the City of Mobile deserve access to Pre-K. Too many students are arriving at kindergarten without any prior training. We cannot afford to have our youngest students feel left behind or discouraged because they are not at the same level as their classmates. As mayor, I am committed to solving this issue. We must give students the head start they need to improve outcomes at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. One of the best ways the city can enhance our public education system is to ensure all our children arrive at Kindergarten confident and ready to learn. I will be a champion for all Mobilians, but I believe that to change the future, we must start with our children.
Infrastructure improvement is critical for business growth. What are your top 3 infrastructure priorities for Mobile, and how do they support economic development?
Downtown Mobile is experiencing unprecedented momentum with transformative projects underway including the new Mobile Arena, Walk of Fame plaza, the Amtrak downtown station, the I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project and the River Walk Plaza and Hotel. How would you build upon this momentum, and what is your vision for leveraging these investments to create a thriving downtown ecosystem that benefits the entire city?
What is your position on the I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project, and how will you work to ensure it moves forward efficiently?
Three Mile Creek, Brookley by the Bay, and a new performing arts theater represent significant opportunities to enhance Mobile’s quality of life and economic development. As mayor, would you prioritize these initiatives, and what specific actions would you take to ensure their integration into Mobile’s broader growth strategy?
I believe our natural resources are what make our geographic location so special. These are critical quality of life projects for our citizens and they are integral to talent attraction and retention. Brookley by the Bay and the Three Mile Creek Greenway Trail have the potential to be two of the most outstanding citizen amenities in the region. Mobile families deserve an easily accessible pathway to enjoy our waterfront and natural resources. I’m committed to completing these projects to ensure our citizens can enjoy their natural environment. This will require vision, alternative funding sources and the dedication to see the vision to completion. I believe in the value of cultural arts and the need for a theater that can host our local performers as well as major Broadway-quality shows. The citizens are already feeling the loss of the Civic Center theater. I’m running for Mayor because we need to think about what’s next for the City of Mobile. The discussion around a theater should include all the stakeholders, including the local performing arts community, Visit Mobile, local universities and the business community.
Small businesses represent the backbone of our economy. What specific policies would you implement to support small business formation and growth in Mobile?
What is your approach to new and affordable housing in Mobile, and will you support policies that encourage diverse housing options to meet the needs of the workforce and growing population?
We will never truly grow the City of Mobile from within if we don’t accelerate housing development inside the city limits. The City of Mobile has a critical housing stock shortage. I will push for innovative, sustainable development that increases housing options across the city. This issue impacts working families and economic growth. If left unaddressed, it will affect our future as a city.
Some of the most significant opportunities for increasing our housing stock are through neighborhood revitalization and infill housing. Through programs that help address blighted properties, whether occupied or vacant, the City can incentivize single-family development while keeping to the fabric of the neighborhood.
In addition, we should closely examine our zoning regulations and building codes to ensure a pathway for middle housing that fills the gap between single-family homes and large apartment complexes.
The existing Land Bank program for the City needs to be reexamined as the program has never lived up to its potential. Land banking properties in preparation for private development is a good way to revitalize historic neighborhoods, especially when paired with the City’s new Housing Improvement Program (HIP) that is currently clearing title on lots and building new residential options in the Campground neighborhood. All of these tools need to be part of the equation when it comes to creating infill and restoring properties with the intent of keeping neighborhoods vibrant and to stop the trend of property owners abandoning properties and neighborhoods losing population.
How will your administration improve public safety and how do you see its connection to economic growth and talent retention?
When families and individuals are trying to decide where to live, two of the primary drivers are crime and schools. As a former judge, I have a unique perspective on the criminal justice system. I’ve seen firsthand how crime impacts families and communities. We all want to feel safe going to the neighborhood grocery store or taking our children to play in the park. When crime infringes on peace of mind in our daily activities, we must address it head-on. Ten percent of criminals commit 60-80% of the crimes in this city. That is why it is so critical that our officers target offenders and not neighborhoods. The latest technology allows us to identify these bad actors in our community. We must shine a bright light on these individuals through offender-oriented strategies that seek to rid the streets of those willing to take up a deadly weapon.
