Mike Sawyer didn't compromise in fight against juvenile smoking | OPINION

Mike Sawyer
·2 min read

On February 17, 1987, I resigned from my Business Enterprise Representative job with the state of Alabama Department of Education (ADOE) after receiving a good job performance evaluation a few weeks earlier.

The reality was that my public fight against teen smoking in Alabama between that job rating date forced the state bureaucracy behind their pro-life closed doors to attempt to silence me, or smoke me out.  At all our state meetings, the majority smoked heavily in the meetings including my two immediate Montgomery supervisors.

Decades later, a Roll Tide and light 'em up at your Tennessee Volunteer football victories. How sad that the University of Alabama Medical School continues to have no offense against their football players and coaches firing up big "'victory cigars" on TV.

Hope you never compromise for the "retirement package."

Mike Sawyer, a child/health advocate and activist since 1983, is the former Midland City, Alabama mayor (1984-1988). He currently lives in Denver, Colorado, and is a full-time long-term substitute teacher at a “high needs" middle school.

1987 letter to Mike Sawyer

A letter to Mike Sawyer from Feb. 10, 1987, requesting that the then-Midland City mayor resign from his position with the Alabama Department of Education, at least partially because of Sawyer's efforts to enforce state laws against selling tobacco to juveniles.
A letter to Mike Sawyer from Feb. 10, 1987, requesting that the then-Midland City mayor resign from his position with the Alabama Department of Education, at least partially because of Sawyer's efforts to enforce state laws against selling tobacco to juveniles.

Editor's note: On Feb. 5, 1987, then-Midland City Mayor Mike Sawyer made news in the Montgomery Advertiser as the only person on his City Council to oppose juvenile smoking and other tobacco use. In a move apparently ahead of its time, he called on the small Alabama town to enforce state law that made it illegal to sell tobacco products to minors. It wasn't a popular move with the City Council or residents at the meeting, all of whom voiced complaints.

Forrest E. Ramsey, who died in 2012, was a unit supervisor for the Alabama Department of Education's Blind and Deaf Services. On Feb. 10, 1987 — on letterhead from Alabama Department of Education's "Rehabilitation and Crippled Children Service" — Ramsey sent the following letter to Sawyer:

"Dear Mike: Please recall Danny McDaniel's and my discussions with you on January 21, 1987, in Dothan regarding your job performance and the need for you to make a decision about seeking other employment in keeping with your interest and abilities. As stated, we do feel that yoiur job performance, including the enthusiasm and commitment, is not adequate to meet the demands and challenges required of a Business Enterprise Representative. The amount of supervision needed to assist you in major and minor issues/problems are beyond that expected from someone who has een with our agency for almost two years. We do feel that you are in the wrong profession and should evaluate your priorities and make a decision and let us know.

We are aware of your strong commitment and enthusiasm being given toward your mayoral, non-smoking, and religious activities, but we do not feel these apply to the degree needed in your responsibilities in our agency. As a matter of fact, your mayoral and non-smoking activities have placed not only you but the agency as well in compromising situations which adversely affects us.

As indicated to you, we realize your need for employment and, as promised, we will be glad to offer your guidance and assistance in choosing and obtaining employment more suitable to your interest and aptitudes.

I am requesting you to respond to me in writing concerning these matters by Feb. 16, 1987."

A Feb. 18, 1987 story in the Montgomery Advertiser that reported on Mike Sawyer, then-mayor of Midland City, Ala., resigning from his Alabama Department of Education job because of his anti-smoking campaign for juveniles in the city.
A Feb. 18, 1987 story in the Montgomery Advertiser that reported on Mike Sawyer, then-mayor of Midland City, Ala., resigning from his Alabama Department of Education job because of his anti-smoking campaign for juveniles in the city.

The letter from Ramsey led to Sawyer resigning from his $17,000-a-year job with the Alabama Department of Education on Feb. 17, 1987. At the time, his job as mayor paid only $100 a month.

Speaking in the Advertiser's story on the resignation, Ramsey admitted to being a smoker, but said that he didn't personally have anything against Sawyer's anti-smoking campaign. "But it really was interfering with his job," Ramsey said.

Also in that issue's story, Sawyer said any criticism of his job performance was a result of his anti-smoking efforts.

"I tried to give the state a disciplined, Christian day's work," Sawyer said in 1987.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Mike Sawyer didn't compromise in fight against juvenile smoking | OPINION