Citizens urged to vote in Oct. 4 run-off
For six Franklin County elected-office hopefuls, Tuesday will bring the moment of truth.
Three municipal races are yet-to-be decided, as Aug. 23 election results necessitated a run-off. Following the run-off Oct. 4, two Russellville council positions and the Red Bay mayor position will be finalized.
Judy Miller garnered 103 votes to incumbent William Nale’s 98 votes Aug. 24 in the battle for Russellville City Council District 2. Arthur Elliott (101 votes in August) and incumbent Lanny Hubbard (75 votes) will also face the run-off for District 4 on Russellville City Council.
Red Bay’s mayoral position will fall to either current city councilwoman Charlene Fancher, who amassed 388 votes in the August election, or current city director of operations Mike Shewbart (306 votes).
Polls will be open in Russellville (District 2, College Avenue Elementary School, and District 4, Chucky Mullins Center) and Red Bay (Red Bay Senior Citizen Center) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Citizens are urged to vote to elect the leaders of their cities.
Sept. 29 marks the last day to apply for an absentee ballot, the option available for those who will be out of town on election day or will not be able to get to the polls for other acceptable extenuating circumstances, such as 10-hour-plus work shifts; business emergencies; or medical emergencies. Absentee ballots must be postmarked or hand-delivered by Oct. 3. Mailed absentee ballots must be received by noon.
WILLIAM NALE
for Russellville City Council District 2
WILLIAM NALE
for Russellville City Council District 2
Family: Married to Deborah Pardue Nale, three children and ten grandchildren.
Qualifications: Experienced and proven, with 44 years of experience working for the citizens of Russellville in many different departments. I know and understand the daily operations of city government, including maintaining a balanced budget, understanding personnel needs and providing services for our citizens. Served eight years on the city council making sure District 2 is equally represented.
Priorities if elected: A fire station in District 2 at the corner of Duncan Creek Road and Clay; a voice to make sure we get the best ambulance service possible for the city of Russellville; even more jobs and retail businesses to keep increasing our tax base; continuing to be a voice at city hall for District 2, serving at the pleasure of the voters and not someone’s personal agenda; and supporting our schools.
People should vote for me because: “If you are going to hire someone to help oversee and operate a 9-million-dollar budget and move a business forward, you want someone you can trust. You want someone who is experienced, someone who is proven, someone who can get the job done. I am that person for District 2. I am also the only candidate in District 2 who is eligible to vote on city school issues. I have no personal agenda. I just ask for the opportunity to continue working hard for District 2.”
JUDY MILLER
for Russellville City Council District 2
JUDY MILLER
for Russellville City Council District 2
Family: Two sons, Matt Miller with son Noah and Jason Miller and wife Belinda with sons Hunter and Jaxon; siblings Brenda Cooper, Joan Pace and Keith Prince.
Qualifications: Hard-worker, desire to see a better Russellville, will work for the people.
Priorities if elected: District 2. I want to see District 2 cleaned up and receiving the attention it deserves in regards to the money that comes into Russellville, and I would love to be able to help all the people of District 2, not just some. I will take calls and get back to people every time.
People should vote for me because: “I just want to work hard for the citizens of Russellville and District 2. I want to see changes. If you’re ready for a change and to see improvements in District 2, then vote for me.”
ARTHUR ELLIOT
for Russellville City Council District 4
ARTHUR ELLIOT
for Russellville City Council District 4
Family: Married, two children and three step-children.
Qualifications: Worked for Russellville Parks and Rec, Russellville Street Department and as a volunteer firefighter; served on NACOLG board 1998-2000; served on Civil Service Board from 2000-2004 (chairman from 2002-2004); city council representative from 2004-2008; worked in state government for 23 years; and business owner for 23 years.
Priorities if elected: Job recruitment, cleaning up the city and working for my district and constituents.
People should vote for me because: “I am truly the most qualified person. I am young and energetic, and I have a proven past.”
LANNY HUBBARD
for Russellville City Council District 4
LANNY HUBBARD
for Russellville City Council District 4
Family: Married to Norma, four sons, two daughters, eight grandchildren.
Qualifications: Successful term as city councilman for past four years, working to achieve great progress for Russellville with fellow council members.
Priorities if elected: Recreation opportunities, a compliance officer and better animal control, helping and serving people.
People should vote for me because: “The council we have now – we work well together. If you can sit down and show what needs to be done, we do it.”
MIKE SHEWBART
for Red Bay Mayor
MIKE SHEWBART
for Red Bay Mayor
Family: Two children, Brooke, 16, and Lane, 13; parents James and Pat Shewbart; grandparents Carl and Susie Shewbart and Buck and Meadie Vinson; sister Lynn Bolton with husband Robbie Bolton and brother James Carl Shewbart Jr.
Qualifications: Northwest Alabama Community College and University of North Alabama businesses administration/computer science. Manufacturing business owner with 30 employees. Office manager and technology director for Northwest Alabama Livestock Auction. Marketing director for Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. Red Bay Parks and Recreation director.
Priorities if elected: Seek grants to upgrade and improve facilities; repave and repair streets; seek more industry and provide more jobs for our young people; seek more retail businesses to incread quality of life; provide more personnel, equipment and training for police and fire departments; address citizen concerns.
People should vote for me because: “I have the most government experience and have worked in the day-to-day duties with the city of Red Bay and the State of Alabama. In the last four years I have been instrumental in obtaining over $3M in grants to improve streets, utilities and schools. I have worked under the city council and carried out their policies for the last five years. I want to be a voice for the citizens in making the policies to better serve them. I have the vision and proven experience to make Red Bay a better place to live, work, raise your family and to retire.”
CHARLENE FANCHER
for Red Bay Mayor
CHARLENE FANCHER
for Red Bay Mayor
Family: Married to Jerry Paul Fancher Jr., for 28 years; two children, Grant Fancher, married to Devin Crane Fancher, and Gretchen Inman, married to Josh Inman; father, the late Charles Hastings, and mother, Jean Hastings; father-in-law, the late Paul Fancher, and mother-in-law, Joyce Fancher; and two sisters, Deborah Hastings and Pamela Nelson.
Qualifications: Experienced in every aspect of municipal government, having served the City of Red Bay for 19 years as a certified municipal clerk, certified municipal court clerk and city council member (currently in second consecutive term). Additionally, 19 years’ experience in management and business administration and currently works full time as administrative assistant at Red Bay Hospital. Co-owns and operate Fancher’s Taxidermy and Deer Processing in Red Bay with husband.
Priorities if elected: Enhance/improve the City of Red Bay’s infrastructure of streets and sewer system; support and promote existing industry, retail business, healthcare and education; aggressively promote and seek new opportunities for industry, retail business and tourism; ensure accountability of citizens’ tax dollars through proper utilization of city resources; be assertive in seeking opportunities for improvements through grant assistance.
People should vote for me because: “I seek the office of mayor with the sole intentions of improving the quality of life for the citizens of Red Bay. I believe in hard work, honesty, accountability, respect and integrity, and I love progress for Red Bay! With 19 years of municipal government experience and as a lifelong resident of Red Bay, it is evident that my heart and my home is in Red Bay. I intend to make possibilities realities.”
