Next Tuesday residents of Gulf Shores will be making a decision about how the city will progress for the next four years. This will arguably be the most important election in the past two decades for our small beach community because of the drastic differences in the candidates' plans. Your vote will have consequences for more than 15,000 other residents as well.

Gulf Shores News does not endorse any candidates and we applaud them all for their courage to take on such a monumental task. In a time where people can post opinions on social media and garner followers who may not even be from Gulf Shores, every official gets negative comments spread about them even if they may lack substance or truth.

So before you VOTE we thought that putting the election in a different genre may remind us all what is at stake.

IMAGINE you are part owner of a business that produces multi-million dollar revenue each year. It has been performing so well that your investment in the company of $250,000 to $1 million dollars (the average price of a home) has more than doubled in the past ten years. You are pleased with your revenue and people are talking about your business throughout the nation.

IMAGINE your business has hundreds of local employees and over 15,000 other investors. It is now time to evaluate the CEO and managers. You know that your business generates billions in top-line revenue and has over an $80 million dollar cash reserve.

NOW you must decide if you want to change the management regime or send some notes about how you would like to see some future plans implemented?

Management of our beach community is very similar to that scenario and every voter has the power to increase or decrease the value of their investment.

In most businesses you don’t throw out a successful management team unless there has been serious maleficence. You may attend a few meetings with them to discuss your vision or you may write them an email with your ideas. Bringing in a brand new crew who do not have any experience or may be new to the business (community) could be a scary proposition. 

IMAGINE that you have decided to change the establishment and vote in a completely new team. There are numerous projects already underway so you will need to have patience. There are many projects/ questions/ procedures that have to be reviewed.

How long will it take for them to understand the mountain of laws?

How long will it take for them to understand what the majority of 15,000 other investors want?

Will their new direction decrease the value of the already profitable business?

Will the new management team give the time needed to run your valuable business or will their new role have a conflict with another investment they have made?

BACK to local time. Every resident should vote August 26, and keep in mind your investment. Think about how far the City of Gulf Shores has come over the past decade. Education, transportation and life safety have all made great improvements for local lifestyle.

Are we ready to destroy the business and rebuild or should we tweak a few things and let our managers know about a few items you want changed?

City of Gulf Shores Election Information HERE.