Tony McCarron is Mobile's Public Safety Recruiting Coordinator. He and I first met three years ago and he came on What's Working, when the microphones were off he told me that the Mobile Police Department was 120 officers short of what they were budgeted for. That's a lot of law enforecement vacancies and the criminally minded, had they known that, may have taken advantage of it. Today they're fully staffed and it's because Tony found a recruiting recipe that works. He learned what today's youth, primarily males between the ages of 20 and 26, wanted in a job and, more importantly, a mentor. Tony delivers that message and stands behind it his commitment to the recruits. He also worked to up their pay. The City of Mobile is lucky for it. Furthermore, Mobile Fire and Rescue is now riding four to a truck and that's a big deal. The city's fire and crime numbers reflect fully staffed departments - success measurements for fire and policing have risen and stay high. Tony tells me how he did it, what his message was, and what private companies who struggle to recruit can learn from what Tony is doing.

We then turn to the Mobile mayoral race. Tony warns the wrong election results will cause droves of law enforcement to leave their job. "Mobile is in a good place," Tony says. "Let's not jeapordize that."

Tony offered his phone to anyone interested in joining the force: (251) 554-2298

What's Working has been quiet for a while. It's time to get back with a conversation with mayoral candidate Spiro Chieriogotis. His vision for the City of Mobile is what compelled me to reach out to him for this podcast. Too many mayoral candidates are running on their pasts or, in my opinion, grievances with something or someone. That makes for good fiction or TV movies but not good governance or leadership. Spiro is the only one that I've heard with a compelling vision on where Mobile can go and a plan for getting us there.

We discuss crime which seems to be the siren song of all campaigns everywhere. Crime in Mobile is down. Way down. But you'd not know it to listen to the others. The antidote to crime is not more police (where you going to find them?) or harsher sentencing. It's opportunity. And the majority of violent criminals are between the ages of 18 and 24. How to get their attention? How to present opportunity in a way they find it appealing? Never an easy task.

We also meet Spiro the person. He and I agree that a hot dog overlooking the Mobile River at some new riverfront venue is a great idea. And trolleys (aka street cars) add soul to every city where they exist. It's an ambitious idea.

If you're looking for an unbiased interview of a candidate, this is not it. I'm all in for Spiro. Mobile has momentum. Finally. There's a lot to be done but what CAN'T happen is to lose this momentum. This city was on the brink of brankruptcy and some candidates seem to think those were better times. Not so.

Meet Spiro and you'll see why he has my vote.

Well, holy crap. I was pointed to an AI that will take content and turn it into a dialogue between two AI voices. This is the introduction to my book called What Works. I've turned it into an interview between two AI voices and... it's pretty doggone good. Take a listen - do you like this? Is it worth doing all ten chapters?

It's amazing. How to best use this?

Let me know what you think: Cam@CamMarston.com