Tropical storm could postpone elections

GULF SHORES, Ala. (WALA) - Officials said campaign signs throughout Mobile and Baldwin counties may be up a little longer this year as Tropical Storm Isaac inches closer to the Gulf Coast.

With municipal elections expected to be held this Tuesday, Gulf Shores, Daphne and Dauphin Island are keeping a close eye on Isaac to decide whether or not to hold their elections at all.

“We're watching the storm like everybody else is as its coming,” said Grant Brown, with the city of Gulf Shores. “We're making our city preps, were meeting again in the morning.”

Brown said city leaders have already met to discuss calling off municipal elections. He said officials will be monitoring the storm and will likely make a final decision during Monday's regularly scheduled city council meeting.

Brown tells FOX10 it would not be the first time a storm cance led local city elections.

“We have, in Gulf Shores, had to postpone an election due to a storm in the past,” he said. “In 2004 after the regular municipal elections, there was a runoff of the mayoral race. It was scheduled September 14 date and hurricane Ivan was approaching and it was postponed until later into October.”

Daphne Mayor Bailey Yelding said he has also been keeping an eye on Isaac. He said the city council will ultimately decide whether or not to postpone elections over the next couple of days.

On the other side of the bay, Dauphin Island Mayor Jeff Collier said postponing elections is a definite possibility as citizens of the island have to prepare extra early for any storm.

Should any municipality postpone elections, the city council would have to submit a new date to the Department of Justice, who has up to 60 days to approve a new date.