About
Mayor Karin Wilson is serving her first term as mayor of Fairhope, Alabama.
A third generation Fairhopian, Karin is a product of this great community where she grew up exploring the gullies, riding bikes through town until dark and throwing cast nets off the pier with her identical twin, Kelley. Karin is a graduate of Fairhope High School and Auburn University, where she earned a degree in finance. She worked for seven years in the financial sector before she returned home to Fairhope to continue the legacy of her family-owned business, Page and Palette, which was founded in 1968. With her extensive background in finance, Karin has built upon a business that stays true to Fairhope’s unique character while managing the new challenges and complexities faced in today’s market.
She became Fairhope’s first female mayor in 2016 and recognized as the “Hardest Working Elected Official on the Eastern Shore” in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Karin Wilson’s Interview with Allison Marlow, Editing Manager, GCN
“There has been nothing more gratifying than being the mayor of my hometown. Fairhope has been an integral part of my whole life and where I want to spend the rest of my life. All the hard work this term has been a labor of love to significantly improve our quality of life for generations to come.” — Mayor Karin Wilson
Awards and Achievements
2020 Nappie Award Nominee “Hardest Working Elected Official” and “Best Baldwinian Right Now”
2020 - Leadership Baldwin County
2019 - Mayor Institute on City Design - One of 6 Mayors invited
2018 - Established Fairhope Jr. City Council
2017, 2018, 2019, & 2020 - Nappie Award Winner for “Hardest Working Elected Official, Eastern Shore”
2014 - Coastal Alabama Leaders
2014 - Founded Fairhope Local
To preserve Fairhope’s unique character by celebrating our local entrepreneurs and educating citizens on the value of purchasing locally.
2012 - Completed Full Ironman – Florida Ironman
2011 - Local Hero, Garden & Gun Magazine
2010 - Founded the Jubilee Kid Triathlon
2009 - Fairhope First’s Quality of Life Award
2009 Founding member of The Fairhope Sunset Rotary
2008 - Founded the Good Life Ride to promote Complete Streets & Pedestrian Safety
2005 - Founded One Town One Tale, a community read, to fight aliteracy (uninterested in reading)
2005 - Started Fairhope Shop Local Campaign - Movement
2004 - Board Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance four years (President 2007-2008)
2003 - Founded the Good Life Foundation to promote Fit Minds, Fit Bodies. Raised over $300k for enrichment programs for Fairhope Public Schools through Annual “Dancin’ in the Streets” event for 10 years
1999 - Eastern Shore Literacy Council Board Member four years
1997 - Purchased the Page & Palette from my Grandmother, Betty Joe Wolff and became President.
Family
Karin has been married to Kiefer Wilson since 1996 and they have two grown daughters Tyler and Tanner Wilson.
Professional
2016 – Present Mayor, City of Fairhope
1997 – Present President Page & Palette
1993 – 1997 Wells Fargo (Branch Manager two years)
1991 – 1993 World Omni Financial
1978 - 1991 Page & Palette - Child Labor Dept