FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Some public interest groups say they’re nonpartisan, but this one acts like it.

At least the people who attended the Wednesday meeting of the Citizens for Responsible Government had opinions that spanned the political spectrum.

From a position paper by one member to roll back “Bush tax cuts” to statements by another who criticized smart growth policies as a threat to home ownership and private property rights, the group had a spirited discussion this week on topics from local planning to global economics.

But the group spent most of its time on one subject: upcoming local elections and related issues.

“As a Baldwin County guy, I get the sense that the mayor’s job will be split from (head of the utilities department),” said Gary Gover, who lives south of the Fairhope city limits.

In Fairhope, the mayor also serves as director of its city-owned utility system and receives pay for both those positions.

The City Council recently raised the salary of mayor from less than $17,000 a year to a possible annual salary of $60,000.

Current Mayor Tim Kant sought unsuccessfully to veto that pay raise and took the position during the debate over the issue that the positions should remain combined.

The current salary for the utility position alone is approximately $77,000 a year.

Some City Council members have stated the action to raise the mayor’s salary was a step in the direction of separating the positions.

“It would probably be good if that happens,” said Taney Brazeal, who identified himself as a Republican at the meeting. “Then the mayor could concentrate on being mayor.”

The group also discussed encouraging local residents to run in the August municipal elections, but came to no conclusion about how active a role it would play in that effort.

However, the group did decide it will do what it did during the last election cycle.

“We will definitely be having a city candidate forum,” said Ed Lawrence, one of the group’s founders and its current secretary-treasurer.

The Citizens for Responsible Government meets at noon the first Wednesday of each month at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Fairhope Avenue east of Greeno Road. For more information, visit www.responsiblegov.net, call 928-4646 or 929-0136, or e-mail Lawrence at edfairhope@bellsouth.net.