Males or Females?

 

About 20% of our audience reads the blog directly via Blogspot. The other 80% come to our site via a Facebook link. While we can't label those who read us directly, we can pigeonhole those who come to us from Facebook.

Initially, 25% of our FB readers were male; for the past one or two years, that figure has risen to 26%. 74% female readers are still quite the larger number. Similarly, most FB comments are from women.

When we recently made a post about a male candidate for the Florence City Council, we were surprised that those who questioned its purpose were male. Were these comrades from civic organizations? Obviously some were. It was still surprising to have that large number of males chiming in.

While only voters from District 2 in Florence matter in this particular case, we ask that all choose wisely. You want someone who will support your interests - not the interests of the business moguls.

Jennifer Underwood Announces Muscle Shoals Candidacy

 

Jennifer Underwood Announces Candidacy for 

Muscle Shoals City Council Place 4

Jennifer Underwood, a lifelong resident of the city and proud graduate of the Muscle Shoals school system, has officially announced her candidacy for Place 4 on the Muscle Shoals City Council in the upcoming municipal election scheduled for Tuesday, August 26, 2025.

Underwood is a Registered Nurse at Florence Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and a Licensed Medical Esthetician at Bare Beauty Spa in Florence. She says her deep roots in the community, combined with her professional experience in healthcare and small business, make her uniquely equipped to serve the residents of Muscle Shoals.

A mother of two—Stella, a fourth grader at McBride Middle School, and Colin, a Muscle Shoals High School graduate and member of IBEW 558—Underwood is focused on preserving the city’s strong educational reputation. “I want to help push the Muscle Shoals school system to be the number one school in Alabama,” said Underwood. Jennifer is married to Billy Underwood, a retired attorney. 

She said her campaign is driven by a passion to preserve and enhance the quality of life for all residents of Muscle Shoals. Her campaign platform emphasizes responsible spending, infrastructure improvements, and economic development that fits the city’s long-term vision. She is calling for better-paved roads, support for public safety workers, and incentives to attract industries that bring meaningful employment to the area.

Underwood voiced concerns over recent decisions by the current administration, including a controversial vote allowing a corporation to utilize four acres of the city’s Industrial Park for a solar panel installation. She posits that the project creates minimal jobs, contributes to local flooding, and strays from the Industrial Park’s original intent of job creation for local residents.

In addition, Underwood is highly critical of the city’s proposed $95 million Sportsplex project, citing the lack of such supporting infrastructure as hotels and restaurants and the potential for heavy financial burden on taxpayers. “That’s nearly $6,000 per person in Muscle Shoals,” she stated. “We need recreation options, but not at the cost of financial instability. This project could bankrupt the city.”

She also raised red flags over recent city spending, pointing to inflated personnel costs within the Recreation Department and questioning the city’s trend of purchasing expensive vehicles for staff. “Unlike the mayor and city clerk of Muscle Shoals, the mayor and city clerk of Huntsville do not drive $70,000 cars. Every city employee doesn’t need a $70,000 vehicle. We have to learn to spend wisely.”

Jennifer Underwood is committed to working collaboratively with city leaders and departments, while remaining focused on fiscal responsibility and community input. “I may not have all the answers,” she said, “but I will listen—especially to those who may not agree with me. Our community deserves thoughtful leadership, not reckless spending."

Muscle Shoals municipal elections will be held Tuesday, August 26, 2025.

What the Voter Said About "Those Poor"

 

Sometimes you don't know whether to laugh or cry. We recently commented on a Florence City Council candidate who had posted a photo of a run down home in a bad section of town (more on that later). His own home is valued at $312K (credit report) to $328K (Zillow).

A man commented (more on that later also) that while the average house in Florence is valued at $216K, it would be a much higher value if there weren't all those ramshackle homes bringing the average down; therefore, the candidate's home wouldn't be valued at 44% above the average. Brilliant.

Let's get rid of all those who live in cheap homes. Sound good? Florence has a 20% poverty rate. One in five you pass on the street as you walk from your car to Odette lives in poverty.

No, we can't force high-paying jobs to come here, but we can do a much better job of recruiting them.

Two Florence Districts Have No Incumbent

 

If you live in Districts 3 or 5 in Florence, you won't have the chance to vote for the incumbent. In District 3, Bill Griffin is running for mayor.

In District 5, long-time member Blake Edwards, who made his initial mark on City politics supporting a new Walmart, has chosen not to run. We always felt Blake was too status quo about most situations in Florence, but he will be missed.

*****

We regularly have readers ask us what district they live in. Many are not newcomers, but apparently have never taken an interest in City politics before. 

Simply go to this site and enter address. Good luck and keep informed:

Where Do I Vote?

Is Someone Missing in Sheffield's Mayoral Race?

 

We had assumed our friend Bennett Pugh would be in the race for Sheffield mayor. It looks as if only four qualified, and Ben was not one seeking the office at this time.

We now have two women running against two men. A runoff seems in the works, and it should be a hard fought race.

Central's Softball Coach Arrested

 

Carmen Gail Whitfield has been the softball coach at Central High School since 2021. At 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning, she was arrested by the Florence Police and charged with DUI - Alcohol and Obstruction of Government Operations (a charge that could involve anything from giving a false name to hiding such evidence as illicit substances).

The 31 year-old Whitfield posted a 3K bond and was released. Before assuming her current position at Central, she coached at Tharptown and Shoals Christian. Whitfield's charges will be adjudicated in Municipal Court.

Steve Holt Just Blew the Mayoral Election Wide Open

 

Can former Mayor Steve Holt pull off a win in a field of six? Seven if we count virtual candidate Rock Pocket?

Now Bill Griffin and Ron Tyler will have to up their game, and a runoff is 99% assured. If you're like us, you're rethinking Florence's future with two candidates who can move the city forward in a positive way.