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attaining a majority, forcing a runoff with Battle. In that runoff, on
October 7, 2008, Battle decisively defeated Spencer, by a vote of 21,123 votes or 56 percent for Battle, to 16,821 or 44 percent for Spencer. In her concession speech, Spencer said, "You have set the bar high with me. You bought into what we wanted to do, and I am so proud of you for it, because you don't do it alone."
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Spencer’s plan for tax incentive districts, she asserts, have provided $ 75,000,000 for capital improvements to
Huntsville City Schools. Spencer advocates volunteer involvement, and points to her own work in volunteer efforts such as the United Way, Community Free Clinic, Huntsville/Madison Co. Botanical Garden, and the Boys & Girls Club.
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announced that he would challenge
Spencer in the 2008 mayoral election. Spencer announced that she would seek a fourth term in 2008. In the municipal election on August 26, 2008, Spencer led Battle by 14,871 votes to 14,486. However, two minor candidates received 673 votes, preventing Spencer from
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In early 2008, Spencer found herself in election-year controversy when questions were raised about her conduct in the city’s role in relocating a homeless shelter from downtown
Huntsville to a residential district several miles away. Residents near the proposed new location complained that Spencer
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she had appointed resigned after only 18 months on the job. It emerged that he resigned after
Spencer confronted him over alleged sexual harassment for his conduct toward a city employee, for which the city was later sued. In 2008, this suit was settled, and the city reportedly was not required to
145:. Spencer was the first woman mayor of Huntsville, and the first woman mayor of one of Alabama's "four main cities," which also include Birmingham, Mobile and Montgomery. When Spencer was first elected mayor in 1996, she was the co-owner of a local funeral home. Spencer is a former teacher in the
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Among the accomplishments for which
Spencer claims credit are a Target Distribution Center, and the construction of Toyota's V-8 engine plant in Huntsville. She points to the opening of two new schools, and in her third term, the rebuilding of one high school, with others in the planning stages.
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In 2004, Spencer won a third term. During the 2004 campaign, Spencer came under attack on several issues. First, she was criticized for the state of
Huntsville schools. She was also criticized for allegedly favoring the wealthier southern areas of Huntsville over the northern neighborhoods with
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stated that her "string of recent successes is a whiff of the famous optimism and spirit that characterized the city for decades." At the end of her first term, Spencer was re-elected without a runoff, taking 58% of the vote.
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larger minority populations. This criticism may have been reflected in voting results, in which
Spencer failed to carry precincts in north Huntsville. Although forced into a runoff, she won that runoff with 55% of the vote.
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In
January 2007, Spencer was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. Later that year Spencer was embroiled in controversy when the
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committed the city to the move without notice to them, and homeless advocates complained that the new location was too distant from other services used by the homeless.
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announced he would not seek another term. Spencer was supported by
Hettinger, leading her runoff opponent, Larry Mullins, to attack both as agents of the
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During her first term, Spencer garnered editorial praise for rejuvenating Huntsville's economic development.
165:. Facing a field of ten opponents, Spencer made the runoff, which she won by a convincing 66%–34% majority.
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Before 1916, the office was known as "President." Spencer is the 10th to hold the title of "Mayor."
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129:. Her first term began October 4, 1996, and her last term ended on November 3, 2008.
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125:(born June 20, 1937) is an American politician who served as the 66th mayor of
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Spencer has been a resident of Huntsville since age 7. She graduated from
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149:. Spencer, who is divorced, has two children and four grandchildren.
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The Official Re-Election Site for Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer
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321:"Last-day Charges Light Fire Under Huntsville Mayor Race".
526:"Spencer, Battle to Meet in Oct. 7 Runoff for Mayor".
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Spencer first ran for mayor in 1996, after then-mayor
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City of Huntsville: Mayor Loretta Spencer Biography
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491:"Ex-Councilman Battle Enters Mayoral Race Today".
423:"Chamber Honors Mayor for Distinguished Service".
389:"Spencer Fares Well in South, Griffith in North".
141:, and holds a bachelor of science degree from the
702:Before 1916, the office was known as "President."
564:"Video: Mayor Loretta Spencer Concession Speech"
440:"City Faces $ 1 Million Claim over Harassment".
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236:. City of Huntsville, Alabama. Archived from
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56:October 4, 1996 – November 3, 2008
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732:20th-century mayors of places in Alabama
544:"Battle's Victory over Spencer Decisive"
457:"Harassment Suit Against City Settled".
509:"Mayor Spencer Running for Re-election"
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338:"Spencer Gains in Official Tally".
275:"City Election Qualifying Begins".
187:make any payment to the plaintiff.
203:Former Huntsville city councilman
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747:Women mayors of places in Alabama
412:. September 15, 2004. p. 1A.
344:. September 19, 1996. p. A4.
327:. September 16, 1996. p. A1.
429:. January 24, 2007. p. 14A.
296:"Profile: Mayor Loretta Spencer"
234:"Huntsville's History of Mayors"
532:. August 27, 2008. p. 1A.
395:. August 26, 2004. p. B1.
378:. August 23, 2000. p. A1.
361:. August 30, 1997. p. B4.
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737:Mayors of Huntsville, Alabama
620:Mayors of Huntsville, Alabama
497:. March 26, 2008. p. 2B.
446:. March 27, 2007. p. A1.
147:Huntsville City School System
742:University of Alabama alumni
474:"What Did the Mayor Know?".
752:21st-century American women
480:. May 17, 2008. p. 1A.
463:. July 9, 2008. p. 1A.
281:. July 2, 1996. p. B6.
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355:"Keeping Chrysler Home".
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406:"Mayor Gets 3rd Term".
199:Return to private life
139:Huntsville High School
302:on September 13, 2007
143:University of Alabama
123:Loretta Purdy Spencer
549:The Huntsville Times
529:The Huntsville Times
494:The Huntsville Times
477:The Huntsville Times
460:The Huntsville Times
443:The Huntsville Times
426:The Huntsville Times
409:The Huntsville Times
392:The Huntsville Times
375:The Huntsville Times
358:The Huntsville Times
341:The Huntsville Times
324:The Huntsville Times
278:The Huntsville Times
171:The Huntsville Times
655:Aleck W. McAllister
649:Dr. Fraser L. Adams
240:on January 15, 2012
127:Huntsville, Alabama
110:Birmingham, Alabama
44:Mayor of Huntsville
16:American politician
570:. October 7, 2008.
552:. October 7, 2008.
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515:. March 27, 2008.
372:"Spencer Stays".
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106:(age 87)
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304:. Retrieved
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205:Tommy Battle
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79:Tommy Battle
74:Succeeded by
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722:1937 births
687:(1996–2008)
681:(1988–1996)
675:(1968–1988)
669:(1964–1968)
667:Glenn Hearn
663:(1952–1964)
657:(1926–1952)
651:(1922–1926)
645:(1920–1922)
639:(1918–1920)
633:(1916–1918)
631:T. T. Terry
62:Preceded by
716:Categories
212:References
184:fire chief
163:status quo
133:Early life
100:1937-06-20
52:In office
42:66th
568:WAAY-TV
513:WAFF-TV
306:July 5,
112:, U.S.
308:2008
246:2012
94:Born
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