State Sen. Chris Elliott announced that all 14 mayors in Baldwin County have endorsed his reelection campaign, but some mayors have disputed their official stance.

Elliott’s campaign stated in a press release issued Dec. 15 that all 14 mayors within Baldwin County have endorsed Elliott, who is seeking reelection for the state Senate seat representing District 32, which covers all or portions of Spanish Fort, Fairhope, Daphne, Foley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Perdido Beach. The press release included a photo of Elliott with eight mayors.

“In a diverse place like Baldwin County, it can be tough to get elected officials all on the same page,” Elliott, who was first elected to the Senate in 2018, posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Dec. 15. “I’m so honored and humbled that all of the mayors in Baldwin County have endorsed our reelection effort so together we can continue to fight for our fair share in Montgomery.”

However, some have since told Gulf Coast Media they were erroneously added to the list when they haven’t made any official endorsements.

One of them is Summerdale Mayor Randy Farris, who said he and the other city leaders were at a mayoral meeting with Elliott also in attendance. Elliott asked Farris if he would like to endorse him and be in a group photo, with Farris saying he was noncommittal and “just kind of chuckled.”

According to Farris, as the other mayors gathered to take the photo, he was assisting an elderly man through the doorway of the restaurant they were meeting at, thinking the photo shoot was over, only to step right into it as he turned the corner. He said he took the photo not wanting to cause an awkward moment but reflected that it was “a bad judgement call” in hindsight.

“After the photo came out, I received comments about being in the photo, and I called Senator Elliott to advise him that even though I was in the photo I wasn't endorsing him,” Farris said. “He said he thought he asked me, and I confirmed he did, but it was all my fault for being in the photo. And I wasn't against him; I just wouldn't endorse him.”

Farris, who was sworn in for his first term in office in November after beating Summerdale's former, longtime mayor, told GCM that he is not endorsing anyone for political campaigns.

Robertsdale Mayor Ruthie Campbell was also listed as endorsing Elliott and appeared in the group photo. However, Campbell clarified that it was intended as simply a show of support and was not an official endorsement. She also took a photo with Mike Van, who is running against Elliott for the District 32 seat, saying the smartest thing to do is to not endorse anyone until after the primary. They are running on the Republican ballot.

“You want to be able to work with either one of them no matter what, and one of the other is going to win the election,” Campbell, who also took the office for the first time last month, though she had served on city council for multiple terms, told GCM. “You want to know that you can work with both of them, and you want them to know that they can work with you, so you just don’t endorse beforehand.”

Elliot stands by his campaign's proclamation.

“Every single mayor told me I had their full endorsement, and, in Baldwin County and across Alabama, your commitment and your word still mean something,” Elliott said. “I’m going to keep standing tall for Baldwin County and fighting to bring road dollars, school funding, community grants and other resources to the towns and cities that each of these mayors represent.”

Other mayors reaffirmed their support for him.

Daphne Mayor Robin LeJeune told GCM Elliott is a big supporter of Daphne and the things the city wants to do. LeJeune said Elliott reached out to him, personally asking for his endorsement and that he and others were surprised to hear what some of the other mayors had to say.

Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich echoed a similar sentiment, saying he does support Elliott, citing that the city has worked closely with him and that Elliott has been receptive to their concerns as reasons for his support. Hellmich said he cannot speak for the other mayors as to why there was confusion, but he noted how Baldwin County has a lot of new mayors who are still learning the ropes.

“Everybody I thought understood what the photo was for, but there could be some confusion,” Hellmich said.

A representative for Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft told GCM that he supports Elliott and his reelection campaign.

“I absolutely do,” Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon said.

Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan also upheld her support for Elliott, saying he personally called her to ask for her endorsement.