Oliver elected mayor
By Staff
Jonathan Willis
Troy Oliver, a retired Army general, avoided a run-off Tuesday night and will become Russellville's new mayor in November.
Oliver garnered almost 62 percent of the vote to defeat Russellville businessman Greg Willis and current City Councilman Burns "Buckshot" Saint.
"I am happy about winning," Oliver said.
"We have a lot of important issues facing us right now."
Oliver said he hopes to help existing businesses and help increase the value of homes in Russellville.
He also said the city has to be adaptable to change with the number of Hispanics now living in the area.
"The demographics have changed so much and we have to blend them into the population," Oliver said.
"There are over 600 Hispanic students in our schools and the majority of them were born in the United States and are citizens here," he said.
"They have got a birth certificate too and we have to take care of them."
He said one area he hopes to build on with the school systems is working to create more training opportunities through the career/technical center.
"If we don't provide opportunities for these kids they will give up and quit," Oliver said.
Saint, who served two terms on the city council, said he thinks the city must have been ready for a change. No incumbent city councilmen were re-elected.
"It just looks like people were ready for a change," he said.
"They cleaned out the city and the county this year. I have enjoyed serving on the council for eight years."
Willis, who owns Backstreet Deli in Russellville, said he wished that he had been able to get out and meet more people than he was able too, but said that he would do anything he could to help Oliver now that he has been elected.
"I wish I had been able to do a little more, but you get what you put into it," Willis said.
"I wasn't able to do as much as I had hoped, but I want to thank all of the people who supported me, especially Ronnie Boutwell and Lynn and Beth Jones who really worked hard for me.
"Troy ran a good clean race and I think he will do a good job for the city."
