Q&A with Madison mayoral candidates Bartlett and Smith

MADISON – As the race for mayor of Madison heats up, 256 Today sat down with two candidates, City Councilmember Ranae Bartlett and City Administrator Steve Smith, to ask five key questions about their vision, experience, and what they love most about the city. Here’s what they had to say:  

1. Why are you running for mayor?

Ranae Bartlett:
I’m running because I love this city. It has given so much to my family, a safe place to live, an excellent school system, and wonderful residents who volunteer every day. When people I respect asked me to run, I listened. I want to step up for the community that has given us so much.

Steve Smith:
I was the last to announce my candidacy because I didn’t agree with the direction the other candidates were taking. With 13 years of experience working with the city, I believe I have a unique skill set that can help lead Madison in a positive direction while staying on a path of growth and prosperity.

2. In your years of public service, what is your biggest accomplishment?

Ranae Bartlett:
I’m proud of many things, serving nearly a decade on the school board and now on City Council. But my biggest accomplishment is building the Madison City Chess League. It started at Rainbow Elementary with just 12 students. Today, our students are national champions, earning scholarships, attending medical school, and serving in the military. It’s been a labor of love, entirely volunteer-driven, and I’m proud of the impact it’s had.

Steve Smith:
My biggest accomplishment is how I handled the closure of the Three Springs youth facility. There was a lot of pressure to shut it down quickly after issues arose, but we weren’t positioned for success legally or with state support. I worked to impose conditions, instead. When those weren’t met, we were able to shut it down without incident, with full state support. That property is now something positive for our community.

3. What is the biggest challenge Madison will face in the next four years?

Ranae Bartlett:
Growth. This entire region is growing faster than anywhere else in Alabama. Madison must work with Huntsville and Madison County to manage growth responsibly and ensure we receive our fair share of state support. That means focusing on roads, schools, and infrastructure as Space Command, FBI, and other federal assets expand here.

Steve Smith:
Growth is still our biggest challenge. We have 20,000 unfilled jobs in this region, people are coming, and we need to plan accordingly. Revenue will also be a struggle, with sales tax trending down. We must work closely with the state and continue building partnerships with Huntsville, Madison County, and Limestone County to make every tax dollar go further.

4. Why are you the best candidate for the job?

Ranae Bartlett:
I have the experience necessary to lead this city. I’ve served on the Board of Education for almost a decade. I’ve been elected to serve the City Council in District 5. I’ve volunteered in this community to help make it a better place to live. I believe that I possess the leadership qualities that allow us to imagine the possibilities when we all work together. 

Steve Smith:
I just think my 13 years experience with the city means a lot. I spent eight years on the City Council. I understand the City Council role. I know what they’re responsible for. I’ve spent the past five years as city administrator in the mayor’s office. Going in, I thought I knew everything about City Hall, but you never know what you don’t know. And I found out real quick that there’s a lot of inhibitors at City Hall that we had to overcome in order to get a lot of stuff done and have a very successful past five years. 

5. What’s your favorite thing about Madison?

Ranae Bartlett:
We have parents who volunteer every day in our school systems to help our kids excel. We have citizens who volunteer in the city to put on a Madison Street festival and to help beautify the community. They’re constantly volunteering in their churches. And I love being a part of a city where people care about our community. 

Steve Smith:
I think the favorite thing about Madison is just the families. You know, I started my family in Madison. This is where I’ve grown up as a man, as a father, and now as a grandfather. It’s very important. That’s a common goal I think for everybody who comes to Madison, and the priority for most people in Madison are the families. And that’s just the common common denominator of Madison. It just makes it special.

(Editor’s note: Responses have been edited for clarity and length.)

Voters will decide between Bartlett and Smith, as well as a third candidate, Margi Daly, on Aug. 26.