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| Affiliation | Nonpartisan |
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| Name | Loretta Spencer |
| Address |
Huntsville, Alabama , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | [Link] |
| Born |
June 20, 1937
(87 years)
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| Contributor | User 490 |
| Last Modifed | User 490
Jan 11, 2009 02:46pm |
| Tags |
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| Info | Loretta P. Spencer was elected to her third term as Mayor of Huntsville on September 14, 2004 after two previous successful terms leading the city to new accomplishments. She is the first woman to be elected, and twice re-elected to the position. Her long history of local public service has served her well in office. Having lived in Huntsville since age 7, she not only has witnessed the growth of Huntsville, but also has taken a major part in its development by serving as a volunteer on many different boards of directors and commissions that work with the city in its planning.
Mayor Spencer was mentored by Joe Davis, the former Huntsville mayor, during the late 1970s and 1980s. It was from Mayor Davis that Mayor Spencer learned the ins and outs of politics, but Mayor Spencer credits her extensive volunteer work for teaching her three major skills she needed to succeed as mayor: how to work as part of a team, how to accomplish a lot with a limited budget, and to always remember to thank people who have helped you, no matter how small the task. Her involvement and genuine concern for her fellow Huntsvillians are her personal trademarks. Mayor Spencer’s love for Huntsville is very evident in the beautification projects that have made the city so welcoming and vibrant.
Many positive changes have taken place during her tenure as mayor including the addition of new retail, construction of new schools and growth of the city’s energetic economy. The downtown area of Huntsville has begun a much-needed revitalization, seeing new businesses locating there with Mayor Spencer's encouragement. The city’s long term goal of a downtown convention hotel has been realized, and with it will come a newly renovated area of downtown near the VBC and Big Spring Park.
Her understanding of Huntsville’s potential is seen through her emphasis on economic growth and development. For example, Cummings Research Park has expanded to become the second largest research park in the United States. National news media have written about her success in recognizing the importance that the many different entities of Huntsville play in the economy: the military, the space industry, the computer related industries, and, above all, the small businesses that expand into tomorrow's large corporations.
During Mayor Spencer’s second term, she played a major part in bringing new industry to Huntsville with the additions of the Target Distribution Center and Toyota’s V-8 engine plant to Huntsville’s diverse range of local businesses. Her third term will see the completion of the new downtown hotel, two new schools and the celebration of Huntsville’s bicentennial. The city continues to be selected by national publications as a premiere location for both business and quality of life. One of the most prestigious recognitions is being placed at #8 in the Forbes magazine 2004 list of Best Places for Business. Ranked alongside cities like Atlanta, Washington D.C. and Raleigh-Durham, Huntsville is the smallest city on the list.
Mayor Spencer’s civic endeavors have included service on various local boards and agencies, including the Huntsville-Madison County Senior Center; Junior League of Huntsville, United Way, Cummings Research Park; Huntsville Land Trust: City of Huntsville Planning Commission; Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce; Community Free Clinic; Huntsville-Madison County Botanical Garden; Crimestoppers; Boys & Girls Club; Army Relations Committee; First United Methodist Church Administrative Committee; Von Braun Center Board of Control; and the Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The Mayor has also been honored with numerous awards including the Women Honoring Women Award for Community Service; National Space Club Community Service Award; Huntsville Education Association Friend of Education Award; Virginia Hamill Simms Award for Contribution to the Arts; Boy’s Club Medallion; Girl Scouts of North Alabama Scroll of Honor; Senior Center Path of Honor; Girls Inc. “She Knows Where She’s Going” Award; United Cerebral Palsy Johnny Evans Humanitarian Award; and Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority’s Outstanding Teacher Award. She was presented with a special recognition award in July 2001 from the Beautification Board for her personal efforts toward making Huntsville a more attractive place to live through community beautification efforts.
A former teacher in the Huntsville City School System, Mayor Spencer received her B. S. in Elementary Education from the University of Alabama. Mayor Spencer is the proud Mother of two and grandmother of four.
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