As the sun set on the period to qualify as a candidate in the upcoming municipal elections across Baldwin County and Alabama, a 10-year council member announced she will not seek reelection, while other incumbents and civic leaders changed the places they are now running for. One has set up a challenge to Mayor Tony Kennon.

Joni Blalock posted her announcement to Facebook on Monday, June 23, where she spoke on the "honor and privilege" of serving on Orange Beach City Council since 2004.

"Although I had originally hoped to serve for four more years, I feel it is time for me to focus my energies in other directions," Blalock wrote in the post.

She encouraged residents to ensure their voice is heard and said she will always be available to answer questions surrounding municipal government processes or "building a better city."

"Stay connected with what is going on, speak up for your family's needs, and fight for the city you want to see and live in," she said.

Two people are running for Blalock's Place Five: Robert Stuart II and JoJo McCarron.

Stuart serves as chairman of the Orange Beach Planning Commission. An Orange Beach resident of 38 years, Stuart has been involved in leadership roles such as youth athletics coach and planning commission chairman for "most of those years." He served on the Baldwin County Board of Education until Orange Beach schools split from the county in 2021 and then became the first chairman of the city district's school board.

"It's time for the next step, and the next step is city council," Stuart said.

While Stuart appeared to be heading toward no opposition into the afternoon of June 24, the final day candidates could qualify, McCarron qualified later that afternoon.

If he were to be elected, McCarron told GCM he plans to focus on the city's school system and ensuring teachers and students have what they need for success.

On why he decided to run, he said, "I think it's time for me. I'm getting ready to retire from our insurance business, and I'm ready to give back to the community I've been in since 1971."

Another change in representation will be seen at Place Two, which has been held by Councilman Jeff Boyd, mayor pro tempore, since 2012. He withdrew his contention for council and is now vying for the mayoral post in a rare challenge to Mayor Tony Kennon.

"I want to protect the small-town fishing village we fell in love with. People come here for the safety, the beauty, the islands, turtles and dolphins and the sense of community. That's what I'm fighting for," Boyd said.

Kennon was first elected in 2008. He has been opposed in one of the last three elections, beating challenger Dan Hayes in 2020 with about twice the votes, according to data obtained by GCM from the city.

Kennon said he and Boyd have been friends for 20 years.

"I thought things were going very well, and last week he told me there was no way he would be running for mayor, but obviously that wasn't true," Kennon said. "He told a lot of folks that. So, I'm just disappointed in the way he handled it, and I'm disappointed in the way he tried to organize essentially a cabal."

Boyd said running for mayor has been on his mind for four years.

"But when the police chief called me Monday night and said he couldn't take the pressure anymore — that he was retiring the next morning — it hit me like a freight train," he said. "I was halfway to Baton Rouge. I made a U-turn at Diamondhead and came home. I knew then: it's now or never."

In reaction to Boyd withdrawing his candidacy to retain his Place Two seat, Councilwoman Annette Mitchell withdrew her candidacy for her Place One seat, which she has held since 2014, and filed as a candidate for Place Two on June 24.

While that seat appeared to be uncontested at that time, Ginger Harrelson qualified as a candidate for the seat later that day. She did not respond for comment before press time.

Harrelson is a local business owner — founder of Girls on the Gulf and corporate counsel and owner at Beachball Properties — and former attorney for Orange Beach. She wrote in a Facebook post announcing her candidacy she is passionate about Orange Beach and committed to doing what's best for the city.

A third candidate in Matt Wilson also qualified for Place Two. He did not respond to GCM's request for comment before press time.

According to a Facebook post from Wilson on his candidacy, he coached Orange Beach teams in t-ball, baseball, football and basketball and served on the Orange Beach Planning Commission.

"I'm running for Orange Beach City Council because I love this city — it's been our home for almost 20 years and where my kids have been raised," he wrote. "I've watched tremendous growth during this time. I care deeply about this community, and I want to preserve what makes it special and work together with other city leaders to build an even stronger future."

Vying for the Place One seat is another planning commission member, Jack Robertson, and Tom Conerly.

Robertson has served on the planning commission for two years and Orange Beach Water Authority board for five. He's also worked in jobs from teaching cardiac ultrasound to becoming a staple comedy/musical act at the FloraBama under the pseudonym of Big Earl, both for decades.

While he said he isn't "making any promises," he plans to focus on density in Orange Beach, specifically in response to the results of a study being conducted amid a building moratorium, which is set to expire at the end of this year.

"I could never see myself voting to put a condo on a residential lot," he told GCM. "… I'm all about decreasing the density. We've got to get ahold of our little city."

Conerly did not respond to comment before press time but, according to a Facebook post announcing his candidacy, is a retired U.S. Army colonel with 30 years of service. He also served as the first full-time animal control officer for the city and established its Trap, Neuter and Return program.

"Simply put, I am seeking a place on our city council to represent you, Orange Beach residents, and address the issues that are important to you," he wrote in the post. "I believe in common sense, fairness and transparency. Safety, security and quality of life for our residents is my primary focus."

The other council members, Jerry Johnson and Jeff Silvers, are running for the places they currently serve, Place Three and Place Four, respectively. Johnson is being challenged by Jay Neese, while Silvers is unopposed.

IS THIS SWITCHING ALLOWED AND COMMON?

Orange Beach is among the majority of municipalities in Baldwin County whose council seats are not determined by districts or wards but are rather at-large positions, meaning applicants can live anywhere within city limits and not be limited to running for a specific seat based on where they live in the city. They do have to choose which seat, or place, to run for. This is why council members can switch places until qualifying closes. The period to qualify as a candidate opened June 10 and closed at 5 p.m. June 24.

While "nobody is obligated to run in a particular place," City Clerk Renee Eberly said incumbents typically seek reelection for their current seat.

According to an election manual prepared for the August races by the Alabama League of Municipalities, the question has been raised in the past about whether a candidate for one council place may withdraw his or her statement of candidacy and then file another for a different place.

"While such action is unlikely, there appears to be nothing to prevent a candidate from doing this as long as it is done before the deadline for filing statements of candidacy," the manual states.

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This story was updated on June 30.