“I’m proud but not surprised,” Anders said. “I know how hard people serve and work for the city of Auburn. I know the quality of the citizens we have in this community. We’ve got great businesses and employers in Auburn, and you combine all that with a thriving university that provides so many quality-of-life experiences for our citizens and opportunities for our children, you have the makings of a great place to live.”

The mayor believes the recognition from Money and other publications is a precursor of the city’s bright future, but he emphasizes the efforts of former leaders.

“This is certainly a time to think about our forefathers who have done so much to make Auburn a special and unique place, and it’s a challenge to those of us who are new leaders in our community maintaining Auburn’s greatness into the future,” he said.

As the city thrives, new challenges will arise, and Anders wants to celebrate this achievement but remain unrelenting in his mission to keep Auburn the best place in Alabama.