Public safety, growth, and infrastructure all play a role in shaping daily life across Huntsville.

As voters prepare to cast their ballots in this year’s municipal election on Tuesday, Aug. 25, understanding where candidates stand on these issues can help residents make informed decisions.

To help voters decide, The Huntsville Business Journal asked every candidate for the Huntsville City Council the following question:

What do you see as the single most important issue facing your district, and if elected, how would you work to address it?

Their responses are included below.

Editor’s note: Every candidate for the Huntsville City Council was invited to answer the same question. Responses are published in the candidates’ own words, with minor edits for grammar and length where appropriate. Candidates who did not respond by the publication deadline are noted accordingly.

City Council District 2

Thomas Casez

“The single most important issue facing District 2 is infrastructure investment. Huntsville’s growth has outpaced the roads, schools, and public amenities that families depend on. Overcrowded classrooms and congested corridors are now a daily reality for both long-term residents and newcomers. I say it doesn’t have to be this way, and that we can change this in August.

If elected, I’ll push for opportunities to increase investment in roads, schools, greenways, and public transit in our next budget; I’ll work with the planning commission to ensure new development accounts for its infrastructure impact, and most of all, I’ll keep residents informed and involved through regular town halls and proactive communication.

Huntsville can both grow and remain the best city in the South. It just requires a council member willing to work for it.”

Thomas Casez is a Madison County native and software engineer. He lives in Huntsville with his wife, Rebecca, and their daughter, Ginny.

David Little

“Maintaining a strong quality of life for District 2 residents will always be my top priority— and that comes down to the everyday services that make our city work.

Ensure our public safety departments are fully funded and staffed, because if we don’t, we would not have a city worth living in. Our roads need the same commitment: consistent maintenance and a strong resurfacing budget so residents aren’t waiting years for repairs.

I want to keep our neighborhood parks and recreation facilities maintained and safe because they are where so much of our community life happens. I am genuinely excited about the planned and approved major renovations at Goldsmith-Schiffman Park.

I’ll continue working with my council colleagues and the administration to keep growth smart and steady, bringing good-paying jobs to the district and city without sacrificing the character of our neighborhoods.”

David Little is the District 2 representative on the Huntsville City Council. He currently works with a local wealth management and financial planning firm.

City Council District 3

Jennie Robinson

“Eighteen people a day are choosing to make Huntsville their home, and we need to keep our commitment to make Huntsville a great place to live, work, and raise a family. This is particularly true in our aging neighborhoods.

Eighty percent of the houses in District 3 were built before 1980. Protecting property values in these aging neighborhoods depends on good schools, a great quality of life, and easy access to shopping, medical care, and employment. I will continue to focus on quality-of-life improvements that protect property values and encourage families to move into our older South Huntsville neighborhoods.

I will also continue to work on bringing new businesses to the South Parkway, the redevelopment of Ditto Landing, and the transformation of the old Grissom High School into the Sandra Moon Center. Projects like this will make Huntsville not just the biggest city in Alabama but one of the best in the country.”

Jennie Robinson has represented District 3 on the Huntsville City Council since 2014, after serving three terms on the Huntsville City Schools Board of Education. She currently serves as City Council president, a position she has held previously.

John Stuart

John Stuart is a Huntsville native and network engineer with nearly two decades of experience in the defense industry. He has coached youth sports and volunteered in the Huntsville community.

This candidate did not respond to the Huntsville Business Journal’s questionnaire by the publication deadline.

Liliana Peinder

“Our district’s biggest challenge is fiscal accountability in spending and housing affordability. I’ll push for transparent budgets and smart growth.”

Liliana Peinder is an educator, entrepreneur, and community volunteer. She has participated in Huntsville’s Citizens Police Academy and regularly attends City Council meetings.

City Council District 4

Nick Frevold

“Huntsville’s population growth is a great achievement, but we are growing in the wrong direction. We are spreading our resources thin by sprawling outward. Sprawling annexations and developments are adding more traffic to our roads without increasing tax revenues enough to pay for the miles of new roads and utilities these developments require.

Inward development will allow us to grow more sustainably. The developments at and around Stovehouse have added hundreds of homes and millions in additional tax revenue while putting little additional strain on our infrastructure.

I will prioritize more inward growth by legalizing ADUs and rezoning more of the city to allow mixed-use developments. I will heavily invest in our bus, bike, and pedestrian infrastructure to increase traffic efficiency and safety. I will use my training from Strong Towns and my current working relationships with city planners to start work on this on day one.”

Nick Frevold is a Huntsville resident, small-business owner, and community advocate. He recently launched Strong Towns Huntsville, a nonpartisan organization focused on safer streets and sustainable city growth.

Bill Kling

“The most important issue within the district I represent is a need for increased traffic flow improvement. I’m excited about the $100,000,000 Parkway at I-565 traffic flow improvement project, as well as accelerating the ring road from North Parkway to Hampton Cove, onto the Arsenal boundary, and then connecting onto Alabama #255. Relieving traffic congestion in the central portion of the city will help District 4 a great deal in the future.”

Bill Kling has represented District 4 on the Huntsville City Council since 1988, after previously serving on the Huntsville Board of Education. He has worked in broadcasting, public relations, and higher education.

Will Pylant

“The biggest issue facing District 4 is making sure we are prepared for Huntsville’s continued growth while protecting the quality of life that makes our city such a special place to live. Growth is a great thing, but it also brings challenges, and we have to be proactive in how we address them.

That means making sure our roads and infrastructure keep up, supporting our schools, prioritizing public safety, and investing in the community spaces that bring people together, like our parks, downtown library, historic areas, and the arts.

As a father of two young children, a small business owner, and someone who grew up here, I care deeply about the future of Huntsville. I want to bring a practical, forward-thinking approach that helps our city prepare for what’s next.

Huntsville has changed a lot over the last 38 years, and I believe our leadership should be ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

Will Pylant is a Huntsville native. He is the owner of Pylant Estate Law, LLC, where he helps families with estate planning and related legal matters.

Find your polling place and other election information here.