Career
His first term began November 3, 2008, and he was re-elected in August 2012. Battle moved to Huntsville in 1980 to operate Britling"s Buffet, which he sold in 1989. Battle served one term on the Huntsville City Council from 1984-1988.
He made an unsuccessful run for mayor in 1988.
Battle owns or is managing partner in several firms in the retail and real estate sectors. Battle is a graduate of the University of Alabama, from which he holds a Bachelor of Surgery degree in business.
Battle announced his candidacy against incumbent Mayor Loretta Spencer on March 26, 2008. In his campaign, he sharply attacked Spencer on several issues.
Among these were cost overruns and delays on a city jail constructed in Spencer"s term.
The city"s controversial involvement in the relocation of a downtown rescue mission into a residential neighborhood. And what Battle claimed was inequitable treatment of some city neighborhoods, particularly minority areas. Prior to the first round of voting, Spencer was endorsed by The Huntsville Times.
The Committee of 100, a group of businesspeople, issued a joint endorsement of Battle and Spencer.
In the municipal election on August 26, 2008, Spencer led Battle by 14,871 votes to 14,486. During the runoff campaign, Battle sharpened his attacks on Spencer, and pointed to a "bridge to nowhere".
The bridge in question was constructed by the city, and ended at an undeveloped empty lot. Spencer claimed the lot was expected to be developed at some point in the future.
In the runoff, on October 7, 2008, Battle decisively defeated Spencer, by a vote of 21,123 votes or 56 percent for Battle, to 16,821 or 44 percent for Spencer.
In August 2012, Battle was elected to a second four-year term with 80.7% of the vote, defeating Jackie Reed (41%) and former mayor Loretta Spencer (152%). During his second term, Battle proposed a permanent sales tax increase to help pay for road infrastructure. The tax increase faced some opposition, with some leaders pushing for the sales tax increase to be temporary, rather than permanent.
The City Council eventually approved the permanent increase.
