Published: July 18, 2008 04:32 pm         

Qualifying deadline ends

By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



On Aug. 26, thousands of north Jefferson County voters will head to the polls to re-elect municipal leaders or choose new ones.

Voters in Fultondale and Brookside will not be heading to the polls, however.

Fultondale Mayor Jim Lowery and city councilmen Joe Bolton, Billy Howell, Darrell Hubbert, Tommy Loden and Greg Morris are all running unopposed.

Like Fultondale, Brookside Mayor Roger McCondichie and city councilmen David Butler, Terry Bensko, Daryl Burr, Dennis Cordell and Mike Gooch are also unopposed.

The deadline for the two-week qualifying period was Tuesday.

Fultondale City Clerk Jane Hicks said because write-in votes are not allowed on municipal ballots, the city will not hold an election.

“This is the first time that I’m aware of that this has ever happened in Fultondale,” Hicks said.

She said Lowery and the councilmen will receive a certificate of election at the July 28 council meeting and would begin new terms in November.

Voters in other municipalities will have plenty of candidates to choose from for mayor and council seats. In three cases, voters will also have the unique experience of not having a mayoral incumbent on the ballot.

Gardendale Mayor Kenny Clemons, Kimberly Mayor Sammie Maze and Trafford Mayor Randy Reid will not seek new terms.

Clemons said in a June 25 story in The North Jefferson News that while he enjoyed his time serving the city, he looked forward to the opportunity of enjoying personal pursuits and spending time with Rhonda, his wife of 46 years, and his family.

He has served as the city’s mayor for the past 12 years and served 24 years as a city councilman.

Maze has been Kimberly’s mayor since 1984 and had previously served two years on the town council. Maze said that he “thought it was a crazy idea” when someone suggested in 1982 that it was time for him to serve his town.

“But I got on the council,” he said. “Then I won re-election in October 1984.”

Three months into the term, the mayor resigned and Maze stepped up to fill the spot.

“Everything is going good as far as the town is concerned. We have a lot of good stuff going on with growth, the grocery store, the senior citizen center, soccer going well at the park and Mortimer Jordan High School moving to the town,” he said. “I just felt like after 24 years, it might be a good time to say, ‘Let’s move on.’”

Reid said his decision to give up his post after 16 years had more to do with juggling his mayoral responsibilities versus his full-time job with Alagasco. However, he said he had enjoyed the experience and enjoyed working with the town and its residents.

“I felt as though it was time for someone that was younger or someone with some fresh ideas,” Reid said. “There are some mixed emotions as far as my not seeking re-election, but I feel like it’s time.”