For the first time in at least 17 years, the residents of Summerdale will vote for their mayor.

Municipal elections in Alabama do not include a write-in option on ballots, so when a race is not contested by two or more candidates, an election is not held for that seat and the sole candidate wins the seat by a council resolution. According to Tiffany Lynn, Summerdale town clerk, the town's last election was in 2012 for two council seats. The mayor's seat nor any of the five council positions were contested in 2016 and 2020.

When Randy Farris saw that happen in 2020, he thought he didn't want it to again, he said. Since deciding to run for mayor in the Aug. 26 general municipal election, he said he's been making it to every neighborhood in the small but growing central Baldwin town.

"We live in such a Mayberry. I want to keep it that way, but we can't stay stagnant," the retired 30-year Delta careerman said. "We either move forward or backward. I want controlled steady growth, not everything coming all at one time."

Farris has been on the Gulf Coast since 2011 and lived in Summerdale since 2019. He got to know the area by driving school buses for Baldwin County Public Schools after a teacher he goes to church with, knowing he was retired and "kicking back," suggested it as a way to fill some time. It's a role he's served for 11 years going back to two years in Crestview, Florida, and six in Daphne before now having completed his sixth for Magnolia Elementary School.

He said he involved himself in local politics nearly four years ago when he wanted to understand more about terminations to a couple police officers.

"I just didn't think that was being done very efficiently or effectively," he said.

So, he started attending council workshops and meetings to learn more about "how our little town operates."

"I didn't have a desire to run or plans to run," Farris said. "As I saw how decisions were made and monies were spent, I thought, 'You know, I could do that a little differently.' I'm not saying it was incorrect, just that I could be more efficient."

He's running on three principles. He said he believes in term limits and will run for one, maybe two terms if elected.

"I strongly believe in bringing someone else in and letting them come with ideas," he said.

To put an emphasis on transparency, he said he would implement live video streaming of council meetings so residents could watch local government proceedings remotely or find them archived to watch later.

In terms of accountability, he said he would promote easy access to the town's budgeting process. He said he has requested and received older budgets but has found it difficult to obtain the most recent one.

"With the airline, we've moved around states. So, we have an understanding of different areas, culture and society and local governments. They're all different, but they should have the same themes of the people knowing what's going on," Farris said.

Farris and his wife have been married for 40 years and have two grown sons and seven grandchildren.

They are among the many who have moved to the area in recent years. With a 2024 population estimate of 1,606, the Town of Summerdale has added 710 people since 2010, according to Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance data released this spring. Summerdale is the third-fastest growing municipality since 2010 though has slowed, marking the ninth-highest growth rate from 2020 to 2024 out of Baldwin County's 14 cities and towns.

"We can do that (grow) and have input and still keep the small-town feel," Farris said. "With the influx, we will eventually lose that. I know that and don't like it, but let's manage it."

He is producing the first challenge to Mayor David Wilson since at least 2008, based on records Gulf Coast Media obtained on the last three election cycles. As previously reported by GCM, Wilson, who was elected in 1992, is promoting in his nod to continue his leadership in Summerdale "a continued commitment to growth without sacrificing the town's small-town character," highlighting infrastructure projects and "careful long-term planning."

Wilson, a lifelong Summerdale resident, is the town's longest-serving mayor, followed by John Jurkiewicz who served from 1960 to 1975, according to the town's website.

Voters in Summerdale will see one other race on their ballot next month, a challenge to Councilwoman Mary Carolyn McDaniel for Place 3 by Janet Sophie. McDaniel first won the seat in 2012 with 158 votes to 67 and two votes earned by the other candidates. Other council members not being contested were elected in 2000, 2007 and 2012 and appointed last month.

Read more 2025 munipal election articles at www.gulfcoastmedia.com/election/.