Loretta Purdy Spencer (born June 20, 1937) is an American politician who served as the 66th mayor of Huntsville, Alabama.

Spencer was supported by Hettinger, leading her runoff opponent, Larry Mullins, to attack both as agents of the status quo.

The Huntsville Times stated that her "string of recent successes is a whiff of the famous optimism and spirit that characterized the city for decades.

She was also criticized for allegedly favoring the wealthier southern areas of Huntsville over the northern neighborhoods with larger minority populations.

[14] Among the accomplishments for which Spencer claims credit are a Target Distribution Center, and the construction of Toyota's V-8 engine plant in Huntsville.

Spencer’s plan for tax incentive districts, she asserts, have provided $75,000,000 for capital improvements to Huntsville City Schools.

[5] In early 2008, Spencer found herself in election-year controversy when questions were raised about her conduct in the city’s role in relocating a homeless shelter from downtown Huntsville to a residential district several miles away.