The City of Auburn has started discussing changing the name of Mike Hubbard Boulevard, at the former House Speaker’s request.
Hubbard, 58, whose convictions on ethics charges were partially overturned earlier this month, wrote a letter to Auburn Mayor Ron Anders to ask that the city council remove his name from the road, Opelika-Auburn News reported.
An online petition campaigned to have the street renamed “Cam Newton Run,” after the former Auburn University quarterback who has gone on to play in the National Football League, the newspaper reported. Anders suggested naming it “Bent Creek Road,” which is the name of the road that the boulevard feeds into.
To change the name, the city council would have to vote to send the issue to the planning commission, Auburn City Manager Jim Buston said. Then, the commission would address the name change and send its recommendation back to the council for an official vote, likely at the council’s second meeting in May, Buston said.
The boulevard’s name must remain for now because street signs are essential for emergency personnel, Buston said.
Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
