Auburn’s first woman mayor honored for decades of service
Former Auburn Mayor Jan Dempsey at a celebration marking the 15th anniversary of the Community Market of the Food Bank of East Alabama. (contributed)
The year 1980 was a landmark year for the city of Auburn, and Jan Dempsey is the reason.
“Jan Dempsey is responsible for one of the most transformative eras in Auburn’s history,” said Lolly Steiner, AuburnBank Community Relations and Marketing director and former president of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce. “Her vision, her devotion to the underserved of our community and her servant leadership certainly set the stage for the thriving Auburn of today.”
A Georgia native, Dempsey moved to Auburn with her young family in 1972 when her husband, a general and vascular surgeon, was recruited by East Alabama Surgical Clinic. She became active in the PTA, joined a church and volunteered throughout the community. She also began to notice that local government wasn’t operating efficiently.
Dempsey ultimately decided to run for mayor. Facing five opponents, she spent $900 on her 1980 campaign and swept into office without a runoff. It was the first time in the city’s history that a woman would occupy Auburn’s top slot. She served as mayor for 18 years.
“The motto of the junior department in the church where I grew up was: ‘Be Ye Doers of the Word and not Hearers only,’” Dempsey said in a recent interview. “Being mayor was the perfect job to be a doer.”
Voter backlash against unpopular leadership led to Dempsey’s election that year, said former Mayor Bill Ham, and the creation in 1980 of the council-manager system of government that Auburn still uses today.
“I’m very appreciative of Jan for being a mentor to me – and doing a great job as mayor herself,” Ham said.
Indeed, Ham said it was Dempsey who persuaded him to enter public service. It was in 1982 while they were standing in a bank teller line. Dempsey wanted Ham to run for an upcoming vacancy on the city council. By the end of the day, she was already making supportive phone calls for him.
Ham agreed to run for one term on the council. Instead, he stayed on the council for 12 years. When Dempsey chose not to run for re-election in 1998, Ham ran for mayor. He ended up serving five terms.
Ham credits Dempsey for any positive influence he had on the city. “Dempsey knew she could make a difference. She quickly gained respect for her ability to get things done,” he said, all while raising three children and running a successful retail business in town, The Back Porch.
“The opportunity to serve as mayor was really a joy every day – for every day was an opportunity to make a difference,” Dempsey said. She said it was meaningful not only because she could support the entire community through her position, but that it provided a chance, almost every day, “to help an individual with a problem.”
In addition to mentoring a generation of city leaders, Dempsey has served on multiple community boards and supported numerous community causes. But her heart lies with serving the underprivileged.
For example, she helped launch the Community Market, a division of the Food Bank of East Alabama, serving not only Auburn but greater Lee County. Dempsey co-chaired the food bank’s most recent capital campaign to expand services and acquire a new building.
Auburn City Schools has long been praised as one of the best systems in the state. Early in her political career, Dempsey partnered with the city of Auburn to support local public education.
Dempsey is also devoted to the local arts scene. In 1999 the city built a new, multiuse facility to serve the artistic needs of the community. The Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center offers cultural programs, art exhibitions, theatre productions, concerts, dance recitals, lectures, workshops and special events.
Keith Karst, marketing manager for Alabama Power’s southern division, remembers working closely with Dempsey on community restoration efforts after Hurricane Opal in 1995. Karst had recently moved to Auburn as the business office manager. “Almost every light in Auburn was out,” recalled Karst. “Jan was progressive: She knew what she wanted Auburn to look like, particularly in economic development.”
In 2019, Dempsey was presented the “Outstanding Woman in Business” award at the Women in Business Luncheon for the Auburn Chamber. She was chosen for her outstanding leadership and strategic vision.
Dempsey still lives in Auburn and continues to support community projects. “I will always be grateful to the citizens of Auburn for supporting me and my efforts to lead our city.”
Throughout March, Alabama NewsCenter is recognizing Alabama women of distinction, past and present, in celebration of Women’s History Month.
