(OBA®) – An emotional Tony Kennon took to social media on Aug. 20 the same day a controversial flyer arrived in the mailboxes of Orange Beach residents.
Kennon, facing opposition for the mayor’s office for the first time since 2008, is seeking his fourth term and is opposed by Dan “Gilley” Hayes who has been a permanent resident for eight years after being a part-time resident for 15 years.
The flyer was sent anonymously by the “Committee for Better Government in Orange Beach” and rehashed old allegations. Two concerned sexual allegations, one from the 1990s and another from Kennon’s time as an Orange Beach councilman in 2005. Kennon said every allegation on the flyer was false and he received a letter of exoneration in the case involving former Planning Commissioner Jil Walker during his term as a councilman, according to a 2010 published report.
A city election season that was rife with social media rumors and innuendos has erupted the week before the Aug. 25 vote with a contentious public discussion session at the Aug. 18 council meeting and the flyer on Aug. 20.
An exchange between Kennon and Place 5 candidate and former police chief Joe Fierro over the terms of his resignation culminated in an emergency court hearing on Aug. 24 in front of Baldwin County District Judge Joe Norton because “the information in the documents could have a bearing on a city election.” The hearing, which was originally set for Aug. 21, is at 9 a.m.
Two citizens, Tom Conerly and John Grissom, filed a Freedom of Information Act request to see Fierro’s personnel records which he and the city agreed not to disclose under the terms of his resignation.
Fierro said he resigned because of “philosophical and managerial” differences with Mayor Tony Kennon. Fierro is running against incumbent Place 5 councilwoman Joni Blalock who is seeking her fourth term. After two exchanges with the mayor Fierro said the mayor was breaking the confidentially agreement and left the meeting.
On Aug. 20 Fierro addressed the controversial flyer on his campaign’s Facebook page.
“Like many of you I am aware of a mailer that you may have received today regarding Mayor Kennon,” the post said. “Given the comments I have seen I want you to know neither myself nor my campaign had any knowledge or involvement with this. Whomever did this is not helping anyone. I have run an issue based clean campaign and I do not condone this type of activity.”
Kennon challenger Hayes also said he didn’t agree with the flyer and tactic of using the flyer.
“I was also a recipient of the flyer,” Hayes said. “I can say with 100% certainty that this did not come from my campaign and I have no knowledge of where it originated. My campaign has been honorable without name calling and we do not condone that behavior in any way. The mayor and I have a difference in opinion, but that is why I’m running against him. Despite our differences in opinion, our campaign was not involved with and does not support the message printed on the mailer.”
Kennon said in his Facebook response that the flyer has been turned over to the Alabama Secretary of State and “we’ll find out who is behind this.”
Other issues raised by the anonymous flyer included two incidents of Kennon getting in altercations in public, his departure from the University of Alabama in 1991, among others. It also said that he was a bully who ran roughshod over councilmembers Blalock, Annette Mitchell, Jeff Boyd and Jerry Johnson saying “they never oppose him.”
Mitchell, along with Kennon and Blalock are the only ones facing opposition on Aug. 25. Mitchell faces Joe Cardwell for Place 1 on the council. Boyd and Johnson are unopposed for the second straight municipal election and will each be serving their third terms.
“Sadly, everyone got a dose yesterday of the anger driving some campaigns,” Mitchell said. “Uncalled for, hateful and untrue, this slander will not be accepted in Orange Beach. I stand with Mayor Kennon and Councilmember Blalock.”
Blalock was called a “flaming liberal” in the flyer and was pictured with former President Barack Obama during his visit in the aftermath of the 2010 BP oil spill. She defended the photo saying it was part of the successful effort to get the Restore Act passed and followed up with lobbying trips to Washington.
“What you do not see in this picture posted on the mailer is that our Republican Gov. Bob Riley was standing just to my right,” Blalock said. “He was there also to explain how the oil spill impacted our state. It was shortly after this that I lobbied for the Restore Act from which our city benefitted and I am proud of that work.
“I have always known that desperate people do desperate things but the attacks perpetuated by this mailer are inexcusable.”
Boyd was portrayed as always saying “yes, boss” in his relations with Kennon.
“When a political flyer is mailed by a group that does not exist with no return address it is meant for pure hate and hurt,” Boyd said. “This flyer is sent by a very small group that does not represent the overwhelming majority that love this city and their neighbors. Life is better here and this will pass and we will go back to work taking care of the things that matter.”
The only councilman not mentioned in the flyer was Place 4 seat holder Jeff Silvers.
“Whoever is behind it or what group is behind it, shame on them,” Silvers said. “It's low and cowardly and dirty politics. I hope the Secretary of State investigates this matter.”