I’m also concerned about the emerging crimes our city will face. As a parent, it is getting more challenging to decide what types of technology our children are exposed to (phones, internet, social media). Those technologies are also emerging as tools for criminals, and we must ensure our police force has the best training and technology to fight today’s crimes. But we can’t police our way out of crime. In addition to targeting offenders, I’m passionate about targeting the underlying causes of crime. As a judge, by the time someone appeared in front of me, something bad had already happened.
What especially interests me about being Mayor is all the ways we can use city resources and work with our community partners to intervene before someone goes to the courts. We can also find better ways to rehabilitate those who can be productive citizens.
Serving as a prosecutor gave me an up-close look at what law enforcement faces every day, and I am immensely grateful for every one of our first responders. I’m proud to know that our Mobile Police and Fire Rescue Departments are among the top in our nation. While the police officers and firefighters are out there protecting our citizens, I will ensure they have the training, equipment and compensation to do the job at the highest level.
What specific strategies will you implement to enhance Mobile’s quality of life to attract businesses, workers and visitors?
I’m running for Mayor because I believe it is time for us to look forward to what’s next in the City of Mobile. We have several generational projects coming to fruition. How will we route airport traffic from the interstate to Mobile International Airport at Brookley in a way that enhances neighborhoods along that route instead of disrupting them? How can we develop the rest of the Civic Center site in a way that ensures a new theater complements the fabric of our surrounding neighborhoods? The first step is to engage the community in our long-term and short-term planning.
We have to expand connectivity efforts that will remove barriers for walkability, biking and public transit. For example, public transportation is a necessity for some of our citizens, but it needs to be a viable alternative for everyone. We need a system that works for those who rely on public transit and for those who want options.
When we think about modern cities where young people want to live, public transit becomes a quality-of-life enhancement. The City of Mobile is currently investing $9 million a year in a system that isn’t working for anyone, including our transit workers. We need to overhaul the system as we know it and make public transit appealing for everyone.
As we look forward to our future as a City, we have to celebrate what makes us unique. Historic neighborhoods, sidewalks, and beautification are enhancements that our citizens can enjoy, making Mobile even more appealing to visitors as well. Visitors will come to a city where people love to live.
What steps will you take to ensure transparency, efficiency and accountability in city government operations?
How will you promote collaboration between the City of Mobile and surrounding municipalities, counties and regional organizations?
How do you plan to maintain an open line of communication and cooperation with the Mobile Chamber and the broader business community?
If elected, will you commit to regular dialogue with business leaders and to participating in Chamber-led initiatives and advocacy efforts?
Looking ahead 10 years, what do you envision as Mobile’s signature industries and economic drivers, and what steps wold you take to position the city for success in these areas?
Is there anything else you would like Mobile’s business community to know about your candidacy or leadership philosophy?
As a prosecutor and judge, I saw firsthand how crime impacts families and communities. My background gives me a unique perspective on public safety and ways we can reduce crime in our city. Public safety is more than a talking point. It’s a commitment. I’m ready to hit the ground running.
As a small business owner, I will bring a business-minded approach to City Hall. I know what it takes to build something that lasts, and I will focus on creating an environment where both small and large businesses can thrive.
Emerging technologies create solutions to everyday problems. I’m interested in all the ways cities are utilizing technology to improve citizens’ lives. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers advancements in traffic control, public safety, government efficiency and city planning. I’m the only candidate equipped to utilize emerging technologies as solutions.
I have a record of challenging the status quo and being solution-oriented. Being a judge taught me to be a good listener, often to well-developed arguments around opposing viewpoints, and to make tough decisions.
Mobile is changing. What we do next will define our city for generations to come. I don’t have every answer, but I am committed to working with you, our neighborhoods, and community partners to tackle crime, grow our economy, improve infrastructure, and make sure Mobile is a place where families can thrive.
Mobile Chamber’s 2025 Runoff Election Guide: Mayoral Race
The Mobile Chamber’s 2025 Runoff Election Guide is a nonpartisan resource designed to help voters prepare for the upcoming September 23 municipal election. This guide focuses exclusively on the mayoral race that will shape the future of Mobile.
View the Mobile Chamber’s 2025 Runoff Election Guide.
Click the name of the mayoral candidate to learn about their positions and priorities:
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